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July / August 2014
Council officer marks
50 years
of serving the local community
Councillors have paid tribute to Diana Ray, the Council’s Housing Grants Officer, for her commitment and dedication as she marks more than 50 years of working for West Oxfordshire District Council. At the annual Council meeting in June, Diana received a standing ovation from Members and was presented with a special award by retiring Chairman, Cllr Derek Cotterill. Diana was 19 when she started work as a trainee environmental health officer with the Council in November 1963. Half a century later, she is the Council’s Housing Grants Officer, arranging some 170 disabled facilities grants a year which help people to live independently in the community. When she started her working career the Council was Witney Rural District Council. It became West Oxfordshire District Council following local government reorganisation in 1974. Cllr Cotterill said: “Diana’s service to the Council and the community is unprecedented; she is the only member of staff who worked for the council on that first day and who is still employed by the Authority today.” Diana said: “It was never the plan to stay here for 50 years but I’ve enjoyed all the work I’ve done for the Council. “The biggest change has been the technology. We never used to have computers or photocopiers so everything was done by hand, stencilled and then run through a print drum – it was always very time consuming when you’d made an error!” As well as being a special year at work, 2014 is a special year for Diana personally as will celebrate her golden wedding anniversary with husband Mike, who she married in 1964.
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The latest Cotswold News & Events: cotswoldlink.co.uk
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02 Council workers 50 years service 12 Inspiring Young People into Sport travel 05 Carrick scoops Travel Award 14 travel Travelling with Kids out & about local news 06 Perfect picture captures beauty 14 Local Events in July & August of West Oxfordshire event: 16 Moreton Show 2014 astronomy 10 The Cotswold Sky news: 18 local Thousands of Poppies planted advertorial: to commemorate WW1 11 The Chinese are coming! news: & home: 20 local Lechlade Duck Race raises £16.5k! 12 house Garden Toys for Summer Fun news 21 local Future secured for village Pub 12 family Happy Holidays local news: FEATURED
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Welcome to the July - August issue of Your CotswoldLink In this issue we cover a whole host of local news and success stories to show that the Cotswolds really is a fantastic place to be, both in Summer and anytime! There’s so much to see and do, so please do use our ‘Out & About’ as a guide (p14-15). Make sure you also check out our useful Summer tips for how 01609 777401 to survive travelling with kids and garden chaos! (p12-13) If 01609 779097 you would like to advertise your business in this magazine or on cotswoldlink.co.uk our website then please feel free to contact us. facebook.com/ Best wishes, YourCotswoldLink Christine Campbell | Editor
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Mandy’s
Carrick News
In this issue...
Carrick Scoops Prestigious Award yet again! Carrick Travel, were once again winners of the prestigious award for Agent of the Year 2014, for the Central region. The Agent Achievement Awards are held each year in London and Carrick Travel are one of just a few agents to have been nominated every year for the last 10 years and have now won the title 5 times. Tina Nason and Tracey Carter, joint owners of the Midlands based agency were presented with the Award at a ceremony in London earlier this year Tina Nason said “This is fantastic news for the team at Carrick Travel as they all work really hard to ensure that the holiday makers of Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and the Cotswolds have a great holiday at a great price. There is a lot of competition around and we know that our clients have a choice, so we are honoured that they make Carrick Travel part of that choice. Our team is extremely knowledgeable and they are all certainly winners in our eyes!” Carrick Travel have offices in Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Stratfordupon-Avon, Solihull, Cheylesmore (Coventry), Pershore, Evesham, Chipping Norton and Bourton-on-the-Water. For more information please contact Tina Nason 01926 311415 or tinanason@carricktravel.com
Carrick Travel celebrates 40years!
Carrick Travel celebrated 40years in Travel during April 2014 with a little Thank you to all their staff. Birthday presents and cakes were delivered to all 9 of their offices in time for the big day and a celebratory meal out and overnight is planned for later in the year. Celebrations continued during the month as they had just been announced as finalists in the Agent Achievement Awards 2014. Voted for by their suppliers within the industry Carrick Travel are one of just 5 finalists who were at an awards ceremony in London in April to hear the final results. Tracey Carter said “This is fantastic news for everyone, we are all very excited and looking forward to a very special night out”
CONTACT THE TEAM • Chipping Norton: 10, Middle Row - t: 01608 641 983 • Bourton-on-the-Water: Moore Road - t: 01451 822 048 www.carricktravel.com
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Picture perfect image captures beauty of West Oxfordshire An image capturing West Oxfordshire’s scenic countryside and farming heritage has been chosen as the winner of the 2014 Oxfordshire Cotswolds photographic competition. Photographer Howard Sherwood snapped the image of a wheat field basking in early evening sunshine whilst on a walk near his home in Lyneham during the summer. The photograph was picked from more than 250 entries to the competition, run by the Oxfordshire Cotswolds team at West Oxfordshire District Council, and will be used to help publicise the local area as a tourist destination. West Oxfordshire is promoted under the brand of The Oxfordshire Cotswolds as part of the Council’s work to promote the District and encourage tourism. Mr Sherwood, pictured with the winning image, is a graphic designer and started taking photographs as part of his work around four years ago. He said: “I’ve always had an interest in photography, but it is only in recent years that I’ve started to take it 2014 Oxfordshire Cotswolds Photographic Competition much more seriously. winner Howard Sherwood with image at De Vere Venues Heythrop Park Resort. I find that it’s best to take photos either early in the morning or early evening – as was the case with this one – and have even been known to get up while it’s still dark to climb a mountain ready to photos as the sun rises. “I often go out for walks near my home and we are lucky in West Oxfordshire with the scenery. When I took this photo, everything seemed right: the lighting; the clouds in the sky; shadows being cast. It’s the first competition I’ve won and I’m delighted. It will be a privilege to see the image representing the District.” Mr Chapman’s photograph will appear in marketing publications, including the 2015 Oxfordshire Cotswolds Visitor Guide, and on the website www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org. Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism, said: “I cannot stress enough how important tourism is to our local economy and the District as a whole so we’re very grateful to everyone who took part in the competition. We had many outstanding images that will help us showcase the area and Mr Sherwood’s picture is very evocative of our district and an extremely worthy winner.” The competition was sponsored by Witney-based Blueprint Imaging Limited and the company has presented Mr Sherwood with a large wall canvas of his winning image. De Vere Venues Heythrop Park Resort also donated a prize of afternoon tea served in the venue’s Wedgewood Lounge.
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W E N businesses
s e c i v r e s & in & around our area
“New To The Area” is a new business feature specifically designed to help new businesses and those that are offering new businesses and services to promote themselves cost effectively. Businesses are invited to submit their adverts to this feature at the regular price (Advert sizes available:
1/8 and ¼) and they will receive the equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 17,300 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available. * Editorial must be supplied completed.
To feature within this section of the magazine please contact us on: 01609 777401 / 01609 779097 | christine@jkanorth.com
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Lights Up
Memory Club comes to Carterton
Unlocking memories through the arts is having such a positive impact on people attending the ‘Lights Up’ arts and memory club in Chipping Norton that a second West Oxfordshire club is opening in Carterton. After starting on Thursday 12 June, Carterton ‘Lights Up’ will be encouraging anyone living with dementia, including friends, families and carers, to come together and build friendships and learn new skills. Set up by West Oxfordshire District Council, ‘Lights Up’ will meet twice a month and will include a host of activities to stimulate the mind, such as sharing experiences, making music, art and storytelling. Recent studies have shown engagement with the arts brings benefits to both those with dementia and their loved ones through sharing activities. It also accesses the creative part of the brain, which overrides the stresses of memory loss and restores a sense of personal identity. It helps reduce feelings of isolation and seclusion that many people with dementia experience as they struggle to communicate with others. Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Living with dementia brings many challenges and this Club aims to help those affected to cope with the everyday strains and stresses they face. We are pleased to be setting up our second ‘Lights Up’ club, which we believe will not only offer creative thinking but help to reduce the feeling of being isolated from society.” West Oxfordshire District Council is working with a host of organisations to run the ‘Lights Up’ arts and memory club in Carterton including Cottsway Housing. Funding applications are also being considered by Oxfordshire County Council and Carterton Town Council.
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Volunteers help to run the Club and sessions are led by professionals and artists with experience of working with older people. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Val McKay on 01451 810637. Cllr Mark Booty, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Health, said: “West Oxfordshire has one of the largest proportions of people aged 55 and over of all the Oxfordshire districts and we know that there is an increasing prevalence of dementia amongst an ageing population.” The club began on Thursday 12 June and will run on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, from 10.30am to 12.30pm; meeting at Blenheim Court, Sycamore Drive, Carterton OX18 3BX. People can turn up on the day and do not need to book in advance. For more information contact Val McKay on 01451 810637 or enquiries@memoryclubs. co.uk.
A new home for Workwear! New to the Cotswolds area, First Avenue Supplies Ltd have been supplying safety and promotional clothing to a wide range of companies / organisations from their original base in Milton Keynes for over 10 years.
Stock includes safety helmets, protective gloves, safety glasses, steel or composite toe cap shoes and boots, chef’s whites, outdoor safety jackets etc. The other important services to customers is in-house embroidery and printing onto clothing, giving that professional and personal identity.
Tel: 01608 651915 (Moreton-in-Marsh office) Tel: 01908 373388 (Milton Keynes head office) shop@firstavenuesupplies.co.uk www. firstavenuesupplies.co.uk
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The
Cotswold Sky Observe the stars in the comfort of your sun lounger July and August can be the most pleasant of times for observing the stars. The nights are warm and once darkness has fallen, the richest parts of the Milky Way can be observed in August, as high as it can be when looking directly South. August is also renowned for its abundance of meteor showers. Once your BBQ is over, switch off the house lights, make yourself comfortable on the sun lounger and look at the sky. You do not even need a telescope but a pair of binoculars can be useful. Familiarise yourself with the shape of the constellations, have an astronomy sky chart to hand and remember to put a red filter over your torch (red plastic polythene will suffice) this will ease the strain on your eyes. The Sky Diary below shows the dates of the meteor showers.
Astro News
What is the value of Space Exploration? In the complex society that we live in the above question creates divisive debate. However; unique advances in Space Technology filter into everyday life into areas of Health, Medicine, Transport, Public Safety, Consumer Goods, Industrial Productivity, Energy and Environment. Examples include: • Monitors enabling medication management in patient’s homes. • Solar Refrigerators storing lifesaving vaccines • Development of more comfortable car seats • Catalytic converters to maintain air quality • Home Air Purifiers to eradicate harmful pathogens • Revolutionary advances in harnessing solar power • Micro-Accelerometers to monitor equipment health • Durable wind turbines that can operate under extreme climatic conditions • Reducing fuel consumption and noise from aircraft. • Monitoring climatic change • New clothing materials NASA issues reports of these advances which it refers to as “Spinoffs”. For a detailed description of these examples plus many more go to: www.spinoff.nasa.gov
Sky Diary
4th July - The Sun reaches its furthest distance from Earth; this is referred to in astronomical terms as aphelion. 5th July - Look SW at 23.00hrs, Mars appears just to the upper left of the Moon (Saturn is further to the left). 7th July – Look SW at 23.00hrs, Saturn appears to the upper left of the Moon (Mars is further to the right) 24th July – Be up early for this one, at 04.30hrs the Moon is just North of due East and to its left is a bright Venus, below and to the left of Venus is Mercury. 3rd August – The Moon is in the SW at 21.45hrs with Mars situated to its right and Saturn to its left.
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18th August – Not to be missed get your camera out because at 04.45hrs Venus can be seen almost touching Jupiter just North of due East. 23rd August – For the early birds you will see Jupiter to the left of the Moon with Venus below and a little further to the left. Meteor Showers: • July 8th, 15th, 26th: Capricomid stream • July 21st: Alpha Cygnids • July 28th: Delta Aquarids • August 2nd: Alpha Capricomids • August 6th: lota Aquarids • August 7th: Delta Aquarids • August 12th/13th: Perseids • August 28th: Alpha Aurigids John Harris
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The Chinese are coming! Paul Hensby, Director of Reach Into China, describes how Cotswold businesses can take advantage of the huge increase in Chinese tourists to the UK in the years ahead. Tourism means business, and Chinese tourism means big business. The UK government has made it easier for the Chinese to get a visitor visa, and in March Visit Britain launched the GREAT China Welcome campaign to show the Chinese we want them to visit this country. By 2020 there are likely to be 650,000 Chinese visitors to the UK, spending an annual £1.1 billion. What has this got to do with Oxford and the Cotswolds? For organisations that can offer something to Chinese tourists, the answer is a lot. Chinese tourists know the Oxford ‘brand’ thanks to the reputation of the university and the popularity of Morse on Chinese TV. The same is true for the Cotswolds which for the Chinese means quintessentially English countryside, lovely villages and the location for Harry Potter movies and Downton Abbey. Businesses in the region that, given the right advice, will benefit from the surge in Chinese tourism include hotels, pubs, restaurants, museums, galleries, gift shops, stately homes, craft centres, fashion and beauty retailers, breweries, estate agents, business advisers, schools and sport, leisure and entertainment venues. The China national holidays - early February, early May and early October - can increase the length of the season and the income earned…if you can reach this lucrative audience. Reach Into China, recommended by Visit Britain, provides bespoke advice and services to enable UK companies to become more successful at winning business from Chinese visitors. These services include Mandarin translation of marketing material and visitor information, supplying temporary Mandarin speaking staff, staff training, providing the very important UnionPay (the card used by most Chinese) payment facilities, and creating and managing our clients’ Chinese social media accounts.
Above: The new wave of Chinese tourists will be more affluent and wanting a high quality visitor experience.
Now is the time to act, not least because if a company can demonstrate it is becoming ‘China-ready’, it can join Visit Britain’s GREAT China Welcome Charter and be promoted, free of charge, in China. The question for Cotswolds’ businesses is not whether you can afford to market to the Chinese, but can you afford not to. For more information, visit www.reachintochina.com
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Happy Holidays
Garden Toys for Summer Fun
The school holidays are once more with us, which gives the children the time to relax and chill out. It can be a difficult time for parents particularly when you read that a Nation-Wide Building Society survey estimates that parents will spend nearly £1,000 per child on childcare, days out, treats and food over this period. Where they get the figures from I am not certain however; it points to the summer holidays being an expensive time.
n You don’t always need to
leave home to have some Summer fun with the children. If you invest in some great garden toys you can keep them busy for hours, and ensure they get some fresh air and exercise. n Traditional toys such as swings and slides remain popular.
There are many different sizes and styles available, so do make sure that you pick carefully to match the age of the children that will be playing on them, and to ensure they are robust enough. n Trampolines have really increased in popularity in the last
five years or so. Do take care to consider where you will place one in your garden. Do you really have a big enough, flat surface available? All but the small junior ones come with safety enclosures. Do read the assembly and usage instructions carefully. Frequently these will say there should be only one person at a time on the trampoline, but this can be tricky to enforce. n Give them a sense of the beach by buying a sandpit. Designs
You do not necessarily have to spend a small fortune on keeping your loved ones actively occupied: • Plan ahead for things to do. • Be constructive and always allow time for the children to fill in their own ideas of what they want to do even if it is lazing about for half a day. They will be appreciative being given the responsibility of managing their own time. • Search your local library, check the village notices, read local newspapers and search the internet for information on events for example: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/article/105088/Summer-holiday-events-in-thelibraries and www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/node/3126 These two local council sites offer activities specifically for children during the summer holidays • The BBC receives a great deal of criticism over many things but they also provide many useful activities have a look at their www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo internet site where they work alongside not-for-profit and publicly funded organisations who offer activities to the public.
vary from simple circle shaped pits, to shaped items, right through to luxury wooden models, with seats and built-in sunshade. It can be useful to have one with a lid to protect the sand from wet weather. Stores recommend that you buy special play-sand to ensure it is clean, safe and non toxic, and ideal for making sand castles with. Or perhaps you might prefer a play table that incorporates a sand area and water play? n Lots of fun can be had in a paddling pool.
These range from very cheap, simple single ring designs, to those with multiple rings, rigid sides, and those incorporating slides and other activities. Ease of inflation is an important consideration when you have excited children waiting to play. Other toys that can help kids have fun with water in the garden include sprinklers, and of course water pistols, or as they are more commonly known these days ‘Supersoakers’. n An empty sand pit or paddling pool can also double up as a
ball pool.
n Or why not have your own World cup or Wimbledon, by
investing in football goals or tennis equipment?
n If you only have a small garden or limited budget, do not
despair, there are still many choices. How about a croquet or skittle set, skipping rope, slingshot, hoola hoop, some blowing bubbles or a small play tunnel? If you’ve not room for ball games requiring lots of space try something like swingball. Or you could let the little ones do some garden role play by buying some play ‘mini garden tools’ n Whatever you buy, always check age guidelines and look for
quality marks.
By Susan Brookes-Morris
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Inspiring young people into sport
Further opportunities for young people to try new activities and be inspired to take up sport will be offered in West Oxfordshire after funding was secured to continue a Council project. West Oxfordshire District Council has been awarded just over £11,800 for 2014/15 from the Lottery-backed Sportivate London 2012 legacy programme, set up to provide opportunities for more 11 to 25-year-olds to take up a sport. The funding will enable the District Council to build upon the success of a project run during the last two years to offer young people the chance to try new activities and take part in sporting sessions free-of-charge. The latest sessions have included ‘cardio tennis’ workouts in Eynsham and skateboarding and street sports in Long Hanborough, which is currently running on Fridays from 4.30pm at the village skate park, along with basketball every Friday at Middle Barton MUGA from 6.30-7.30pm. Details of projects for the next year are yet to be finalised, but are expected to include: • Water polo and football in Woodstock • Street sports and cricket in Bampton
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• There are numerous ideas for keeping the children occupied you
just need to know where to look another most useful site is http:// freestuff4kids.net/101-things-to-do-with-kids/ this also includes 101 things to do for pre-schoolers. An excellent site for rainy days.
Still struggling?
Then try my fun A to Z alphabet for ideas: A – Arts and Crafts B – Biking C - Collecting (Safety first) (eg stamps, coins) D – Dancing E – Embroidery F – Football G – Gardening H – Helping at Home I – Ice Cream Making J – Jewellery Making K – Kite Flying L – Local History Research
M – Model Making N – Nature Studies O – Ornithology (study of birds) P – Photography Q – Quiz Games R – Reading S – Swimming T – Tennis U – Uranography (mapping stars) V – Visiting friends W – Walks X – xylographics (wood engraving) Y – Yoga Z – Go to a Zoo
Other Useful Internet Sites: www.eparenting.co.uk/summer/things_to_do_in_the_summer_holidays www.letsgowiththechildren.co.uk Where ever you go and whatever you do I wish you all safe journeys and happy relaxing holidays. John Harris
• Regular sessions at the Early Intervention Hub in Witney, ranging from street dance to hockey • A project with Abingdon & Witney College to offer Booiaka dance workout sessions Kyle Harrington (pictured), 14, who lives in Long Hanborough and has been attending the skateboarding sessions, said: “It’s been brilliant, we’ve learned loads of new things and I think a lot of us will be on our skateboards more often now.” The £56m Sportivate fund is co-ordinated by Sport England and, locally, Oxfordshire Sports Partnership. ................................................................................................... For further information contact the District Council’s leisure team on 01993 861080 or email: leisureandtourism@westoxon.gov.uk
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Travelling With Kids
Out & About 12th July
n Charlbury Primary School: Summer Fair
Charlbury Primary School will be holding their annual Summer Fair on Saturday 12th July on Playing Close. More details to follow in due course.
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19th July n Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales
Keep family holidays a trouble-free, happy experience by following these tips!
Keep Entertained Pack plenty for kids to do during long, tedious journeys. A device loaded with apps is nice and compact, but also consider hand held puzzles, colouring books, plasticine, puppets, stickers, reading books and cards.
Keep Safe Use a child locator if you are visiting busy airports or crowded tourist attractions. Your child wears a small unit strapped to a belt or shoe and you keep the transmitter. If you lose your child, set off the alarm and follow the sound to find them.
Keep Healthy Young children often get ill on holiday. Keep bugs at bay by having a supply of antibacterial wipes to clean restaurant tables, cutlery and toilet seats and hand sanitiser for when there are no washing facilities nearby. A basic first aid kit is also a must!
Keep Memories Give smaller children a robust, child-friendly camera to record what’s important and interesting to them, and encourage older kids to keep a travel journal on postcards by writing messages to themselves - they make great memories for adulthood! Happy Holidays! By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Bring the family, enjoy the festival, and walk off some of your ale around our beautiful and historic village situated on the edge of the Cotswolds. Entry fee £3.00 A Festival starter pack is available on entry price £10 (includes a glass + 4 half pint tokens, a programme and a pencil. All beer is priced at £1.50 per half pint. One token = £1.50. A glass on its’ own is £6. For further details see www.hookybeerfest.co.uk ...................................................................................................................
16th July n Charlbury WI July meeting - A History of The Witney Blanket Industry
Described as ‘a fascinating talk by an enthusiast’, our July speaker, Valerie Burton, will be recounting the history of the Witney blanket industry, in which she worked for many years. We’ll be finding out the origins of the term ‘tenterhooks’, how stale urine was used as bleach and how the noise of the machines led workers to become expert lip readers! Newcomers are always very welcome. Charlbury WI meet at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of the month in the Cornbury Suite just behind The Bell (look out for the ‘Welcome’ sign on the door). Follow us on Twitter (@CharlburyWI) or Like us on Facebook (Charlbury WI, Oxfordshire). ...................................................................................................................
26th - 27th July n Riverside Festival
The Riverside Festival attracts thousands of music lovers to Charlbury’s Mill Field, and yet is still the friendliest, most relaxed music festival in Oxfordshire and, astonishingly, is still completely FREE to enter. With great music and masses of kids’ activities, Riverside is one of the most popular events in the Oxfordshire music calendar with families. Entrance to the Festival site is down Mill Lane, virtually opposite Charlbury railway station. Details: riversidefestival.charlbury.com ...................................................................................................................
Charlbury Art Society Charlburty Art Society's first talk of the 2014-15 season will be given by Chris Christoforu on "Beauty in Your Backyard", at 7:30pm sharp at the Quaker Meeting House, Market Street, Charlbury on Wednesday, September 10th. Free to Art Society members; visitors welcome £3 entry. Information on the Society is available during the meeting, and new members are welcomed. Annual exhibition of Arts and Crafts will be held in conjunction with Charlbury's Street Fair on Saturday, September 20th, at the Corner House, Charlbury, from 9:30am - 5:30pm. Proceeds from the entrance fee of 50p will go to the Street Fair. Please come and see the growing talent we have within the Society and help the Street Fair's charities at the same time. www.charlburyarts.co.uk
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26th July n Live Reading: “Of Ink, Wit and Intrigue”
Writer Susan Cooper-Bridgewater will be visiting Lodge Park to read aloud some sections from her new historical fiction novel “Of Ink, Wit and Intrigue” and to sign copies of the books. Set in the 17th century, the book follows the life of the notorious Earl of Rochester. The house will be open from 11-4pm and some of the proceeds from the sales of the novel will benefit the National Trust. Lodge Park: 01451 844130
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27th July n Lazy Cotswold Sunday
Jazz music, croquet and picnics on the beautiful lawns make this the perfect Lazy Cotswold Sunday. Come and enjoy this beautiful 1630’s grandstand, built solely for entertaining and gambling, and while you’re here, come and take a walk through Lodge Park’s stunning surroundings, and visit the recently commemorated oak tree that has stood here since 1492. Lodge Park: 01451 844130
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9th & 10th August n Historical Re-enactment
Members of The Household re-enactors will be appearing at the National Trust property Lodge Park on August 9 and 10 from 11am-4pm. Visitors will see a little of the way in which infants and children were cared for, a range of period games and pastimes for adults and children, including some very rare mathematical artefacts, and an opportunity to see some of the types of food which were available in the 1600’s. Lodge Park: 01451 844130
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25th August: Bank Holiday Monday n Shipton Church Fete
Shipton-under-Wychwood Village Green: noon There will be a programme of music, an opportunity to climb the bell tower, and have tea and cake. On the village green we will have games and stalls for children, ice-cream, tombola, hot dogs and hamburgers, a bar with beer and soft drinks, and a white elephant stall, as well as a raffle with many prizes and other activities. More details: www.shiptonunderwychwood.org
................................................................................................................... The editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to the events listed. All events are correct at time of going to print.
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Moreton Show is bigger and better this year! Moreton Show is bigger and better this year so put 6th September in your diary and join us for a fun filled, great value day out! Set in the parkland of the Batsford Estate, Moreton Show is one of the last remaining traditional one day agricultural shows in the area. The Bolddog Lings Motocross Display Team is back by popular demand with more stunts and tricks to thrill the Grand Arena Audience. Katy Cropper headlines the Attractions ring, showing her skill as one of the best known sheep dog handlers in the country with her display featuring dogs, ducks and a fell pony. Other acts featuring throughout the day include the Pony Club Mounted Games, Terrier Racing, 6 Bar Show Jumping challenge, the Bluebell Majorette Band, Parelli Natural Horsemanship and much more. For dog lovers out there, there will be a dog show featuring a fun scurry and gun
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dog displays. Cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and for the first time, pigs will all be featured in one area, offering visitors a rare experience to see animals of all shapes and sizes compete in a variety of classes including the national shows for Cotswold Sheep and Poll Hereford Cattle. The culmination of the Livestock section will be the parade of prize winning animals, where exhibitors in the cattle and sheep sections congregate in the Grand Arena, which is not be missed! With a new horse showing ring, even more classes are to take place featuring the elegant side-saddle classes, re-trained racehorses, show jumping and top quality horses competing in the various Horse of the Year Show Qualifiers which take place throughout the day. It’s not all about the competitions however, far from it! There is something for all the family around the show ground. With over 300 trade stands around the showground offering an array of items from the latest agricultural equipment, high class and bespoke items such as jewellery,
clothing and gifts to wood burning stoves and garden ware there really is something for everyone. Food lovers will be drawn to the extended Country Larder with the region’s top specialist food producers offering a variety of tastes and textures to take home and enjoy. Step back in time in the Butler Sherborn Countryside and Heritage Area with native animals from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, an exhibition of vintage hunting equipment, a display of stone walling and much more. Vintage Vehicle enthusiasts are catered for with the parades of vintage tractors and motorcycles that takes place in the Attractions ring. This year the show boasts a new family fun area hosting free workshops for circus skills, performing arts and dance. The tallest bubbleologist in the world will also be wowing both children and adults with an amazing repertoire of bubble tricks. Buy your tickets in advance from local outlets or on-line at www.moretonshow.co.uk and save money (parking is free)! We look forward to seeing you on 6th September.
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Thousands of poppies planted to commemorate World War One
Work is underway to create a dazzling display of thousands of red poppies alongside Monahan Way to commemorate the centenary of World War One. Monahan Way forms part of the repatriation route from Brize Norton to Carterton.
Above: Photograph taken along Monahan Way of James Gillies sewing the poppies and holding some seeds in his hands.
Did you know? Over
97%
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of Britain’s wildflower meadows have been lost since 1940! Create your own using tips here: www.plantlife.org.uk/things_to_do/ grow_wild/wildmeadow
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The centenary of World War One triggered off the idea of a poppy display to local resident and businessman, James Gillies, as he is keen to see more wildflower meadows grown to help improve the environment. James Gillies (photographed) said, “Wildflower meadows not only look good, but are beneficial for birds, bees and other insects. This year is a good opportunity to start encouraging
landowners, communities and individuals to plant wildflowers and start thinking about the positive impact they can have.” James is working closely with West Oxfordshire District Council who manage the verge, and he offered to plant and donate poppy seeds along Monahan Way through his company, Complete Land Care. The seeds will flower from July through to September and the meadow will be maintained by the company for a period of 5 years to mark the duration of WW1. Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment said, “This is an excellent way of marking the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One and remembering the sacrifices that so many people made at that time.
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“Planting wildflowers flowers helps attract bees and increase pollination and so this activity is also a boost for our environment. We are pleased to be working with a local company and applaud them for taking this initiative.” The red field poppy became a symbol of remembrance at the end of the WW1 as the only flower that grew on the barren battlefields. In 1918, at the end of the First World War, the fields of Northern France and Flanders were filled with poppies. Over one million poppy seeds have been sown across approximately 1900 square meters of land along Monahan Way, the north east Carterton link road.
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Charity Duck Race organized by RAF Brize Norton raises over £16,500! The Lechlade Duck Race on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May 2014, saw an unprecedented turn out of people come along to race a duck. Organised by the personnel of RAF Brize Norton the event was in its inaugural year and they had hoped to attract a few thousand people along. However, the idea of this new event must have struck a chord across the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire as Lechlade was overrun with ’Duck Racers’ desperate to enter the race. The sun came out for the race, which saw around 6000 people descend on the beautiful historic town. The day was a huge success for the charities being supported, the Royal Air Forces Association and the Cotswold Water Park Trust, and over £16,500 was raised which will go to numerous great projects both in the local area and nationally. The winner of the main Duck Race was local girl Trinity Bunn who chose Duck 717. She told BFBS Presenter Jo Thoenes that she chose the duck because number 7 is her “lucky number”. Speaking after the event Trinity’s mum Amanda Bunn, Chair of the PTA at Lechlade’s St. Lawrences School, said, “We loved the day and it was a fantastic community event. It was good for all of the local businesses to see an increase in trade and was a great event for the town of Lechlade”.
A message from the event organiser, Sgt Ali Hedworth of 24 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton: “We were surprised and delighted with the fantastic support the event received from the local community. No one here could have predicted such a turnout for the first year of a charity event like this and we are very grateful to everyone out there who supported the event and enabled us to do something so positive for our charities.
We realise that the huge success of the day caused a number of people to experience traffic delays and parking problems. Now that we know the potential scale of this event we intend to plan on a much grander scale in the future and will ensure that much more robust traffic control measures are in place. We will also engage with more local land owners to ensure that there is enough parking so that no one misses out on racing their duck next time around.
The day also included a side competition called Duck Idol where local groups, businesses and organizations were asked to decorate a duck. The top 3 voted ducks went into a ‘Quack Off’ and the loudest cheers came in for the Filkins
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Overall the day proved to be a huge success and an exciting and rather unusual new event for the Cotswolds.
We had shipped in 4000 ducks in the hope that we may be able to attract a few thousand people along who might all then sponsor a couple ducks each. We had also arranged to use one parking field on the land that the Cotswold Water Park Trust look after. By 11:30 we had opened another two fields and by around 13:30 we were running out of parking space.
Trinity’s certificate and prizes were presented by Olympic legend Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE who also brought his family along to the event.
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Nursery (The Old Station Nursery), who had a full ‘Duck Train’ complete with carriages containing a miniature version of each child at the nursery.
We also intend to launch a website where you will be able to pre-sponsor your duck so that in future there will be no lengthy queues to get your hands on your duck! Thank you to everyone who made it along to the event and enjoyed their day down by the river in Lechlade. We very much appreciate your support as do our charities and we hope to see you again in the future at the new and improved Lechlade Duck Race 2015!”
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Retro Arctic Roll Method
In the 60s and 70s, having a frozen dessert you could serve at a moment’s notice was the posh thing to do. The simple but glorious arctic roll started popping up everywhere, from restaurants to school and hospital menus. Eventually it became seen as something a bit naff and tacky, but I think smearing a home-made sponge with quality jam, good ice cream and a little bashed-up honeycomb is easy, fun, and just a bit silly. Roll it up, freeze it for a few hours, and you’ll get sweet and sour, crunch and softness, all in one mouthful. Heaven.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Move the ice cream to the fridge so it starts to soften. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, add the sugar, and whisk until pale, fluffy and at least doubled in size. You can do this with an electric mixer, or by hand if you’ve got the muscle. Once it’s looking good, sift in the flour and slowly fold it through with a spatula. Grease a baking tray (roughly 26 x 36cm) with butter, then line it with greaseproof paper and grease that too. Spoon half your sponge batter on to the tray, blobbing it about in different places, then sift the cocoa powder into the remaining batter and fold it in. Spoon the chocolatey sponge into the gaps on the tray, and use the spoon to drag it through the white sponge in S-shapes and circles until it looks beautiful and marbled. Make sure there are no gaps. Place the tray on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Grease another large sheet of greaseproof paper with butter and sprinkle over a few good pinches of sugar. Take the sponge out of the oven and confidently flip it over on to the paper. Peel and discard the top piece of paper, then, while the
sponge is still warm and flexible, loosely roll it up into a long sausage, including the paper, and leave it to cool for around 20 minutes. Once cooled, gently unroll the sponge and spread over half of the jam. Take big dessert spoons of your soft ice cream and randomly distribute them over the sponge, leaving the last 5 or 6cm at one end free of filling so that it creates a seal when you roll it up. Put whatever you don’t use back in the freezer. Dollop over teaspoons of the remaining jam, then sprinkle your bashed-up chocolate bar all over. Use a spatula to smear everything into a fairly smooth dense layer. Confidently, start rolling the sponge up again, making sure there’s no paper inside it. If the filling starts to slip out, just push it back in. Twisting the ends and squeezing it into a long, fairly even icecream sausage. Pop it into the freezer for 3 hours, and take it out around 5 to 10 minutes before you want to use it so it thaws enough to slice. Unwrap your arctic roll, take a slice out of each end to expose the frozen insides, and serve with fresh summer fruits tossed in lemon juice and a pinch of sugar, or any edible flowers if you have them.
Future secured for village pub West Oxfordshire’s first communityowned pub had its grand opening in early May. When the 17th century Red Lion in Northmoor went up for sale last year, a group of residents banded together to look at how they could secure its future, as the pub has always been at the heart of village life. After seeking advice from officers at West Oxfordshire District Council and at the Plunkett Foundation, the residents set up a company, The Northmoor Lion Ltd, to buy the pub for the community. With a loan secured, they successfully purchased the Red Lion in November 2013. Since then they have been encouraging everyone in the village to become a part of the project by investing into it, however big or small. So far 67 individuals have taken out shareholdings, raising around £250k. Money is still coming in. Now, six months later, the pub has been re-decorated, new landlords recruited and it is ready to hit the ground running. Parish Council Chairman Graham Shelton is part of the driving force behind the venture. He said, “We’re all very excited, Northmoor has proved that if there is an energetic group of people that want to get things done, you can get things done.
“When the pub came on the market, we feared we’d lose it. Alongside the church and village hall, it’s greatly valued by local people and is at the heart of our community. Our local district councillors and council officers have been very supportive all the way along by providing advice at the very beginning right through to recent help with licensing. We took the decision as a community that we wanted to buy it, if we could. At first we explored making it a community asset, but it all moved so fast we ended putting in a successful community bid with a loan secured through the Northmoor Lion Ltd. We decided that the pub should be a freehouse rather than try and run it ourselves and when we advertised the tenancy we were overwhelmed by the response. After going through a painstaking selection process, we are delighted with our final selection. Our new tenants, Ian and Lisa, are first time landlords, but have come to us with a lot of experience and a fantastic reputation from their previous place for food and beer. Ian has been a chef for 18 years and worked in famous places such as the Bibendum restaurant and Lisa has 12 years front of house experience. They have the whole village behind them. Finally, thank you to all our supporters and inves-
tors. As well as enabling us to keep our community focal point at the heart of the village, we intend the shareholding to be a sound and good investment opportunity with a respectable return.” For more information about the Northmoor Lion, contact Graham Shelton on 01865 390144 or email graham@pharmagenesis.com. West Oxfordshire District Council works with communities to advise and help them protect assets of value such as local pubs, village shops and other community facilities.
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Next issues West Oxfordshire September / October 2014
shilton
North Cotswolds September / October 2014
Distribution: w/c 1st & 8th Sept ‘14 Copy: 7th August ‘14
Distribution: w/c 1st & 8th Sept ‘14 Copy: 7th August ‘14
November / December 2014
November / December 2014
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Distribution: w/c 3rd & 10th Dec ‘14 Copy: 10th Oct ‘14
Christine Editor 01609 777401 | 07742 595747 christine@cotswoldlink.co.uk
Index
Attractions & Events
Cadence Chior Workshop: p9 Cotswold Youth Choir: p16 Lodge Park: p15
Builders & Contractors
Cherwell Chimneys: p7 CN Glass: p7 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Eynsham Park Sawmill: p19 JA Shirley Building Services: p3 Prior Products: p3 The 50 Plus: p4
Children’s Services
Cotswold Youth Choir: p16 Cotswold Tutor: p13
Cleaning Services The Laundry: p10
Dentist
Cirencester Dental Practice: p8
Design
Inkwell: p16
Education
Cotswold Montessori School: p1 Cotswold Tutor: p13
Elderly Services
Attitude Care Nights: p17 Nurseplus UK: p4 The Langston Care Home: p17
Brize norton
Carterton
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Cotswold Aerials: p17 Mayday Aerials: p2 Vision Repairs: p7
Besides being a medium for our advertisers to showcase their businesses in high quality print, we also include regular features, such as a double page events spread, garden diary and ‘New to the Area’ feature, as well as local stories of interest, to help give our publications retention value.
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Electrical Services
High Quality
All these businesses (& many more) are available online at: www.cotswoldlink.co.uk Hire
Business search & listings
Cotswold Tool & Plant Hire: p19
Home & Interiors
Entertainment Carrick Travel: p5
Food & Drink
FWP Matthews: p1 Wiltshire Farm Foods: p16
Furniture
Cottonwood Interiors: p5 Eynsham Park Sawmill: p19
Gardening & Hard Landscaping
Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Cottonwood Interiors: p5 Heat Store: p7 Redlay Flooring: p5 Sewing Tuition: p13 Ultrashade Blinds: p6
Images & website links* (If in package selected)
Laundry
The Laundry: p10
Locksmiths
The Locksmith: p6
Motoring
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Colin Broad Gardener: p18 Cotswold Tool & Plant Hire: p19 H & H Groundworks: p19
JS Motors: p2
Pets & Animals
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Hair & Beauty
Property Maintenance
Recruitment
Tree Surgery
Sound & Vision
Tuition
Laser Light: p10
Healthcare & Wellbeing Breakspeare Clinic: p24 Cirencester Dental Practice: p8 Laser Light: p10
Heating
Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p10 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p3 Heat Store: p7 Wayne Sealey Plumbing: p4
Dial A Dog Wash: p15 Cherwell Chimneys: p7 CN Glass: p7 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p10 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p3 JA Shirley Building Services: p3 Prior Products: p3 The 50 Plus: p4 The Locksmith: p6 Wayne Sealey Plumbing: p4
Nurseplus UK: p4 Cotswold Aerials: p17 Mayday Aerials: p2 Vision Repairs: p7
Sports & Leisure Runnerbean: p13 TY Cycles: p1
Russell Nicholls Tree Services: p19 Cotswold Tutor: p13 Sewing Tuition: p13
Windows
CN Glass: p7 Prior Products: p3
Travel & Tourism Carrick Travel: p5
The Index is a free service offered to our customers. No responsibility can be held for errors or omissions. Multiple entries included on a space available basis
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Fantastic films & Music in Charlbury All our films and live performances are held in the Memorial Hall, Browns Lane, Charlbury. Refreshments: please be aware that the bar is an essential part of the financial viability of many of our events. These are not BYOB occasions, and we ask our audience to respect this. Our bar opens 45 minutes before the film. Many people come early to meet with friends and have a drink together. ChOC is a sociable
occasion as well as an entertainment -- and sometimes a cultural event. Live entertainments are booked further ahead. For information about our films, or about ChOC generally, email the secretary, Jon Carpenter, at secretary@chocfilms.info For information about ChOClive email the coordinator, Jackie Hague, at: jackie@chocfilms.info Full details: www.chocfilms.info
Sunday 13th July “Blue Jasmine”
Memorial Hall, Charlbury 7.30pm, doors and bar open 6.45. (12A) 1hr 35m
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Sunday 17th August “Sunshine on leith”
Memorial Hall, Charlbury 7.30pm, doors and bar open 6.45. Cert PG, 1hr 35m.
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What’s On @ Box Office: 01608 642350
Many more events at
chipping nortontheatre.com
www.chippingnortontheatre.com
11th, 12th & 13th july - various times
MURDER IN THE VILLAGE
Following the sell-out success of The Living Literature Walks and In the Footsteps of the Mitfords, Scary Little Girls and The Theatre Chipping Norton invite you to join us on the trail of Agatha Christie and her beloved creations! In small groups, you’ll find Christie’s favourite characters hidden in unusual locations around Chipping Norton and you must work with them to solve the murder in the village! And along your route, explore Christie’s creative and devious mind and help reveal the murderer! Please dress for all weathers and bring footwear you can explore in! Walks start from The Theatre and take approximately 60 minutes. Tickets £14
Tuesday 15 July - Monday 1 September
SARAH TERRY- TANGO ARGENTINO
Sarah trained at the Andy Goldstein school of Photography in Buenos Aires. She ran-away with her camera to South America where much of her influence is drawn from the characters on the streets of Buenos Aires. She works mostly with strangers, with the intention of portraying the charm of the unknown, unhampered by the subject’s self-awareness. This exhibition of photographs offers the passion, sadness and love of urban life across the world, centred on those living in the city whose beating heart dances to tango. FREE - No need to book, just turn up
Friday 18 July, 7.45pm
AND FINALLY - THE BEST OF PHIL COLLINS
‘And Finally… Phil Collins’ were recognized in 2013 by the industry at the ‘National Tribute Awards’ as the ‘OFFICIAL No.1’ tribute show to Phil Collins. This two hour plus spectacular includes all the classic hits; Another Day In Paradise, Can’t Stop Loving You, I Wish It Would Rain Down, In The Air Tonight, Easy Lover, Sussudio together with Genesis songs Land Of Confusion and Turn It On Again performed by a world class ten piece lineup of musicians giving you the ultimate Phil Collins experience. Adults £15 | Concessions £13
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