Cotswold Link West Oxfordshire Jan Feb 14

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Jan / Feb 2014

WHAT’S ON @ THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Wed 22 Jan - Thu 23 Jan 7.30pm

The second in the much loved sci-fi series of books and films promises to be more gripping, eye-catchingand star-studded than ever.

MITCH BENN IS THE 37TH BEATLE Fri 24 Jan 7.45pm

In this 50th anniversary year of the release of Please Please Me, ‘the country’s leading musical satirist’ (The Times) explores the Fab Four’s enduring legacy and shamelessly milks his own (incredibly tenuous) connection to it.

DARKSIDE Sat 25 Jan 7.45pm

Darkside is a passionate Pink Floyd tribute band which covers a broad spectrum of classics, from the early Syd Barrett songs to the iconic anthems of Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, Wish You Were Here and onward to The Wall. With a laser light show, and the trademark circular projection screen, this is a Floyd experience not to be missed.

Box Office

01608 642350 www.chippingnortontheatre.com

CORIOLANUS

(THEATRICAL SCREENING)

Thu 30 Jan 7pm

When an old adversary threatens Rome, the city calls once more on her hero and defender: Coriolanus. But famine threatens the city, the citizens’ hunger swells to an appetite for change, and on returning from the field Coriolanus must confront the march of realpolitik and the voice of an angry people.

SON YAMBU Sat 1 Feb 7.45pm

Son Yambu play authentic ‘Son Cubano’ - the captivating music that originated in the streets of eastern Cuba, fusing Spanish and African rhythms and becoming the root of all salsa music

BLAST OFF! Sat 1 Feb 11.30am

A fresh and fantastically fun show, that serves as a perfect introduction to the world of live performance (astronaut costumes welcomed!).

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West Oxfordshire District Council is working with a host of organisations to run the Lights Up initiative and funding support also comes from the Guideposts Trust, Cottsway Housing, Oxfordshire County Council Big Society fund and Chipping Norton Rotary.

Volunteers help to run the Club and around 20 people come to each session which are led by professionals and artists with experience of working with older people. Pictured left is an art activity.

Coordinator Val McKay of Memory Clubs UK said, “Anyone who has an interest in memory is welcome: people who are concerned about their memory, or that of someone they know; people living with dementia (diagnosed or not) and people caring for someone with memory difficulties can all relax, explore the arts and socialise with us.”

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The club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at Highlands, 73 Burford Road, Chipping Norton, OX7 5EE from 10.30am-12.30pm. People can turn up on the day and do not need to book in advance. Help with transport may be is available. For more information call: 0845 1204048.

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05 local news 05 advertorial 08 08 new businesses 10 health & fitness 10 local news 11 education

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travel

Local Events this Winter

West Oxfordshire Council News

Radio Play Unlocks Memories

New out of hours doctor service

Wheels for All

West Oxfordshire Council News Online Learning for All Ages

12 community 16 garden 18 19 local news 20 astronomy 22 index 23 arts & culture out & about

The World is Your Oyster

New businesses and services

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Garden View: A Shady Space Green Fingered Apprentices Cotswold Sky

Cotswold Link Index Exhibition: Richard Kenton Webb

Welcome to the January - February edition of Your Cotswoldlink In this issue we look at several aspects of this time of year, including new year’s resolutions (p14), how to design your shady garden space (p18) and how to use your new telescope properly! (p20). This issue is also packed with seasonal events, so make sure you get out and about and enjoy as many of them as you can! I would like to wish you all a super Valentines Day. Best wishes, t: 01609 777401 www.cotswoldlink.co.uk Christine Campbell | Editor

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Index See p22

facebook.com/YourCotswoldLink

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Mandy’s

Top Travel Tips IN THIS ISSUE...

The World is Your Oyster

Second green award for Visitor Information Centre

If you’re looking for an escorted holiday that ticks all the boxes, look no further than Travelsphere.

They’ve been creating fantastic tours all over the globe for more than 50 years now and pride themselves on introducing travellers to not only the iconic sites of a country but also to lesser-known gems that they might not ordinarily get to see.

Burford’s Visitor Information Centres has received its second ‘green’ award this year after being ‘Highly Commended’ at Tourism South East’s ‘Beautiful South awards’ for sustainable tourism.

Earlier this year the Visitor Information Centre, based in Burford High Street, also achieved a silver rating by the national Green Tourism Business Scheme for eco-friendliness.

Burford Visitor Information Centre is one of two run by West Oxfordshire District Council. They are part of the Council’s commitment to supporting the local economy through encouraging tourism.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Local Economy and Communities said: “We are absolutely delighted that Burford Visitor Information Centre has been recognised with another prestigious award for their work encouraging visitors to act in an environmentally-friendly way during their stay and helping to safeguard the beautiful environment that we are so fortunate to live and work in.”

For more information about West Oxfordshire’s Visitor Information Centres in Burford and Witney, and the Council’s tourism services, see

www.westoxon.gov.uk/tourism or call 01993 861080

All this is done in the company of a team of knowledgeable Tour Managers and/or Local Guides who are there to ensure that everything runs smoothly, but who never get in the way.

There are plenty of excursions included in the price of a Travelsphere holiday, as well as many meals and of course, all the things you’d expect such as flights, overseas transfers and hotel accommodation.

With a list of destinations stretching across the four corners of the globe, choosing where to go might prove difficult! If you want to stay close to home try a European tour – Travelsphere’s Italy collection alone covers from top to toe of this beautiful country. But if you’ve a desire to journey further afield, well, the world is your oyster.

You can travel across the USA and Canada, stopping off in some of the most iconic cities of anywhere in the world and soaking up some truly jaw-dropping scenery. You can take a thrilling Kenyan safari, a spiritual journey through India or explore South America – from Peru to Rio. Maybe you yearn to immerse yourself in the world of the ancient Egyptians or traverse mighty rivers such as the Yangtze or the Mekong. Travelsphere offers all this and more – including a range of rail holidays and spectacular river and ocean cruises featuring itineraries that take you along the Danube, through Asia and in the footsteps of Charles Darwin on the adventure of a lifetime.

CONTACT THE TEAM l Chipping

Norton: 10, Middle Row - t: 01608 641 983 Moore Road - t: 01451 822 048

l Bourton-on-the-Water:

www.carricktravel.com

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W E N businesses

Bespoke Service

Design to Instalation

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 15,200 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 christine@jkanorth.com

Kitchen & Bathroom | Wetrooms | Tiling Full Decorating Service | Free Estimates Competitive Pricing

01451 861388 M: 07429 682240 T:

E:

cotswoldinteriors.design@gmail.com

Concierge Medical Practice

pioneers a private Out of Hours doctor service for the North Cotswolds In December 2013, Gloucestershire-based Concierge Medical Practice launches a bespoke, private, Out of Hours medical service for the North Cotswolds.

The new service, offered by doctors Karl Braine and Simon Gillson, is unique. It reflects how more and more UK patients are turning to private GPs because of pressures on the NHS and for convenience. Concierge medicine differs, in that it provides enhanced healthcare for fixed monthly costs.

Concierge Medical Practice is for people who prefer the security and “peace of mind” of access to a skilled, experienced, locally-based Out of Hours GP. This may be due to their medical history or because their circumstances make it hard to visit conventional NHS GPs. The new service offers three membership tiers (In Health, Independence and Individual). These provide overnight and weekend telephone advice and home visit cover for individuals, couples, families and organisations. However, if these tiers don’t meet clients’ specific needs, the doctors can use their expertise to design and implement a bespoke medical package.

Announcing the launch, Dr Karl Braine said: “This is a new concept in the UK, but one that’s well-established elsewhere.

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As concierge physicians, we choose to care for significantly fewer patients than traditional doctors, hence we can preserve the quality of our service. Clients are entitled to direct telephone access to our doctors and as many home visits and medications as are needed, for the outlay of a modest monthly fee. We’re looking forward to bringing concierge medicine’s benefits to the North Cotswolds. Please call us in confidence or visit our website at www.conciergemedical.co.uk for more information.”

Concierge Medical Practice is run by Dr Karl Braine and Dr Simon Gillson. They have widely different backgrounds but share huge experience in the field of unscheduled primary care.

The duo have worked in the out-of-hours visiting service since 2004 and made approximately 20,000 home visits. Both are on the Gloucestershire Medical Performers list and undertake appraisal and revalidation as required by law. They are also subject to enhanced CRB checks.

As well as being experienced out-of-hours GPs, the doctors bring a wide range of interests ranging from historic rallying and garden design to independent travel, National Hunt racing and mountaineeringexpedition medical duties, the pair defy many of the popular stereotypes of the “typical GP” – it all helps when building relationships with their patients.

The majority of existing GP out-of-hours services don’t deal with urgent medical problems, aren’t available at night and won’t make home visits. Patients typically pay for each individual consultation, medication and document provided.

Concierge medicine is different. It’s a personalised relationship between doctor

and patient that ensures enhanced care, in any specified field of healthcare, for a modest monthly or annual fee. The concept originated in the USA in the mid 1990s although it hasn’t, until now, extended to the UK. The term “boutique medicine” has also been applied to this system of healthcare provision.

Concierge Medical Practice covers the North Cotswolds around Broadway, Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Norton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford.

For more information: Concierge Medical Practice Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company Number: 8387668) Registered at Lynley House, Moreton Paddox, Warwick CV35 9BU Tel 01451 600 900 Email: info@conciergemedical.co.uk

www.conciergemedical.co.uk

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Wheels Wheels for for All All West West Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is the is the first first district district outside outside of of Oxford Oxford to to host host anan exciting exciting new new session session to to give give young young people people with with disabilities disabilities the the chance chance to to experience experience the the thrill thrill of of cycling. cycling.

‘Wheels ‘Wheels forfor All’All’ is running is running at the at the District District Council’s Council’s artificial artificial turfturf pitch pitch (ATP) (ATP) in Witney in Witney to give to give disabled disabled young young people people from from thethe ageage of three of three thethe chance chance to try to try cycling cycling using using specially-adapted specially-adapted bikes. bikes.

TheThe sessions sessions areare fullyfully inclusive inclusive andand cater cater forfor all needs, all needs, with with equipment equipment ranging ranging from from hand-operated hand-operated bikes bikes to atotransporter a transporter bikebike forfor wheelchair wheelchair users. users.

TheThe junior junior scheme scheme hashas been been introduced introduced following following thethe success success of aof a ‘Wheels ‘Wheels forfor All’All’ group group forfor adults, adults, setset up up in Oxford in Oxford about about 18 18 months months ago,ago, andand is part is part of aofnational a national initiative initiative by by thethe Cycling Cycling Projects Projects charity. charity.

GOLD AGAIN

for West Oxfordshire’s stray dog service West Oxfordshire District Council has for the second year running again gained a top gold award from the RSPCA for its work with stray dogs.

The Council has also been highly commended for the innovative work it does to improve the stray dog service and offering a service above and beyond what is required.

The RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprints award recognises local authorities who offer a consistent service with clear procedures to ensure the welfare of stray dogs.

Each year West Oxfordshire District Council deals with around 250 stray dogs as well as dog fouling issues, noise complaints in relation to dog barking and a microchipping service so stray dogs can be easily identified and returned to their owners.

Stray dogs are picked up as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of the dogs injuring themselves or being a nuisance to the general public.

The Council also works in the community offering advice and guidance to residents on being responsible dog owners.

Up Up to 20 to 20 children children attend attend each each session session andand photographed photographed leftleft to right to right are:are: Gabriel Gabriel Miller Miller ageage 15 15 from from Banbury, Banbury, George George Hiley Hiley ageage 14 14 from from Witney Witney andand Jessica Jessica Kowalski Kowalski ageage 11 11 from from Carterton.

Carterton.

George George Hiley Hiley hashas been been cycling cycling forfor several several years years andand is sports-mad is sports-mad according according to his to his mother mother Sarah Sarah Hiley.

Hiley.

SheShe said, said, “George “George loves loves ‘Wheels ‘Wheels forfor all’,all’, he he cancan cycle cycle freely freely andand safely safely here. here.

Cycling Cycling helps helps to build to build his his physical physical core core strength strength andand thethe sessions sessions areare good good forfor himhim socially socially too,too, as he as he is able is able to meet, to meet, andand be be with, with, other other children. children.

CllrCllr Richard Richard Langridge, Langridge, West West Oxfordshire Oxfordshire District District Council Council Cabinet Cabinet Member Member responsible responsible forfor leisure leisure said, said, “Sport “Sport cancan change change people’s people’s lives lives andand wewe areare pleased pleased to be to be working working with with thethe Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Sports Sports Partnership Partnership andand supporting supporting thethe hard hard work work done done by by local local volunteers volunteers to help to help disabled disabled people people access access cycling cycling through through ‘Wheels ‘Wheels forfor All’.All’.

It isItclear is clear thatthat as well as well as as being being great great fun,fun, thethe sessions sessions areare providing providing thethe benefits benefits thatthat come come with with physical physical exercise.” exercise.”

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved as we are extremely pleased to receive this recognition once again from the RSPCA. Our team work extremely hard to advise the public about responsible dog ownership and always try to reunite stray dogs with their owners. We work closely with the RSPCA, local animal charities and veterinary practices to provide the best possible care for all the dogs we pick up.”

For more information about reporting stray dogs, dog fouling or loud barking call 01993 861020 or visit: www.westoxon.gov.uk/dogs

Monthly Monthly ‘Wheels ‘Wheels forfor All’All’ junior junior sessions sessions runrun at the at the district district council-owned council-owned ATPATP in Gordon in Gordon Way, Way, Witney Witney andand areare being being ledled by by local local residents residents Brigitte Brigitte andand Kevin Kevin Hickman, Hickman, who who areare trained trained ‘Wheels ‘Wheels forfor All’All’ leaders. leaders.

• • • • • •

First First Sunday Sunday every every month month 12.30pm-2.30pm 12.30pm-2.30pm Cost Cost is £3 is £3 andand sessions sessions areare open open to all to young all young people people with with disabilities, disabilities, although although it isitadvisable is advisable to book to book in advance in advance

To To book, book, or or findfind outout more, more, visitvisit www.oxfordshiresport.org/wheelsforall www.oxfordshiresport.org/wheelsforall or or callcall 01865 01865 252678.

252678.

Funding Funding hashas been been obtained obtained by by thethe Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Sports Sports Partnership Partnership forfor thethe range range of bikes of bikes used used by by thethe group. group.

ButBut thethe group group would would welcome welcome anyany further further donations, donations, especially especially from from families families who who maymay have have small small trikes trikes they they no no longer longer need. need.

They They areare alsoalso keen keen to hear to hear from from local local companies companies thatthat maymay be be interested interested in sponsorship. in sponsorship.

To To findfind outout more more about about sponsorship sponsorship or or how how to donate to donate to the to the project, project, contact contact James James Craggs Craggs at the at the Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Sports Sports Partnership, Partnership, telephone telephone 01865 01865 252678 252678 or or email email jcraggs@oxford.gov.uk. jcraggs@oxford.gov.uk.

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Pictured is Dawn Long, the Council’s dog warden.

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On Line Learning FOR ALL AGES

by John Harris

During an Open Day some years ago in the early days of the internet, I was screening a live broadcast by NASA presenting the first live pictures from Mars. A parent questioned me regarding the cost of purchasing complex equipment such as computers and projectors. I tried to explain how the internet worked to the benefit of students and teachers, his reply was quite simple “When I need to know anything I go to the public library”. My! How times have changed, we no longer have to explain the suitability of the Internet to parents, but how to control their children on its appropriate uses.

The Internet has expanded to such an extent that it is possible to obtain information on any topic that one could think of, ok some of it not so good.

Today there are thousands of students; young and old; throughout the country who are taking advantage of the Internet via distant learning degree courses with Universities, the most obvious one being via The Open University. Regrettably these courses do not come cheap but a person who obtains such a degree is well respected by industry in that they have shown to a potential employer that they have the enthusiasm and self-discipline to pull them through such a rigorous experience.

The Thirst for Knowledge Many people will tell you that they are interested in a particular topic or hobby but do not wish to extend their knowledge through formal study, in other words they wish to learn specific parts of a subject that interests them for example Astronomy without the Mathematics.

Never before have we been in such a position to obtain such a variety of information literally at our fingertips.

For example the Open University offers over 650 free courses under the title “OpenLearn” in which you can learn at your own pace. For more information go to:

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/about-openlearn/try For all the criticism that the BBC receives, we must be aware that the BBC is more than a provider of TV and Radio programmes. The BBC also provides a range of courses that you can study at your own pace.

These include a variety of subjects including English, Gardening, History, Information Technology, Languages, Maths and Science. For more information go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/onlinecourses/ I have not even scratched the surface of using the Internet as a learning tool.

The objective of this article is to instil a little enthusiasm for the readers to broaden their knowledge on any topic that they may choose.

However; not all formal learning is directed towards degree courses, many adults and young people feel that they are not up to reading for a degree but still want to advance their career. For them there are courses available on the internet such as those provided by Vision2Learn which give free on line courses in association with further education colleges. For further information go to:

http://www.vision2learn.net/channels/index.aspx

Other useful Web Sites:

http://www.theguardian.com/education/online-learning

For Children:

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/

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Events at Dormy House A GRAND NIGHT OF CHABLIS Monday 13 January 2014 Dinner with a matching flight of Chablis, in the company of Burgundian winemaker Vincent Dampt of Domaine Dampt.

Savour the exceptional Grand Cru 2011.

SERIOUS ABOUT FOOD

Out & About 11 – 26 January 2014

• January Pop Up Exhibition West Ox Arts, Market Square, Bampton Gallery Open Tue-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm and Sundays 2-4pm.

Featuring New Members Work. West Ox arts present its January Pop up Exhibition featuring the work of new members who have joined us within the last 12-18 months. A selection of media will be on show from photography to fine pencil work, abstract art to textiles. Come along and brighten up the dull days of January and see the new and exciting work of Ursula Andrejczuk, Julia Craig, Derek Gale, John Grout, Steve Legge, Jane Sherwood and Frances Williams Free admission and adjacent car parking. Disabled access. Tel: 01993 850137 ..............................................................................................................................

From: 15 Jan 2014 To 15 Jan 2014

- a BITE Festival event

Sunday 2 February 2014 Dinner with Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, plus Cotswold food producers Charles Beldam (Cotswold Gold) and Will & Calum Thompson (Eat Wild).

Delicious Magazine

BITE FESTIVAL LUNCH Monday 3 February 2014 Lunch prepared by not one but two Masterchefs – 2012 winner Shelina Permalloo and 2010 champion Dhruv Baker.

HATS & ALL THAT WITH ROBYN COLES

• The Lenthall Concerts, Burford Royal College of Music String Band directed

by Mark Messenger 7.30pm The programme includes: Chamber Symphony in C minor op.110a - Shostakovich Symphony no. 104 in D major Hob 1/104a - Haydn. An annual fixture.

This year’s crop of young string players from the RCM perform under the baton of another Lenthall favourite. Tickets: £14 on the door (£12 in advance, available from Mad Hatter Bookshop 01993 822539 and Music Stand 01993 774890) .............................................................................................................................

From: 30 Jan 2014 To 30 Jan 2014

• Cotswold Lowland Country Walk Guided Walk, Chadlington, Chipping Norton 10am A circular walk of 4.8 miles. Bring good walking shoes or boots (or, if wet, wellingtons) plus weatherproof clothing. Dogs on leads are permitted. Children with parents can come along free of charge. Walks usually start and finish at a country inn for easy parking and for those who wish to partake of a light pub lunch upon return (at your own expense).

Meet: The Tite Inn SP 325225. Cost: £5.50 per walk Time: 10.00am. Tel: 01993 878615 ...........................................................................................................................

Monday 3 March 2014 Lunch with leading milliner Robyn Coles, with Champagne beforehand and a chance to chat about your Cheltenham or Ascot requirements afterwards!

Charlbury Art Society Charlbury Art Society starts the new year off with an illustrated talk by Dr. William Hackmann, “Metamorphosis in Music and Art--Examining the Work of Escher” January 8 at 7:30pm. at the Meeting House, Market Street, Charlbury.

Members free, visitors welcome £3.

Near Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LF Call 01386 852711 or visit www.dormyhouse.co.uk

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Charlbury Art Society presents an illustrated talk by Juliet Heslewood, “The Older Woman in Art” February 12 at 7:30pm at the Meeting House, Market Street, Charlbury.

Members free, visitors welcome £3.

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9 February • Love lost and found Town Hall, Chipping Norton 4.30pm A concert of choral treats with only one thing in mind! Served with afternoon tea. The North Cotswold Chamber Choir is one of the finest choral groups in Oxfordshire. The choir enjoys an enviable reputation for the excitement and panache of its performances, and has sung alongside soloists of international stature including Nancy Argenta, Catherine Bott, Jennifer Smith and James Gilchrist. Tickets: £12; concessions £10; u18s £5 - price includes afternoon tea. MAIN BOX OFFICE Jaffe and Neale Books & Cafe (01608 641033) ..............................................................................................................................

14 February • Witney Winter Concerts, Performance Wood Green School, Witney, 7.30pm The Countess of Munster Musical Trust Concert featuring Elen Hydref on harp with a programme that includes: C. P. E Bach Sonata in G Major, Paul Hindemith Sonata for Harp, William Mathias SANTA FE SUITE, E. Walter-Kühne: Fantasy on themes from opera “Eugene Onegin” by P. I. Tchaikovsky. Tickets: £11 (concessions £10). Tel: 01993 702296 ..............................................................................................................................

15 February – 21 April • WWI Exhibition Blenheim Palace, Woodstock A fascinating and interactive WWI exhibition ‘A Great Estate at War – Land, Sea and Air’ exploring the stories behind the family members and workers on the Blenheim Estate. The exhibition will bring to light a time in which many amazing people did outstanding and courageous things, and will provide an incredible insight which everyone will enjoy and learn from.

Held in the recently renovated Gallery Room in the Stables Courtyard.

Tel: 08008 496500 The editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to the events listed. All events are correct at time of going to print.

This space from only

£40 For more details call: 01609 777401

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Workshops for Women Exploring Self-Employment There are all kinds of enterprising things women do, ideas they have, and hobbies they enjoy that can potentially make money. “Cotswold Women in Business” is a successful community collaboration hosting workshops and courses to help women take their ideas seriously and decide if selfemployment and running a business is right for them.

Courses deliver both business skills and structured support thinking through the complex issues around balancing existing responsibilities (like being a parent) and running a business. The emphasis on this balance is what distinguishes the courses from other business support.

Women who have done the courses recommend them to their friends. This is the backbone of the popularity of Cotswold Women in Business. Recent participants include; Jay Haigh who started “Paperishly” selling a range of artwork including paper cutting and paper sculpture, Vanessa Willes launched “Mangle and Wringer” selling natural cleaning products, Debra Wyatt launched an interior design business and Julia Medhurst launched a reflexology business. Julia said: “ The course was empowering and very supportive without letting me avoid the difficult and challenging bits. It helped me out of my comfort zones to really develop my ideas and identify what’s next”.

So if you (or someone you know) have a business idea, aren’t sure if you have the right skills and wonder how it can fit with your life and numerous commitments, help is at hand!

Participants in the one-day workshop

Upcoming workshops and courses include: l Tuesday 21st January 2014

Business Start-Up Course

l

9.30am – 2.30pm every Tuesday for 8 weeks Wednesday 26th March 2014

One-Day Taster Session

to put a toe in the water and find out more 9.30am – 2.30pm Cost: £12.50 one-day workshop £99 Comprehensive 8 week course

Free places are available to eligible participants.

Just call and ask about one.

In the company of like-minded women, participants have fun and explore topics that include: Would self-employment suit me? skills and qualities I’d need l Work-Life Balance l

l

l The

l

Business Plans Marketing

For more information please email or call Sarah-Jane Menato sjm@sjmcoachingandtraining.co.uk or 01386 701868

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READY FOR A

FRESH NEW LOOK ON LIFE IN 2014!

January is here! A lot of us may be overwhelmed with feelings of post-festive blues and feeling lethargic and demotivated after the excesses of the season or maybe you feel full of positive energy and anticipation about what the new year will bring.

New Year’s Resolutions reflect one of the most popular attempts at making positive changes to one’s life. Very often the process results in a long wish list of unrealistic promises to yourself. You may start off very well for the first couple of weeks but then slip back into old habits and routines. Einstein famously said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Try something different, break your old habits of behaviour and start living your life how you want to live it! Life Coaching can help.

Life Coaches are personal guides who help people became their best, most authentic selves. Good coaches help their clients identify and accomplish their most Also SA important dreams and goals. They also R Coachin Life help them clarify and pursue their g will be launc most important priorities, warding Well Be hing Coachin ing and Life off procrastination, distraction and g Retre at Days avoidance so they can get more in 2014 p lease co , satisfaction from the experience of nta for more ct me daily living. Having a life coach can info! turbocharge your goals process!

I am a life coach based in Brize Norton and in January and February am offering a 45 minute free initial consultation to new clients, for more information on myself and my business then please visit www.sarlifecoaching.co.uk or email me at info@sarlifecoaching.co.uk or please feel free to call me for a chat on 07906 320595

Make this the year for something different!

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Sarah Jane Birch

BSc (Hons), Dip LC (OC), AMAC

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Radio play unlocks memories Unlocking memories through the arts is having a positive impact on people with dementia attending the Lights Up arts and memory club in Chipping Norton

arts brings benefits to both those with dementia and their loved ones through sharing activities. Living with dementia brings many challenges and it is important to try and help those affected to cope with the everyday strains and stresses they face.”

Arts activities have included the creation and performance of a 20-minute improvised radio drama that is attracting interest for broadcast from local hospital radio stations, Radio Horton and Cherwell Hospital Radio.

Community artist Sharon Woodward came up with the idea of a radio drama. She said, “Radio gives so much to the imagination, but the story created was so imaginative and way beyond the simple play I was expecting. I can only describe it as being a comedy spy thriller, a bit like ‘carry on spying’. Creating it was hilarious; everyone had so much fun and really got into their roles, becoming spies, gangsters and police officers. We even have a fight scene!

“As well as stimulating the mind, it allowed people to be someone else, to relax and have a lot of fun, which is very important for those living with dementia.”

Jan and Ralph Burrage both thoroughly enjoy coming to Lights Up. Jan, who cares for Ralph said, “We loved making the play and would go home each time with our jaws aching having laughed so much. Sometimes Ralph doesn’t remember much about the day, but if he has had a good time the feeling remains with him for some time.”

The drama, called ‘A Very Strange Journey’ is set in 1957. It tells the tale of a group of train travellers stuck at Chipping Norton station after a small landslide, followed by sheep on the track, causing the Banbury to Wales train to run one hour late.

Pictured are some of the group members who created and performed the radio play.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “I am delighted that these sessions have been so enjoyable. We know from recent studies that engagement with

‘Lights Up’ arts and memory club was set up by West Oxfordshire District Council in October 2012, to support people living with dementia.

West Oxfordshire has one of the largest proportions of people aged 55 and over of all the Oxfordshire districts. There is increasing prevalence of dementia amongst an ageing population and current figures suggest over 8,000 people have dementia in the county.

Cllr Mark Booty, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Health said, “Memory Clubs can make a real difference to people’s lives and we have been happy to lead on this initiative. A year ago we formed the West Oxfordshire Dementia Alliance along with NHS partners, voluntary groups and other organisations to improve services and give support. Lights Up is a shining example of how this type of support is working in the community.”

Interest in sewing and crafts has been under going a resurgence due mainly to recent television programmes which have attracted the attention of a younger generation.

West End Sewing was established in Cheltenham in 1990. Four years ago they moved to their larger, brighter and more amenable premises at 11, Henrietta Street, Cheltenham where they run their very successful sewing workshops and sewing clubs: the workshops are for the owners of any type of sewing machine and their most popular is their over lock machine course; the sewing clubs are for owners of Bernina and Janone sewing machines.

Derek has the largest display of domestic sewing machines in the area with prices ranging from £99.00 upwards. He is very proud of the fact that he can match the internet price for price and that he can give his customers that extra special personal level of service that the internet cannot provide: “If any of our customers have any concerns, whether due to operational procedures with their machine, or practical help with their sewing skills, our friendly staff are always there to help and give advice”.

Call Derek on 01242 244 025 email: info@westendsewing.co.uk | www.westendsewing.co.uk

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West Oxfordshire District Council is working with a host of organisations to run the Lights Up initiative and funding support also comes from the Guideposts Trust, Cottsway Housing, Oxfordshire County Council Big Society fund and Chipping Norton Rotary.

Volunteers help to run the Club and around 20 people come to each session which are led by professionals and artists with experience of working with older people. Pictured left is an art activity.

Coordinator Val McKay of Memory Clubs UK said, “Anyone who has an interest in memory is welcome: people who are concerned about their memory, or that of someone they know; people living with dementia (diagnosed or not) and people caring for someone with memory difficulties can all relax, explore the arts and socialise with us.�

The club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at Highlands, 73 Burford Road, Chipping Norton, OX7 5EE from 10.30am-12.30pm. People can turn up on the day and do not need to book in advance. Help with transport may be is available. For more information call: 0845 1204048.

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GARDEN VIEW

A

Shady Space Light levels during January are low and the days are short, but now the winter solstice has passed, days are slowly lengthening. There are however, areas of the garden which never receive much sunlight, and these shady spaces are often the conversation starter when I speak to gardeners.

A south facing garden is on the priority list of most house hunters, but in reality there must be around the same number of houses built on the dark side of the road! If you’re lucky enough to have a front and back garden, then you should have somewhere to grow the sun lovers, but it’s often a rear shady garden which causes most frustration. So what’s my answer? Embrace the shade!

Shady spaces can be much more atmospheric than those open to full sun, they have a great earthy smell and can support a diverse range of plants and mosses. My suggestion is to layer the planting, so that it looks like the creation of shade is intentional. I would probably go as far as to erect a structure, such as a pergola or shade sail over the top, creating a cosy outdoor room, and use lighting to visually warm the space at night.

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Your layering process begins with the boundaries. The first stage is to paint them black, and before you scream ‘BLACK?!’ out loud, hear me out. Painting the boundaries black will help them to fade into the background once plants mature. The second stage is to clothe the fences and walls with climbers. Although hated by some, Ivy is perfect for this, but other things to try are shade-tolerant Honeysuckles or wall shrubs such as Hydrangea petiolaris and Garrya elliptica. For additional flower colour, why not cram in a couple of Clematis?

So there you have it, a shady oasis, and as with most things in life, if you fully embrace it, a north facing shady garden can be magical.

Until next time,

Happy gardening!

Introduce height with a small tree such as Amelanchier ‘Robin Hill’ or the evergreen Trachycarpus fortunei. Clump forming bamboo makes a great vertical accent, as does the banana Musa basjoo. Next in our ‘shade lasagne’ are the shrubs such as the purple leaved Acers, Viburnum tinus, Box (which can be clipped into shapes to add formality) and Sarcococca. Smaller perennials such as Astilbe, Aconitum and Hellebores provide colour and finally ferns such as the evergreen Asplenium scholopendrium supply wonderful glossy ground cover.

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Dan P., Richard and Dan M.

Green-fingered apprentices get to work Three young people have been given the opportunity to gain qualifications while learning on-the-job after being taken on as apprentice grounds maintenance workers by West Oxfordshire District Council.

The local teenagers are working alongside long-serving staff members to gain valuable experience and skills to help to look after West Oxfordshire’s towns and villages.

involved. We all know how difficult it can be for young people in the current economic climate and we’re pleased to have been able to offer this opportunity.

Photographed left to right are:, Dan Payne, of Witney, Dan Maddocks, of Ducklington and Richard Moss, of Stonesfield. They will undertake two-year apprenticeships with the Council.

“At the same time, it will support this very busy section of the Council and provide resilience for the future, to ensure that we can continue keeping West Oxfordshire at its best.”

All three have previously attended college for horticulture or countryside conservation training, and the Council is working with Abingdon & Witney College to enable them to further develop their qualifications.

Their work for the Council will include services such as grass and verge cutting in various towns and villages and keeping sports pitches, cemeteries and other community facilities maintained. Their first job has been planting Carterton’s autumn floral displays.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “It’s the first time we’ve offered apprenticeships of this kind and we’re hopeful it’s going to be a success for everyone

Apprentice Richard, 18, had been studying countryside horticulture.

He said: “I was really pleased to hear I’d got the apprenticeship, especially as it’s difficult to get a job at the moment. I’m looking forward to getting work experience and being able to see what I like doing most.”

Dan Payne, 17, said: “I think it’ll look good on my CV and I’m grateful for the chance, I think I’ll learn a lot,” while Dan Maddocks, 19, said: “I thought it was a good opportunity and I’d like to stay with the Council if I can. It’s also good to be getting paid while learning.”

The Council also runs apprenticeship schemes in ICT, environment and revenues and benefits services.

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The Cotswold Sky How To Use Your New Telescope No doubt many parents invested in a new telescope for their children at Christmas and found themselves in the frustrating situation of it not being as easy to operate as they first imagined. Well do not panic, this is not an unusual position for a first time user to be in.

If you have had difficulties the following may help but first remember that under no conditions should you observe the Sun, it can do permanent damage to the eyes.

In the Daylight l

C  alibrate your finder by aligning the telescope on a distant object and adjusting the cross hairs of the finder so that they are centralised on the same object. l S  tart by using the eyepiece with the lowest magnification this will guarantee that you have a wider field of view that will make it easier to locate your object. l P  lace your eyepieces in a set order and practice changing them. This will ensure that you will have little difficulty of doing the same when observing in total darkness.

At Night

l A  llow your eyes to become dark-adapted before trying to observe faint

deep-sky objects. l D  o not use a torch unless it has a red filter. l I nitially select an easy object such as the Moon or a bright planet. l K  eep the magnification as small as possible for a clear focussed image.

Too much magnification can give a blurred image. l D  o not forget that the Earth is rotating and so you will need to

continually adjust for the apparent movement of the sky. l B  ear in mind that your telescope will not give you the wonderful images

like those printed in magazines, but it is probably more powerful than that which William Herschel used to discover Uranus, so be patient and enjoy the experience.

Further Assistance:

Cotswold Astronomical Society – www.cotswoldas.org.uk Society for Popular Astronomy - http://www.popastro.com

Diary

January 3rd – The Quadrantid Meteor shower peaks at 7pm look East towards the horizon.

January 4th – This will take some believing but the Earth is at Perihelion, that is, it reaches its CLOSEST place in its orbit around the Sun. During January Jupiter can be viewed clearly rising in the East each evening; it appears like a very bright star. Its four Moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto can be viewed even with binoculars.

Note how the Moons change position as the days go by as they orbit the planet.

January 5th – Jupiter reaches its highest point at midnight.

January 7th, 8th, 9th Stargazing Live returns for its annual program hosted by Professor Brian Cox and

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Dara O Briain. An absolute must for all adults and children wanting to learn about Astronomy.

January 15th at 7pm above the Moon is Jupiter they stay together throughout the night.

January 25th for the early risers look south and observe Saturn to the left of the crescent Moon.

February 7th When the Moon is due South, it is just below Pleiades (the Seven Sisters) star cluster, with Jupiter further to the left.

Looking South 19.00hours February 7th February 19th 00.30hours, the gibbous Moon is in the South East with Mars to the left of it.

February 26th 05.45hours in the South East the lovely sight of a crescent Moon next to a very bright Venus | John Harris

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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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Cotswold Aerials: p21 Mayday Aerials: p23 Vision Repairs: p20

Wychwood Wrought Iron: p4

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Entertainment

Carrick Travel: p5 Music Mania: p13 Frogmill Hotel: back cover Dormy House Hotel: p12 The Beach House St Ives: p15

Finance & Legal

M T Bookkeeping: p20

Food & Drink

Chipping Norton Tea Set: p13 Dormy House Hotel: p12 Frogmill Hotel: back cover F W P Matthews: p9 Wiltshire Farm Foods: p17

Furniture

Heartwood Furniture: p7

Gardening & Hard Landscaping

Bartlett Tree Experts: p19 Cotswold Garden & Estate Consultancy: p19 Eynsham Park Sawmill: back cover H & H Groundworks: p19

Mark Vanner Hypnotherapist: p15 The Breakspeare Clinic: front cover Accessible Bathing Company: p9 Laser Light: p15 Runnerbean: p15

Heating

Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p4 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p6 Fosse Fires: front cover Heat Store: p3

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Cotswold Interiors: p8 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p6 Cotswold Carpets: p21 Fosse Fires: front cover Heartwood Furniture: p7 Heat Store: p3 Redlay Flooring: p3 Sewing Tuition: p13 West End Sewing: p16 Wychwood Wrought Iron: p4

Kitchen & Bathroom Design Cotswold Interiors: p8 Cliff Grove & Sons: p6 Heartwood Furniture: p7

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The Laundry: p21

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Dial A Dog Wash: p10 Cotswold Riding: p11

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Cotswold Plumber: p9 C Williams Property Maintenance: p6 Cliff Grove & Sons: p6 C N Glass: p7 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p4 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p6 Oxford Woodworks: p6 Prior Products: p3 The Locksmith: p20 T R Property Maintenance: p9

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Runnerbean: p11 Cotswold Riding: p11

Travel & Tourism

Carrick Travel: p5 The Beach House St Ives: p15 Witney Shuttle: p13

Tree Surgery

Bartlett Tree Experts: p19

Tuition

Cotswold Riding: p11 Cotswold Tutor: p11 Sewing Tuition: p13 West End Sewing: p16

Weddings

Chipping Norton Tea Set: p13 Dormy House Hotel: p12 Frogmill Hotel: back cover

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THE PURE VISION OF RICHARD KENTON WEBB

for strange machines and inventions whose functions are unclear and which may or may not work in the real world. They seem to suggest the artist’s grappling with a need to build, to create, to render objects and to narrate and communicate in a way that the muteness of abstraction cannot achieve.

This solo exhibition highlights the depth, breadth and commitment of Richard Kenton Webb’s artistic practice and proves his long-term value and importance as a serious artist involved in a lifelong project of important aesthetic worth.

a new solo exhibition at Celia Lendis Galleries

“To stand before one of Richard’s large canvases is a special thing…. The colour literally moves forward off the canvas to embrace you and immerse the world within itself. Dissolving in colour, it is a small step to feeling transported into another physical reality: a transcendental experience.”

COLOUR FORMS

by Richard Kenton Webb Exhibition runs

Sat 1 February to Wed 5 March 2014

Celia Lendis Galleries, High St, Moreton-in-Marsh

Richard Kenton Webb follows in the tradition of English Romantic landscape painters but it is difficult, at first, to see this. His large semi-figurative paintings are drenched in intense and pure colour.

Their lyrical and rhythmic forms (often reminiscent of concept drawings for machines that speak more of human frailty than mechanical precision), seem to reference 1950s Modernism rather than the spiritual landscapes of 19th Century British painters.

However, in the same way that those painters validated strong emotion and intuition as an authentic and desirable source of aesthetic experience, so Richard takes his starting point as his personal response to a particular landscape and moment in time. He opens himself up to the experience of place and his multi-sensory awareness of himself within or as part of his surroundings.

The forms emerge from loose, rambling drawings that trace his thoughts and appear like blueprints

Richard has lived and painted in an old coach house near Cirencester for the past 25 years. He is an artist and also a teacher: a Senior Lecturer in Drawing and Applied Arts at the University of West England and in the past taught at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Prince of Wales Drawing School in London. He has been awarded several international Artists in Residences to Italy and Paris, including The Boise Travelling Scholarship to Rome. With two prestigious stained glass window commissions in the Gloucestershire churches of Eastington and Leckhampton and ten solo exhibitions, Richard’s work can be seen in many public and private collections both in the UK and overseas in Germany, Italy and the USA.

Celia Lendis Galleries, High St, Moreton-in-Marsh, Cotswolds, UK GL56 0AF. TEL +44 (0) 1608 650 852 gallery@celialendis.com

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