Shrivingham Community News Spring 23

Shrivenham Station Community News

SPRING 2023

With our warm and welcoming boarding community at the heart of the school, Kingswood offers an exceptional education of depth and breadth.

Full, weekly or flexi boarding available, with our pastoral team providing a safe, nurturing and exciting experience for pupils.

Visit us to find out more.

Station Welfare Team...

Major Ed Bell Station Welfare Officer 01793 785786

e: edward.bell278@ mod.gov.uk

Duty Mobile: 07825 674635

WO1 Mick Mayes Station Welfare Warrant Officer 01793 314791

e: michael.mayes656 @mod.gov.uk

Duty Mobile: 07825 674635

Mrs Rebecca Dunne Families & Welfare Specialist Coordinator 01793 780793

e: Rebecca.dunne@ da.mod.uk

Shrivenham

Station Community News

Station Commander's Foreword

Welcome to the Spring Edition of the Shrivenham Community News.

As the days start to stretch out, we see the first shoots of Spring appear across the expansive Defence Academy Estate. Following an extremely busy 2022, it is already clear that this year will certainly be no different. In particular, there will be significant building work commencing imminently to improve the Defence Academy and, importantly, continue to fulfil its commitment to sustainability. A new Medical and Dental Centre, and the overdue refurbishment of Single Living Accommodation will help support the Defence Academy for many years, however there will inevitably be some disruption on site and additional traffic for which we ask your forbearance.

base of support: please see social media for details.

Miss Samantha Davies

Families & Welfare Lead Administrator 01793 780793

e: Samantha.davies@ da.mod.uk

edward.Bell278@mod.gov.uk

01793 785786 D

Shrivenham Station Welfare Officer

Jubilee Community Centre

Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

Shrivenham SN6 8LA

Please Remember

Items for inclusion in the Summer edition may be submitted at any time but must be received by 10th May 2023 for publication at the end of the month.

Advertising: Jayne Bailey

Lance Media Group Ltd

Tel: (01536) 334219

Email: jayne@lancemediagroup.co.uk

The Watchfield and Shrivenham Community Larder continues to grow from strength to strength after 3 months of operation, with a significant increase in footfall which fully underlines its need within the community, often used as a warm space, or an opportunity for conversation, as much as a source of much-needed supplementary provisions. We thank the network of volunteers and continue to seek a broader

Following a most productive meeting with local Parish counsellors across a wide range of initiatives and areas of interest, we will continue to develop these relationships and identify mutually beneficial opportunities. Finally, whilst work continues apace, we look forward to the coronation of King Charles III, and the respective community celebrations to mark this historic milestone.

CO Wg Cdr Gavin Thomas RAF

FRONT COVER IMAGE: Bluebell woods by James Ratchford at Shutterstock.com

Commandants meet to discuss future of defence education

Major General Andrew Roe, Chief Executive and Commandant of the Defence Academy, will join his counterparts from leading international military command and staff colleges at the second South Asia Council of Commandants, at Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Monday 13 February.

The commandants - from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives, hosts Sri Lanka, and the UK - will discuss and exchange views on professional military education (PME) with the aim of enhancing cooperation and exchanging ideas and innovation.

The conference, which runs until 16 February, takes place at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) of Sri Lanka. Designed to stimulate discussions, a number of topics will be addressed during the conference, each led by a commandant.

The topics include ‘Future classrooms and future education’ (Bangladesh); ‘Climate Change,

Security and Sustainability education’ (Nepal); ‘Educating Generation Z’ (Pakistan); ‘Economic Warfare’, and ‘Military Ethics in PME’ (King’s College London); ‘Update on CDERA and the DARE’ (UK); and ‘Resilience’ (Sri Lanka).

Maj Gen Roe has been invited by Commandant DSCSC to deliver an introductory address on the first full day of the conference, Tuesday 14 February, in which he will speak about education in the 21st century. He has also been asked to summarise the conference on 15 February. The Council of Commandants aims to strengthen the relationships between the participating countries by using PME as an effective means to bring

Vale Garage

nations together, while promoting an open exchange of views and building relationships between international military academies.

For the UK, the conference supports the nation’s Indo-Pacific Tilt, set out in the Integrated Review, which underlines the strategic importance of this region.

Maj Gen Roe said: “I am delighted to take part in the second annual South Asia Council of Commandants, which provides a great opportunity for attendees to share and discuss new ideas in PME and develop strong links and relationships across this globally important region.

“This conference, as we found last year, allowed all the nations to

share both their new concepts and challenges to education. There was a significant amount that I learnt from my colleagues about how they are, and will do, PME in their countries. There is so much that we can learn from each other.

“I am also particularly pleased to be attending the inaugural South East Asia Council of Commandants between 6-9 March, in Brunei. This new conference will bring together commandants from the defence academies of 10 nations, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, to further understand and enhance developments in PME across the region and in the UK.”

Station Electric Vehicle charging facility saves 1,000kg of CO2

The Station’s electric vehicle (EV) charging facility, which opened in November last year following an investment of £35,000 from Shrivenham Station Officers Mess, has already saved 1,032kg of CO2 in its first three months of operation.

The final commissioning of the 10-charger facility, which is located close to Kitchener Hall and the main entrance to the site, is now complete.

Since it opened, more than 200 charging activities have taken place, which resulted in CO2 savings of 43kg in November, 338kg in December and a massive 651kg in January. Over the same period, 2.3kg of nitrous oxide has been saved from release into the environment.

The facility is open to all electric vehicle users with tariff rates for Mess members at £0.28 KWh and other users at £0.30 KWh. An overstay charge of only £0.50

will be applied after a 30-minute grace period.

Details of how to use the facility can be found on the signs above the charging stations. There is no overnight charge incurred for overstay from 20.00hrs, providing the vehicle is disconnected before 07.00hrs.

Supporting the Pandemic

In 2020, my involvement began with internal issues in Defence Digital such as dealing with IT complaints from military medics deployed to NHS hospitals and advising on system policy changes during widespread absence. In the following two years, I used all my special leave, as well as my own time, to support the Pandemic in other ways. From February to May 2021 I marshalled at a vaccination centre near me and for at least one shift a week, I helped the centre achieve 40,000 first and second dose vaccinations.

When on leave in December 2021, I asked my GP’s surgery if they knew of anywhere that needed marshals for the Omicron wave that was taking place at that time and ended up supporting patient flow for them. It struck me how slow their vaccinating was, not least because I kept running out of chairs in the waiting area. I started to wish that I could help with the vaccinations.

During that week, I came across

an online advertisement for volunteer vaccinators with St. John Ambulance so I decided to express an interest.

I heard back in mid-January 2022 and was asked if I wanted to proceed. The process then began and involved an interview, DBS check, 28 online training courses with the NHS and then in-person training with St. John Ambulance. Everything was very slow, and I was still waiting for my ID card when I first deployed. I debuted at the NHS vaccination centre at Bath Racecourse on 10 April during my Spring leave. At this point I had only injected a foam pad on the training, so it was a big step to inject another person. We had pre-filled syringes on the training and so I had to learn how to fill those as well.

I was put with a very experienced nurse and watched as she worked. The pressure began to rise for me to have a go. Eventually I donned an apron and washed my hands and did my first vaccination! I did 10 in that session and was then signed

off to vaccinate adults with the original Pfizer vaccine. I was so proud of myself and returned several times during this period of leave and was signed off for the original Moderna vaccination so started working independently.

On one memorable Saturday, the supervisor didn’t think there was enough work to warrant me being there. However, she put me in a cubicle with the Moderna vaccine. Later, she admitted she didn’t know how she would have coped without me as I’d done 50 adult vaccinations that afternoon!

As time progressed, I was signed off to vaccinate 12-18s and under 12s, as well as being able to use the new Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. There were often new syringes to learn about and I continually worked on how I dealt with patients. I began to spread my wings in the summer of 2022, vaccinating at St. Thomas Church Hall in Wells and in a Bristol GP’s surgery. In the autumn, I started in the Radio Wing of the old RAF Locking and during the December holidays I did some shifts at the Sea Cadets

It’s been quite a journey. Supporting vaccination centres for the last two years has seen me working in different locations, with different teams and learning varying ways of working. I know my confidence is much higher and now I can turn up to a new location and team and begin working within minutes and have been able to deal with all the matters arising.

It’s been quite a journey. Supporting vaccination centres for the last two years has seen me working in different locations, with different teams and learning varying ways of working. I know my confidence is much higher and now I can turn up to a new location and team and begin working within minutes and have been able to deal with all the matters arising. As a STEM Ambassador, I’ve been in schools to talk about vaccinating, and I’ve also done radio and newspaper interviews for St. John Ambulance.

Vaccinating has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done, with thousands of people interactions and instant feedback. It feels like it’s now come to a natural end, but I’m ready to return should the need arise.

The Pandemic has affected us all in different ways and it’s certainly given me experiences I could never have predicted.

in Weston Super Mare.

Royal Marine helps GB to first four-man bobsleigh medal in 84 years

Royal Navy elite athlete Marine Taylor Lawrence helped Great Britain to their first four-man bobsleigh medal at the World Championships for 84 years.

Marine Lawrence, along with pilot Brad Hall, Arran Gulliver and Greg Cackett finished joint second with Latvia at the event in St Moritz.

“It’s an incredible achievement,” said Hall, 32, who was fifth in the two-man.

“It’s been a hell of a long time since a four-man crew has won a World Championship medal. To be the ones who have bucked that trend is pretty special.”

Britain’s men last won a World

Championship medal in any discipline in 1966, when Tony Nash and Robin Dixon took twoman bronze in Cortina.

The victory came after the team won their first-ever bobsleigh gold medal at the European Championships with victory in the four-man event in Altenberg, Germany.Britain’s last medal in the event was silver in 2014.

The success followed the team’s win at a World Cup event at the same German track a week earlier.

Turtle population thriving around Armed Forces bases in Cyprus

Turtle nests are thriving at beaches around military sites in Cyprus following conservation efforts to by the Ministry of Defence and civilian volunteers to protect the species.

Turtle nests are thriving at beaches around military sites in Cyprus following conservation efforts by the Ministry of Defence and civilian volunteers to protect the species.

A total of 172 Green and Loggerhead turtle nests were identified in 2022 within the Western and Eastern Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) and at Akrotiri, Episkopi and Dhekelia - home to UK Armed Forces supporting ongoing operations in the region. Volunteers made up of military and civilian personnel play a vital role in keeping a close eye on all nesting beaches. In addition to reporting turtle tracks they also report illegal and damaging activities. Nests have come under threat in recent years for a variety of reasons, including invasive species and human activity, however volunteering efforts have transformed nesting sites for turtles.

SBAA Environmental Officer, Alexia Perdiou said:

“We are delighted with the

increasing numbers of turtle nests on beaches in the Bases in recent years, which is down to the vital work we do alongside our legion of military and civilian volunteers - patrolling beaches and searching for turtle tracks in the early hours of the morning every day throughout the summer months.

Being careful to not directly interact with any turtles or hatchlings, we ensure that nesting sites are protected from both human activity and invasive predators, which alongside wider conservation efforts being done throughout Cyprus will ensure these incredible animals continue to thrive.”

The Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA)

Environment Department coordinates turtle conservation work which focuses on minimum intervention, follows international best practices and mirrors the work undertaken in the rest of Cyprus. The work of the Department would not have been so successful without the

invaluable help from volunteers who walk nesting beaches daily to identify turtle tracks so that nests can be protected until they hatch.

The valuable co-operation between volunteers, the SBAA Environment Department and the SBA Police has resulted in the addressing of almost all offences on nesting beaches and a strong message has gone to beach users on the safeguarding of turtle nesting habitat, nests and hatchlings.

The SBAA is supported by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), who provide Stewardship Funding to carry out conservation work to safeguard nesting beaches to meet common objectives and statutory obligations for protecting designated sites and habitats. DIO environmental staff based out in Cyprus also ensure that the conservation status of the turtles and their habitats is not compromised, by carefully

managing and designing military activities and projects.

DIO Technical Services

Environmental Adviser in Cyprus, David Reynolds said:

“I am really delighted with this upturn in breeding success, it’s the result of a unique and strong partnership spanning many years of hard work and now we can really start to see the results of our work.”

Efforts to protect turtle nesting beaches include the blocking of access points to prevent people from driving on the seashore, and enforcement work to prevent and address damaging and illegal activities such as overnight camping and late-night beach parties lighting fires.

Turtle nests

Ukrainian tank and artillery crews land in the UK

As part of the ongoing support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the RAF has flown Ukrainian tank and artillery crews to the UK for training.

The tank and artillery crews were flown on board an RAF Voyager. Since summer 2022, the RAF has flown over 11,000 Ukrainians to the UK for military

training. The majority of the training has been infantry skills for Ukrainian volunteers. The most recent arrivals will be taught how to operate Challenger 2 tanks as well as AS90 mobile artillery,

following the UK’s commitment to provide them to Ukraine.

Alongside these passenger flights, the RAF has also delivered large quantities of military

equipment to Ukraine, this has included: 83000 helmets, 18000 ballistic vests, 14 aircrafts pallets of medical equipment, winter clothing, missiles and ammunition.

• It’s our free online platform exclusively for RAF personnel and their partners.

• Covering a range of self-directed topics tailored to life in the RAF.

• The course can be accessed anonymously, either as a couple or separately.

• It aims to equip you with the communication skills and strategies to get the best out of your relationships.

We also provide relationship counselling and mediation support.

MAIN RIDE: SAT 13 MAY 2023

Start & finish: The Petwood Hotel, Lincolnshire, home of the Dambusters

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Military Wives Choir Defence Academy

The Defence Academy

Military Wives Choir has two opportunities a week to rehearse.

Monday mornings at 1030 there is an informal rehearsal at the Jubilee Community Centre, Watchfield, run by our musically talented Anna. This is a great opportunity to go over certain sections of songs that you just can’t quite get right! This session also welcomes children and there are plenty of toys and helping hands available! The sessions are usually one and a half hours long, but you are welcome to attend for as long or as little as you are able.

Thursday evening is our formal rehearsal with our Music Director, Jon, and piano accompanist, Geoff. This is the rehearsal that we would expect members to attend as often as possible.

The doors to St Albans Church, Watchfield, are opened for rehearsals to start at 1930. Once we are all in and hellos have been said, the first task

of the evening is a warm-up session. We take around 15 minutes to ensure that our bodies, brains and breaths are ready for singing! We have a

lovely selection of warm-up exercises compiled by Anna, who also leads the session for us. We focus on our breathing and how to support our singing, we hum, ahh and oooh through scales and arpeggios and get completely tongue-tied singing ditties about cups of tea and proper copper coffee pots! We have lots of fun, quite often get the giggles, but it really helps to relax and get us into the singing mindset!

After the warm-up, we will return to our seats and to our ‘sections’ (Sop 1, Sop 2, Alto). Jon, who briefs us on the rehearsal plan a couple of days in advance, will take us through a selection of songs. ‘Blocking’ is where we work through a new song section by section a chunk at a time and practise singing it together. We also refine songs that we are more confident with, to ensure that we are getting a

The Choir treasurer explains what a typical choir rehearsal looks like…

good balance between the parts and are bringing all the dynamics of the song to sound. We quite often have a sing through of an old favourite to finish!

We are in a choir because we love the benefits that come

from group singing, we love the community of women who understand what we are going through and for a lot of us, we love to perform and bring our love of singing to audiences.

Charlie Fuge

Our programme for 2023 is starting to take shape with bookings for regimental dinners and birthday parties already in the calendar! We are currently planning for a collaborative concert at Newport Cathedral in May and Christ Church Swindon in December. Follow us for more details on our Instagram page.

The MWC is for spouses and partners of military personnel, servicewomen and support staff of the Defence Academy and the surrounding area.

All abilities are welcome

No auditions or previous musical experience is required

Check us out on our social media accounts:

Facebook: Defence Academy Military Wives Choir Twitter: @DefenceAcad_MWC Instagram: da_military_wives_choir

Contact us at: defenceacademy@militarywiveschoirs.org

The DAMWC is currently 30+ members strong and we are growing!

We are a lively group and meet on Mondays between 10.30-12.00 at the Jubilee Community Centre and Thursdays between 19.30-21.30 at St. Alban’s Church.

Easter Day - Sunday, 9th April

After almost a year I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not a natural quilter……I’m still not completely sure on a lot of the terminology, an accurate sewing line eludes me and my cutting is always a little bit squiffy. ( I have been reassured that the wobbles on my current quilt adds character to it so I’ll take that!).

That said, I’m proud to say I AM A QUILTER NOW and will be forever grateful to my tutor for helping me to achieve that.

Our quilt sessions are the warmest, safest place to make all the mistakes that you need to, while learning this amazing ancient skill. Our Tutor, Heather, has so much patience and never minds going over various techniques as infinitum! It’s such a fun skill to learn and the list of things you can create is hugs.

I cherish those hours of child free conversation and calm concentration each week in my busy life of being a military spouse and Mum to three little ones. In fact, I would struggle to think of a nicer lot of people to spend an evening with, creating, sharing, supporting, chatting and the very essential tea drinking/ biscuit eating. As befits a Defence Academy Quilt group, it is a very international bunch which is fantastic – we love learning about each other’s cultures, language, craft skills and of course, what everyone eats for dinner!

We only have a few more precious months left at the DA now, I will be so sad to leave although I fully intend to seek out another “quilting family” at our next posting. If you are considering coming along, do it! Steph.

When. I first joined The Academy Quilters I was adamant that I could not sew and had no idea where to start. Heather patiently guided me through the basics and. I was shocked to find that not only could I sew but I thoroughly enjoy it! Since then. I have developed lots of skills and managed to make several items that I am incredibly proud of. I now have a lot of projects on my list and intend to keep quilting as long as. I am able. The Academy Quilters are a warm and welcoming group and Heather is an amazing teacher who is always supportive and really does bring out the best in you. I would encourage anyone posted here to give the Quilters a try, you will find tea, biscuits, and a good natter alongside your quilting journey. Ly.

When. I found out I was moving to Shrivenham I was already excited about joining The Academy Quilters, having met a friend at another posting who had also the pleasure of attending the group during her time here and told me it was a “must do”. The Tutor is welcoming, hind and patient, making learning a pleasure. I never thought I would be so excited to sew a perfectly straight line. Not only have I had the pleasure of learning to quilt and meeting some wonderful fellow quilters but I have also been able to enjoy completing some small projects with my children too. G.

Came to the UK a few years ago and it was my very first time away from home……I was very nervous and felt quite homesick till I joined The Academy Quilters. My goodness, what a huge difference to how I felt and viewed myself and my time at The Defence Academy. I was welcomed warmly, cared for, listened to, supported both in our patchwork classes but in the dark midnight hours when I could sometimes feel rather lost and lonely. Messaging my Tutor and talking things through with her, knowing she was always there to listen to me, helped greatly and is something I will be forever grateful for. The skills I acquired while being an “in class” member of The Academy Quilters have given me much pleasure in now being able to “pass it on” as our very patient tutor said, and….. I now have set up my own group, knowing I always have Heather to message whenever I need her although I am many many miles away. I do miss her smile and her comforting hugs. Her husband, Michael always looked out for me, made my “cuppas” and offered me a wonderful selection of tasty, yummy biscuits. I will always treasure my time spent with Heather, Michael, and The Academy Quilters. Thank you for “rescuing me, caring for me and helping my husband by supporting me. Dw.

Walking around the “sports fair/meet and greets” can be daunting. Fortunately for me, I had been given the heads up to join The Academy Quilters from a friend before. I arrive, am so glad that. I did! If you are looking for a friendly, welcoming, caring, and creative group then look no further. Our Tutor is the ultimate patient teacher who welcomes all, from novice to expert. All equipment is provided, you just need to be able to give your time in order to learn new skills and make some amazing creations. Heather guides you at your own pace through projects of your choice and allows you to spread your wings with new ideas. Nothing is ever too much trouble; she is always at the end of a message to answer questions and calls for help! she is an absolute star who helps us all to shine. Our Tutor’s husband, Michael, is a constant at the group too. Quietly completing puzzles, making us laugh and ensuring we are all fed and water, he is a treasure for sure. I have learnt so much in this group, grown in confidence and made some lovely friends. Time has flown and I am already sad when I think about leaving this lovely group. Please do not hesitate, sign up today! La.

Padre Phil Writes...

In recent times I have found myself saying something that I’ve not said since I was a child: Gordon Bennett. It’s a phrase that sums up surprise, shock, and amazement.

The original Gordon Bennet owned the ‘New York Herald’ newspaper in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The stories his paper carried were as unbelievable and shocking as his lifestyle was. And so, people began to use his name as a way to express their own shock and disbelief at what they saw before their eyes.

The reason that I’ve found myself saying it, is because time is advancing faster than I am! My mother tells me that time speeds up with age. I hope not, because I’ll be motion sick if it goes any faster. When we are younger, we can spend so much of our lives wishing our time away, desperate for Christmas, birthdays, and other holidays to come. But when we are older, we can find ourselves desperately clutching

onto the moments we have.

Perhaps you wish you could pause the busyness of life, and just take a breather from the struggles and stresses of each day at home, at work, and in between. Perhaps you wish you could relive the same treasured moment over and over again, see the faces of friend and family, and hear their familiar voice. Or perhaps you are grasping for more time with those you love, as the future disappears before you.

Time is an odd thing. We can often view time as our enemy, as something that takes away and as something that we need to fight against. But by fighting against it, we can end up losing more time than we gain.

Or we can view time as our friend, as something that constantly gives, and as an everpresent companion on the road of life.

As we move towards Spring, Lent, and Easter, the nights are beginning to lighten, the fragile plants are beginning to bloom and the gentle blossom begins to form its delicate buds. Time is moving towards a new season, a season of light and life and hope. Light in the dark evenings; life emerging from the frozen ground; and a hope that things can and will be better.

And so, I would encourage you to take the opportunities that time gives you to enjoy each moment, even the mundane ones. Take some time to call someone you

love; take some time to pop round and see a friend; or take some time to write a letter. Time is a gift and a friend that enables us to do the things that matter and that are important to us, that’s why it’s called the ‘present’. So, treasure that which has been, look forward to that which will be, and take deep joy in the moments of life.

Our aim is to build a strong and supportive community through kindness and compassion. We support local military families, and all associated with the military. We provide pastoral, spiritual, and religious care, strength and guidance, all regardless of your belief or faith background.

Why not come and visit ‘The Haven’, Building 43, beside the Chaplaincy Centre, where you can find a precious moment of peace, calm, and tranquillity in your day. Try your hand at knitting, jigsaws, recycled reading, LEGO, or just sit and enjoy the best free coffee in the West.

Station Chaplaincy is always here to lend an ear, 24/7. We can meet for a walk, or chat over a brew.

For more info, please contact the Station Chaplaincy Team: Padre Phil Craven, 07977479866, Philip.craven101@mod.gov.uk Chaplaincy Coordinator, Leigh Hyde, 07920162664, leigh.hyde@da.mod.uk

The Station Chaplaincy Team are delighted to welcome you to the Defence Academy Station Church, St. Alban’s. All are welcome to join us for inclusive worship.

You will always receive a warm welcome.

Roman Catholic Mass 09:30-10:30 every Sunday

Priests from Blackfriars conduct Mass for the Defence Academy

Family Friendly Worship

11:00-12:00 every Sunday

1st Sunday of the month- Café style service (with food!)

3rd Sunday of the month- Communion Services led by Padre Phil

Join us for refreshments from 10:30-11:00 in the hall.

Please get in touch to discuss Christening/Baptism requests, marriage blessings/renewals, first communions, and more.

St. Alban’s, Watchfield, Ironside Drive, SN6 8RL

Danielle and Markus would love to welcome you to The King & Queen in Longcot Village. The King & Queen is in a tranquil location, just off the A420 between Faringdon and Shrivenham. A Freehouse and Inn, boasting seven lovely Bed & Breakfast rooms, available for long and short stays alike.

Behind the bar you will find a broad range of Local Cask Ales to choose from, an excellent range of Local and Continental craft beer, a wide selection of Gins, a great selection of Wines and spirits to suit all palettes. We are proudly recognised in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide and recently won The White Horse District ‘Country Pub of the Year.’

FERNHAM SN7 7NX 01367 820 643

www.TheWoodmanFernham.co.uk

Charming 17th century country pub just 2 miles from Faringdon

Delicious seasonal menus

Cask conditioned ales, craft beers, wine & cocktails

Dog friendly

Minibus pick up for tables of 8+

The Beer Garden has plenty of seating along with stunning views over the Vale of The White Horse. Inside there is a lovely relaxed bar atmosphere, the centrepiece being a welcoming double sided wood burner. The pub also boasts two dining rooms for your gatherings, intimate evenings or for any special celebration.

Overall we are a Traditional Country Pub, with this we take pride with our Pub Classics Menu. From our ever popular Fish & Chips through to our range of Burgers and delicious Sunday Roasts. Keep an eye on our social media for future events, from Comedy Nights, Live Music and our themed monthly Pub Quiz. We do hope to have the opportunity to host you during the Spring and into the warmer Summer months...

Military families often have limited choices whether it is the allocation of a military quarter or hiring, the area in which they live, and the schools their children attend. There are many wonderful things to experience being part of a military family but constantly uprooting your family home and changing schools for your children is not one of them.

If you choose to live married accompanied, it can come at a cost. You often hear of Forces children who have attended multiple schools, for some this is manageable, for others not so. There will be many different reasons you may have to consider boarding school, you may aspire for your children to achieve their academic

potential, you may want to nurture an existing talent or sporting ability, you may be worried about the effect moving schools might have on their mental wellbeing, or you may have discovered the amazing opportunities a boarding education can offer by allowing children to experience a wealth of new experiences.

There is no perfect path for Forces families to follow, we all make decisions based on what is the best for our own families, for some moving schools with every posting works, but for others a boarding school can be a positive, life changing experience.

Anderson Education are an Educational Consultancy

with over twenty years’ experience and knowledge of UK boarding schools, we offer FREE & IMPARTIAL advice, and we would love to help you on your journey to find the right school. As a mother and wife of a serving soldier I know first-hand what a challenging decision this can be, whether you are simply considering boarding school as an option or have made up your mind, we are here to help you.

Fee-Free Mortgage Advice

Whether you’re looking for your first home or want to remortgage, you can get the advice you need by calling the Fee-Free Mortgage Advice Service - provided by Tenet Mortgage Solutions Limited.

It’s as easy as this You’ll be asked a few simple questions, incomings, outgoings, that kind of thing. Then it’s an appointment with one of their impartial mortgage advisors. They take the time to understand what you’re looking for, before coming back with the most suitable option for you. They will then guide you through your mortgage journey.

A Mortgage is a loan secured against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.

Important things you should know: PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual acts as an intermediary for the purposes of introducing its customers to Tenet Mortgage Solutions Limited, part of Tenet. You will not receive advice or any recommendation from Forces Mutual. Such services will be provided by Tenet Mortgage Solutions Limited who will provide Forces Mutual with information about the services you have received. Forces Mutual will receive 24.8% of any lender procuration fee from Tenet Mortgage Solutions Limited in connection with the provision of mortgage broking services.

any may be monitored.

and whose

The Language Centre offers ‘English as a Foreign Language’ to the dependants and families of international officers attending courses at the Defence Academy. We also provide tuition in French, Spanish, German and Italian to families across the entire Shrivenham Station site and the local community.

Everyone who attends English lessons regularly can expect:

• to become more confident and fluent in spoken English

• to improve their listening skills

• to learn lots of new vocabulary

• to make considerable progress in their understanding of grammar

We achieve this by working our way through a coursebook. We also use games, role-plays and short presentations to make learning more effective and enjoyable.

Most of our work is in pairs or small groups.

The lessons are fun and sociable as we believe this is the best environment in which to learn. In addition to improving your English, the classroom is a great place to make new friends and find out about other countries and their cultures.

Students can join our English classes at any time, and we welcome visiting students. Both group and private lessons are available to suit all abilities, from beginner through to advanced.

Students can elect to sit diploma examinations in English from the Cambridge Examination board on completion of their courses and we also run exam preparation lessons.

The Language Centre is open during the day for English classes and in the evening for foreign language tuition. Find us at 7 Axis Road, opposite St Alban’s Church.

For more information, call us on: 01793 784881 or email: languagecentre7@ gmail.com

Bespoke 1:1 Tuition

We offer students 1:1 English and Foreign Language tuition with the option to be taught in the privacy of your own home.

Email us on languagecentre7@gmail.com or drop in and speak to us about how we can help you.

Crafty Mornings and more!

One of the loveliest things about the Language Centre for us is that we have people from so many different countries and they all have wonderful stories, skills and food to share with us.

Dutch Cheese Tasting

Sandra, who is from The Netherlands and attends the Advanced English Class brought in some deliciously creamy Dutch cheese for us to devour this term.

Our Christmas Activities

We enjoyed learning to make English Christmas decorations in our classes this year as well as enjoying a joyful Christmas party where we were joined by members of the Defence Academy Military Wives Choir who raised the roof with their festive songs!

Language Centre Babies

In the last few weeks we have welcomed two beautiful ‘language centre’ babies to the world. Huge congratulations to Hend who welcomed a baby Adam to the world in December and Nada whose baby girl, Rayyan, arrived safely in January.

Winter Weather Haikus

Blue sky, freezing cold, Crisp leaves are under my feet

On my way to school.

Grey sky, clouds moving, Drinking coffee, eating cake Feeling cosy here.

Dark sky, foggy day

So much rain, I stay at home, Watch a film indoors.

Windy day, oh no!

Impossible to sleep well Doors and windows slam.

By Intermediate 1 class

Adam Rayyan

Community Services

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Pressed for Time

Cleaning Services

MARCH OUT CLEANING

Military Standards Each & Every Time We Go To Work.

Pressed for Time Cleaning Services is run by Samantha Allen, an RAF wife who has been helping military personnel pass the Accommodation Officer’s March Out inspection since 2015.

1st hand understanding of the March Out process

Trouble free moving Military standards every time we clean Pass your inspection, no failure fees

You don’t have to book a professional cleaner for March Out, but when you do, you’ll get added peace of mind.

Visit our website to find out more: pressedfortimecleaning.co.uk or call Sam on 01865 346388 / 07517 210647

Email: samallen@pressedfortimecleaning.co.uk

March out - Understanding the process

As part of a military family myself I understand how confusing and unsettling the March Out process can be, especially if moving overseas. I hope I can make the process easier for you, with this advice.

March Out timeline

4 – 2 weeks before March Out

Soon after you receive your March Out date and instructions, the Accommodation Officer visits your home. They will produce a detailed list of cleaning jobs needing to be done before you can leave.

At this point

Reserve your method of transportation to your new property for the DAY OF your March Out. You may need to book flights if you’re leaving the country.

Do you own the furniture? If so, now is the time to book the removals for TWO DAYS BEFORE you leave. Agility Logistics Ltd is the MOD approved service provider.

Book your March Out clean for the DAY BEFORE you leave. As this is a very detailed clean, it’s worth finding a professional to ensure you pass your final inspection and incur no fees if you don’t pass.

The day before March Out

A March Out clean requires an empty property and usually takes a full day to complete to a passing standard. The Accommodation Officer will inspect again on the day of March Out.

It is likely you’ll be without the majority of personal belongings for two days while removals and cleaning take place. Don’t be tempted to avoid this by booking the clean for your last day, this will result in an inefficient clean and risks not passing final inspection.

The Pinnacle Service Families website has lots of information when it comes to moving away. In the meantime, I wish you all the best for a successful March Out.

SamAllen,PressedforTimeCleaningServices