Eynshamnewsissue12

EYNSHAM

Council & Community Issue 12 – April - May 2015

NEWS

This goldfinch © local wildlife photographer Ivor Porter offers a stunning introduction to Eynsham Fishponds in spring. Turn to page 6 for the feature; visit his website at www.ivorporter.co.uk In keeping with the season, this issue has an outdoor theme, with a report from the Fishponds closely followed by an impressive preview of the long-awaited Wharf Stream Way – carefully designed to guide you on your visit. It’s good to welcome cricket and rugby sports initiatives (pages 16–17) too.

And there is so much more! from arts and books (page 2) to war and weather (page 9) – with opportunities galore at every turn. Thanks again for your generous contributions. The News Group is pleased and proud to have completed a second year and looks forward to your support in 2015/6.

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In this issue • • • • • • • • •

Access for all Contact sheets Public services Home front Wharf Stream Way Over to you Local people Recreation, group updates What’s On:

2 4 – 5 6 – 7 8 – 9 10 – 11 12 – 13 14 – 15 16 – 18 19 – 20

Book exchange

From cells for ‘wild books’ in France to a pirated phone box in Banbury ... could the idea catch on here?

Eynsham-based charity Flash of Splendour has been quietly working miracles – empowering marginalized children and young adults through the creative arts.

Using an innovative immersive approach, the founders Anne Louise Avery and Steve Pratley enable access to history, art and texts that are generally considered too dry and too difficult for children with special educational needs. Each project typically ends with an exhibition, publication or film: putting the children’s voices and work into public, often highly visible arenas. They are now working with Exeter University and the Royal Geographical Society on their most ambitious project yet, supported by major grants from the Heritage Lottery and the Arts & Humanities Research Council – the Children’s Poly-Olbion, which introduces children to Michael Drayton’s vast topographical poem of Britain. Their re-imagining of Drayton’s Jacobean landscapes will showcase, alongside 17th century books and maps, at the RGS in London in September.

Visit www.flashofsplendourarts.com/@petitpolyolbion

The theory is simple: people drop off their unwanted books and pick up one or more that takes their fancy – it beats putting the books in landfill. Sounds like a year-round, book-themed Swap Shop, in fact ...

You can also have a network based on cafés, pubs or community centres – books are picked up at one place to read, then dropped off somewhere else – so the stock is refreshed more often and interest is maintained.

How about it, GreenTEA members and booklovers round the village – to stock us up and maybe weed out tatty stock occasionally? Of course we also need a couple of enterprising businesses to run with the idea. Perhaps someone can spare a bird cage or fish tank, to help them keep the stock in bounds and presentable?

Briefly Sitting in the surgery or standing at the bus queue, the people of Eynsham never cease to amuse and amaze.

Can you guess who said …

How about that? Someone bought an EP that my band made 24 years ago in a record store in Istanbul today … ISTANBUL! I seem to have become addicted to cold water swimming. The 15-minute dip into Queenford Lakes is the highlight of my weekend.

More contributions are welcome – please get in touch.

EYNSHAM NEWS is published by a local, not-for-profit voluntary group, set up solely to produce a community newsletter of broad general appeal. Free delivery to every household is arranged by volunteers. Eynsham News is also online, for family and friends around the country and overseas: visit http://issuu.com/eynsham1/ Local stories, snaps and snippets are always welcome.

Next issue will be out on 25 May – copy deadline Friday 8 May.

• Editor Joan Stonham, 28 Beech Road Eynsham: OX29 1LJ: eynsham.news@gmail.com • Distribution coordinator Pam Breeze: 01865 880725 • Advertising/sponsorship Sandy Hellig: 07551 876285, email sandy.hellig@gmail.com - see page 20 • Treasurer Tom Smith: thomassmithwm@gmail.com

Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the News Group. Inclusion of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product, service or event.

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Eynsham futures

Graveyard closure

By now we hope many more of you will have heard of us and become interested in the proposed Neighbourhood Plan through our handbill and our Launch on 20 & 21 March! We welcome too all the new volunteers we hope, at time of writing, to have recruited and thank you all for your responses to our handbill and contributions to our “Ideas Wall”.

Your views are vital in determining the direction the Plan takes.

We will be working hard to collate and analyse all your responses into common themes and courses of action. We will publicise the results soon on posters around the village and at www.eynshamfutures.org.uk Our job over the next few months will be to start meetings and workshops with the school pupils, at the medical practice, with local businesses, clubs, trusts and societies. We are already talking with local housing associations and the District Council and plan to make contact with Oxfordshire County Council and other service providers. We will be gathering their ideas and information to add to the “desk based evidence” that we need to study and analyse in order to formulate our Plan. There is a lot to do and we hope you might feel able to offer your particular talents/experience.

Are you a school or college parent, pupil, teacher or governor? Do you have any experience as a health or caring professional, in business, commerce, industry, building and design, landscaping, IT, local government or transport? Does your interest/work involve the arts, heritage matters, recreation, the environment or countryside? Maybe none of the above fit, but you love Eynsham and you are full of enthusiasm and community spirit. We need you all!

“We had very little response by letter or email although there were a few telephone calls from people mainly concerned they might not be able to be buried [there].

As the response was so little we did send the application off to the Ministry of Justice ... but have not yet had any response. As previously advised burials will still be able to take place in reserved plots and ashes will still be accepted whilst there is still room for them.”

Another update on the Neighbourhood Plan from Posy Parrinder. Keep in touch at www.eynshamfutures.org.uk or email eynsham.futures@gmail.com

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Last year St Leonard’s Parochial Church Council consulted on a proposal to close the newer part of the churchyard. Mike Sinfield reports.

The Parish Council continues to investigate a number of options to provide land for a new burial site.

The results are in CARNIVAL UPDATE: Following the disco on 7 March, the Committee are pleased to announce that Carnival Queen 2015 will be Georgia Truby-Smith (14). Deputy is Caitlin Binnie; attendants are Abigail Barrett, Janay Porter, Charlotte Reynolds and Jess Summers.

LYNETTE BROWN raised £587 for charities in 2014 from her Thursday stall in Market Square – including £200 for BBC appeals and £250 for action around Bethlehem children with disability.

ROTARY FILM NIGHT: Many thanks to those who supported this event on 14 March. Over £800 will be split between Young Dementia UK and Maggie’s Centre.

Eynsham churches

Contacts

ST LEONARD’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND Vicar: The Revd Morey Andrews 01865 881323 Curate: Revd Kath Cooke 01865 855320 Church Office & Secretary: Jan Macdonald 21 High Street 01865 883325 email stleonards_stpeters@btconnect.com SUNDAY SERVICES Holy Communion 09.00, Morning Service 10:45, Evening Service 18:00 WEEKDAYS Monday Prayer Meeting 07:00, Wednesday Communion 09:30

Allotments: John & Sara Bannister, 01865 880324 Bartholomew School: Witney Road, 01865 881430 Carnival: Julie Jordan 22 Back Lane, 01865 880042 Chemist: Lloyds Pharmacy 64 Acre End Street,

01865 881283 Childcare: Health Visitors, 01993 881887 Chiropody: Baptist Church Hall 2nd Monday,

01865 880871 Dentists: 4 Cassington Road, 01865 880047 Dogs: WODC, 01993 861020 Electoral Services: WODC, 01993 861410 – see page 5 Eynsham News: see page 2 Fire Station: Station Road, 01865 881337;

emergencies 999 Flooding: early warning 0845 988 1188; sandbags WODC 01993 861000 (out of hours 0845 3039706) Gas: enquiries 0845 835 1111, leaks 0800 111 999 Grass Cutting: Parish Council, 07956 901622 Hazeldene Close: open space and street lights

Remus Management Ltd, 0121 766 1480 Library: 30 Mill Street, 01865 880525 Market: St Leonard’s Church Hall, 01865 880928 Medical Centre: Conduit Lane, 01865 881206 Pest Control: WODC, 01993 861060 Planning: applications WODC 01993 861420 Play Areas: Parish Council, 07956 901622 Playing Fields: Management Committee Sue Brown,

01865 464267 – see page 13 Police: Village Hall Back Lane, incident reporting 101,

emergencies 999 Post Office: 39 Mill Street, 01865 881159 Primary School: Beech Road, 01865 881294 Recycling: District Council, 01993 861025 Road Repairs: Oxfordshire Highways, 0845 310 1111

– emergency reports only, see page 6 Social Care (OCC): 0845 050 7666,

emergencies 0800 833408 Sports Centre: Back Lane, 01865 731090 Street Cleaning: WODC Street Scene 01993 861020 Street Lights: 24 hour fault line 0800 317802 Toilets: Back Lane Car Park/Oxford Road,

01249 822063 Waste Collection: WODC, 01993 861020

ST PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH www.stpeterseynsham.org.uk Parish Priest: Father Martin Flatman 01865 881613 / 07719 646790 / frmartinflatman@gmail.com SUNDAY SERVICE Sunday Mass 10:00 Saturday Mass of Sunday 19.30, Tuesday Holy Hour 16:30, Benediction 17:05 EYNSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH Minister: Revd Zoltan Biro 01865 881670 Church telephone / answerphone: 01865 882203 Church Secretary: Denise Launchbury, 82 Shakespeare Road 01865 881128 / eynsham.baptists@btinternet.com Church Treasurer: Bob Thiele 01865 426203 SUNDAY SERVICE with Junior Church 10:30; Songs of Praise 2nd Sunday of month 15:00.

PELLMANS Your Local Solicitors

Business and Employment Law Contracts, Legal Compliance and Disputes

Property

Buying and Selling Homes, Commercial and Agricultural

Divorce

Finances, Children and Cohabitation Disputes

Halls for hire

Wills, Probate and Trusts

Tax Planning and Lasting Powers of Attorney

01865 884400 www.pellmans.co.uk 1 Abbey Street, Eynsham, Oxford OX29 4TB Home visits and evening appointments available 4

See also Baptist Hall – new feature on page 5 Bartholomew Room/Sports Pavilion: 07956 901622 Primary School Hall: 01865 881294 Red Lion: 01865 882903 Scout Headquarters: 01865 881787 Social & Sports Club: 01865 881234 St Leonard’s Hall: 01865 880107 Tolkien Room & garden: 07919 605544 Village Hall: 01865 881624 White Hart Function Room: 01865 880711

Local councils

Halls for hire

EYNSHAM PARISH COUNCIL (EPC) Richard Andrews (Vice-Chair): 01865 880106 Jane Baldwin: 01865 435129 Gordon Beach (Chairman): 01865 880979 Andrew Bickley: 01865 884496 Sue Brown: 01865 464267 Patricia Crowley: 01865 731303 Peter Emery: 01865 731199 Verity Hughes: 01865 880243 Sue Johnson: 01865 731613 – see page 6 Andy Mosson: 01865 880889 Sue Osborne: 01865 880285 Nick Relph: 01865 464264 David Rossiter: 01865 881568 Dennis Stukenbroeker: 01865 880609 Paul Wilding: 01865 423556 Email formula: firstname.lastname@eynsham-pc.gov.uk PARISH CLERK Rachel Faulkner, 1 Glovers Close Woodstock OX20 1NS: 07956 901622 email clerk@eynsham-pc.gov.uk OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (OCC) Charles Mathew: 01865 882205 County Hall: 01865 792422 WEST OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL WODC ‘surgeries’ at the Bartholomew Room have been suspended for April and May in view of the elections.

Peter Emery: 01865 731199 Edward James: 01865 731009 Peter Kelland: 01865 880028 Council Offices: 01993 861000

Baptist Church Hall Lombard Street – first in a new series; see also foot of page 4 opposite.

Spacious, light room at the rear of the church, with a wooden sprung floor around 10m x 11m and tables and chairs for 54 people. Fully fitted kitchen with cooking facilities. One of the two toilets is disabled friendly and there is a disabled access to the hall.

On-site parking is limited but ample parking can be found nearby.

There are vacancies at various times from week to week, between use by local groups. Please note, alcohol is not allowed on any part of the premises.

For enquiries/bookings please call Jackie on 07900 066471.

abbeyproperties

independent estate agents

Your local Independent Agent established in the village since 1983 You must be on the electoral register to vote at the General and local elections on 7 May. If you are, you should have received a confirmation letter recently.

If you are not already registered, you need to apply no later than 20 April – it takes only a couple of minutes. Find your National Insurance (NI) number first, then call the District Council on 01993 861410 or visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote It is now a legal requirement to register, even if you do not vote. Failure to do so may adversely affect your credit rating, so why take any chances?

We sell more property in Eynsham than any other agent. To benefit from our experience of the local market call us for sound, honest and reliable advice on the value of your home.

Offices in Eynsham, Witney and Bampton Telephone 01865 880697 www.abbeyproperties.tv

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Public services

Highways Consultation on the County Council’s draft transport plan is open until 2 April. No prints are available: visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/connectingoxfordshire Please keep reporting potholes and pavement defects. OCC Highways inspect only once a year and rely on members of the public to report non-emergency cases online.

You can ‘Report a road problem’ at www.oxfordshire. gov.uk or go to http://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Fishponds

Planning

Dennis Stukenbroeker – Chair, Planning Committee

Verity Hughes – Chair, Fishponds Committee. All council contact details are listed on page 5.

Sadly some of the trees which form Queen Mother’s clump (the trees facing you as you enter the car park) are now past their sell-by date. These are five crack willows which have become too large to be safe. We have taken professional advice and obtained permits to fell them (they are in the conservation area). By the time you read this, they may well have been pollarded or coppiced. They were planted in 1982 by members of the Eynsham Society – photo © Sue Chapman above. You may recognise a few faces …

One of the volunteer work parties got to work on a recent Sunday morning, moving the north path onto higher ground and out of the mud. This is an ongoing project which is being done over a period of time.

When the Parish Council took over responsibility in 2004, this area was unmanaged and fairly inaccessible.

Surveys funded by Awards for All established what was there and what improvements could be made. A three-stage management plan, based on the survey recommendations, has been followed with only minor modifications – much of the work being done by volunteers from school and youth groups and local residents, to whom we are extremely grateful.

Ten years on, with grants from Cottsway Housing, the County and District Councils and Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment, we re-commissioned the surveys and they will form the basis of a management plan for the next ten years. You will find them online at http://tinyurl.com-eynsham-fishponds 6

Oxfordshire County Council has received approval for a residential assessment centre to be built between Merton Close and Merton Court (15/00074/ CC3REG). Neither West Oxfordshire District Council nor the Parish Council raised an objection to the centre, but both raised concerns about landscaping and lighting and the site is still subject to agreement on these and the flood risk mitigation measures to be imposed.

The assessment centre will be for up to six children and young people aged 12–17 who are at risk of coming into the County’s care system. There will be at least four care staff on site, with at least two overnight. Construction is expected to start soon and be completed by February 2016.

The proprietor of a burger and kebab van sited in the car park of the Red Lion pub on the Square has applied to WODC for a premises licence to open longer hours. The application is to provide late night refreshment until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 01:30 on Friday and Saturday. Consultation on the application closed on 11 March but several residents in the vicinity have objected, saying they already suffer from noise, litter and antisocial behaviour from pub goers. If the application is granted, they say, the van will attract more people from pubs within walking distance, as well as vehicular traffic and bus travellers from the nearby bus stops, who will be encouraged to linger around the Square after the pubs – and their toilets – close. The Parish Council has also objected.

Applications in Eynsham are determined by the WODC Licensing Panel.

Buckinghamshire builders Vanderbilt plan to build 77 houses on the Eynsham Garden Centre site off the A40. Plans are for an access road to the whole site to be joined up to the top of Old Witney Road. A public consultation was held on 25 January at the Village Hall but as of writing, no planning application has been submitted to WODC.

Following the refusal of 19 houses on the JA Pye (Oxford) Ltd site on land west of Fruitlands (14/1009/P/OP) the WODC Lowlands Planning Committee imposed a Tree Preservation Order on the whole site. In response, Pye has made an application (15/00597/TPO) to cut down more trees than were going to be destroyed in the original application.

Pye have also served notice that they intend to fence off the site, which has previously been used by local residents and dog walkers.

58 Mill Street (15/00176/FUL): an application has been made for a four bedroom infill house between 56 and 58 Mill Street, as well as two one bedroom houses behind the existing house. The Parish Council objected to this as over-development of the site but the WODC planning officer recommended approval at the Lowlands Planning Committee meeting on 16 March.

They work for you The Annual Meeting for Eynsham parish takes place on Tuesday 21 April at 19:30 in the Village Hall, Back Lane. Do come if you can. This is your chance to find out what (almost) everyone who is anyone in the village has been doing on your behalf in the last 12 months – and ask them questions too.

The local Police and Fire Service, County and District Councillors, Bartholomew School, Eynsham Charities, Primary School Governors, Playing Field and Village Hall Managers and the Allotments Association have all been invited to submit reports, as well as the Parish Council. You will find the reports at Eynsham Online from Friday 17 April, with printed copies in the Library if you don’t use the internet.

RAF Brize Norton is concerned that increasing recreational use of small unmanned aircraft (SUA) and small unmanned surveillance aircraft (SUSA) is putting regular, official flights at risk. Here are the basic rules – more details at Eynsham Online.

• The operation of the aircraft must not endanger anyone or anything.

• Any SUA weighing 7 kg or less should be flown at least 5 km clear of charted aerodromes.

• A SUA weighing 7 kg or more must not be flown in controlled airspace or an air traffic zone without prior permission from the local Air Traffic Control unit.

• All aircraft must be kept within your visual line of sight (assumed as 500m horizontally and 400ft vertically).

• If you plan to fly a camera/surveillance-fitted aircraft (SUSA), you need prior permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.

• If you plan to fly in congested areas, or within 50m of people or property which are not under your control, you need prior permission from the CAA. SKY LANTERNS (Chinese lanterns) can travel considerable distances and while the risk is small they also constitute a real danger to aircraft.

Charity No: 1039638

Providing a safe and stimulating environment for 2–5 year olds to grow & learn, developing essential life skills for their primary education and beyond.

Morning, afternoon or all day sessions offered during term time, 8:45am to 3:15pm.

For more information or to arrange a visit please contact us on 01865 883893.

Registered Charity No: 268409

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At Acre-End, we are committed to ensuring quality of opportunity for all children and their families. Qualified staff provide a safe, secure, creative and stimulating environment through a parent/ carer community based pre-school.

Come and visit us between 10am and 11am any

Local heroes

We offer an environment to suit everyone; a quiet and comfy end, a children’s play area, plenty of seating and a brand new meeting/eating room available to book.

We host Drop-In Clinics with experts on hand to answer questions on subjects including IT, Gardening, Home Styling and more.

We also host local groups who support carers, business etc.

Stationery and greetings cards from top British Suppliers.

Contemporary, artisanal and individual gifts for you and your home.

Tried and tested equipment in our new cookshop area.

Children’s gifts from brands like Jelly Cat and Melissa & Doug.

Great coffee, homemade cakes and food available all day.

32 Mill Street, Eynsham 01865 731717 www.eynsham-emporium.co.uk

Eynsham Dental Care

CREATING SMILES IN WEST OXFORDSHIRE

Tooth Whitening

Large Free Car Park

Dental Implants

Free NHS care for under 18s

Telephone 01865 880047 www.eynshamdentalcare.com 4 Cassington Road, Eynsham, OX29 4LF 8

A welcome update from Stuart Smith;image © Paul Ganderton.

Keep in touch with Eynsham Fire Station on Facebook and on Twitter @fireeynsham Eynsham fire crew has had a very busy winter, responding to an unprecedented 38 emergency calls in January alone. We’ve assisted other Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue crews by supplying specialist equipment from our Incident Support Unit and responded to numerous local emergencies too.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, South Central Ambulance Service asked us to help alleviate some of the strain due to the high level of 999 calls they were receiving. We responded to 16 serious medical emergencies within the village and nearby.

Our trained First Person On Scene personnel, with the help of other crew members, were able to provide a fast response and immediate care before handing over patients to the ambulance crews on their arrival.

We were proud to provide this cover for SCAS and help those who needed it in our local community.

Eynsham drill night is every Tuesday at 19:00, so if you are interested in joining our fantastic crew and think you have what it takes to become a firefighter we’d love to hear from you. Please come down to the station and say hello – or call Frank Patterson at other times on 07796 941347 – we’ll be happy to show you around and tell you more about this exciting role.

Neighbours united

Policing update

Eynsham Neighbourhood Care Scheme has provided transport for elderly or infirm parishioners to hospitals and clinics for over 45 years. The scheme is grant-aided by the Parish Council, but the service is provided by a group of committed volunteer drivers.

David Miller, the latest coordinator, has provided a dedicated service since 2005. David has recently decided to move on and has been looking for a new home for the scheme.

PCSO Sandra Syphas has joined Eynsham Neighbourhood Team after 7 years in a similar role south of Abingdon. She was crowned PCSO of the year in 2013, which she counts as one of her greatest achievements. Colleagues now look forward to using her skills and knowledge in the Eynsham area.

Eynsham Good Neighbour Network (EGNN) was set up in September 2013. Since its launch volunteers have helped Eynsham residents with household repairs, gardening, etc: transport was explicitly excluded to avoid duplication. However, faced with the possibility of losing this valuable service, EGNN have stepped in to ensure continuity – and very happily the vast majority of volunteer drivers have agreed to carry on supporting the scheme!

War in the air The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum is planning a new exhibition in August and would very much like to hear from anyone who has stories, documents or photos about military aviation in the county that they would be willing to share. Please contact Ursula Corcoran: 01993 810212/email airpowerteam@sofo.org.uk

• EGNN: 07443 564516 • Eynsham Car Scheme: 07469 764174

Odell cottage

Grant Paton has an update from his weather station – more details at www.odellweather.co.uk Our records indicate that 2014 was slightly warmer than the average of the last 30 years; and also a little wetter.

The warmest month was July, with a maximum of 30.4°C and 19 days when the temperature was over 25°C. The coldest month was December, with 22 days of air frosts, 11 days below 0°C and a low point of -3.9°C on 29 December.

The total rainfall, 678.9 mm, was just 6.3 mm greater than the average. In all, there were 201 days with rain and 164 without. The wettest month was January (total 113.4 mm) and the driest was September with only 4.2 mm. The highest rainfall in any one day was on 25 April, when we had 22.2 mm.

The dominant wind direction over the year was westerly. On 15 February (the windiest month) a gust of 47.9 mph was recorded. The highest barometric pressure recorded was 1041.9 mb on 29 December, while the lowest was 970.6 mb on 14 February.

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EYNSHAM POST OFFICE – NEWS / MAGAZINES 39 Mill Street, Eynsham OX29 4JX: 01865 881159 Mon - Fri 09:00 – 17:30, Saturday 09:00 – 12:30 Free personal banking with all major banks Business banking with Co-op – Santander –Barclays – Clydesdale – BOI Foreign Currency / Euros & Dollars, Travellers’ Cheques Travel Money Card Plus – 0% commission Passport and ID photos; Passport Check & Send; on the spot Travel Insurance; Motor Vehicle Licence; Rod Licence Mobile E-Top-Up & Vouchers – International Calling Cards Gift Vouchers / Postal Orders / MoneyGram – Parcel Force Cards / Stationery / Toys / Dry Cleaning / Laundry Fax / Photocopy – Video Transfer National / Health Lottery – Free 24 hour ATM

We do all types of tree work including pruning, planting and felling, as well as hedge trimming and stump removal. gregg@allseasonstrees.com www.allseasonstrees.com Call Gregg on 01865 430536 or 07823 332247

BEECH COURT NURSING HOME “a home from home” for your elderly relations

37 Newland Street, Eynsham OX29 4LB Tel: 01865 883611

COMPUTER PROBLEM? NEED HELP BUT CONFUSED BY THE CHOICE? WE CAN DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU AND HAVE 30 YEARS OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR COMPUTERS. FRIENDLY ADVICE AND A DISCOUNT FOR EYNSHAM RESIDENTS BROADBAND & PHONE PROBLEMS SORTED AND WE DO MACS TOO! RING BOB ON 01865 880600 / 07768 732123

Kavanaghs CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

Are you looking for an award winning local firm of chartered accountants to deal with your tax, accountancy, VAT or payroll affairs? We offer free consultations, fixed fees and flexible working hours to meet your needs.

Call Jan or Kevin now on 01865 883597 or check out our website www.kavanaghsaccountants.co.uk

t: 01865 594955 m: 07917 716004

Affordable home makeovers for living & selling Find out more at clarifyinteriors.co.uk

ROBERT HUIE Robert Huie Garden Design 27 Queen Street Eynsham Witney OX29 4HH

rh

Tel 01865 731466 Mob 07796 145476 web: www.roberthuie.co.uk email: design@roberthuie.co.uk Twitter @robhuie

THE COTSWOLD VINTAGE TEA PARTY Celebrate in style with a delicious traditional English Afternoon Tea served on beautiful Vintage China and Table Linen Perfect for your Birthday Party, Baby Shower, Christening or Hen Celebration call Jackie on 07901 600218

ELECTRICAL HIRE & SALES Freeland Road, Eynsham OX29 4AU Tel: 01865 881851 www.ehsplanthire.co.uk

Tools and plant - garden equipment - specialist pumps Sales, repairs and servicing collection & delivery for trade and DIY A friendly, local family business with over 20 years’ experience

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Over to you With the Eynsham Arts Group experiencing a surge in membership, visitors to the spring exhibition can expect to see an exciting mix of work from artists old and new, displaying the depth of artistic talent to be found in and around the village. Opening times are geared to coincide with the first week of Artweeks, which features artists from the north of the county from 2–10 May. So, be quick if you want to snap up some original artwork at well below gallery prices.

Opening times will soon appear on posters around the village or visit www.eynshamartsgroup.org.uk EAG Chairman Eric White, who kindly supplied our latest image opposite, says: “An artist’s studio can be a mini treasure-house of materials: paints, brushes, pencils, charcoal, and all the paraphernalia that goes with creating a new piece of artwork. My advice is to never throw anything away. That tiny stub of pastel may be just the shade needed to finish off a piece of new work; that half-finished sketch that has been lying around for months is begging to be finished or else is just waiting to be the inspiration for a completely new take on a problem you have been itching to solve. If you always keep a sketch book to hand in your studio and when you venture out, you will never be short of inspiration.”

Dramatic impact

Hatha Yoga Classes

Mixed ability New venue Variety of poses Please contact Hazel Learn to de stress and relax 07931 743785 www.hazelfaithfull.co.uk Come along & try first class: £6 bring this advert

Whole Voice

unlock the potential of your natural voice A great way to develop yourself, your voice production and your singing ability.

One-to-one – voice workshops – group work for schools – businesses – charities – therapists Web: www.annelryan.co.uk Telephone: 01865 880858 FaceBook: Anne L Ryan Twitter: @movingtone LinkedIn: Anne L Ryan

Remember Dawn Walker’s experience as a community first responder, reported in the last Eynsham News? The yellow box outside the Co-op – and the defibrillator inside it – is also saving lives. Once you’ve rung 999 to report a collapse, the unit tells you what to do; and you’re supported on the phone until the ambulance arrives.

Visit www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk

Shaun Rowland Building Contractors Ltd Family run business est. 1989 Covering all aspects of construction work Small works, Extensions, Renovations, Loft conversions, New builds (NHBC registered builder) For a free quotation or advice - Telephone: 07957 360516 Email: shaun_rowland@icloud.com For more information please visit our website www.shaunrowlandbuilding.co.uk

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Green fingers

Poo corner

Sue Raikes reports: email sue.raikes@appleinter.net In lovely March sunshine, enthusiasts from GreenTEA, Hazeldene Close and the Parish and District Councils planted nine trees behind the allotments recently.

Thanks to Heather McCulloch from WODC for getting the site cleared as part of the new Wharf Stream Way – see pages 10–11.

If you would like to be involved in caring for the trees, or learning about pruning or grafting do get in touch. Please don’t prune them on your own. An overenthusiastic pruner has for the last two years given our Fishponds trees a drastic haircut, removing all the growing points – so that although they were growing well we shall never get any apples!

Litter pickers Roy Wilkinson announces a year-round venture. Contact litterpicking@eynshamrotary.org.uk Eileen Mace has been organising Eynsham litter pickers for the past 8 years, initially with the support of Jean and Richard Andrews, but more recently on her own. She is now stepping down but deserves our utmost praise and thanks for her dedication and community service.

However, litter picking will continue as the Rotary Club of Eynsham, which has been involved over the past 2–3 years, has agreed to take on an organising role – hopefully from the same base at the Baptist Hall in Lombard Street. We anticipate that the small group of volunteers will combine with Rotary to carry on keeping our village clean and tidy.

Litter pickers will now be meeting regularly on the last Sunday of the month, starting at 13:45 and returning for tea around 15:30. New volunteers will be extremely welcome at the next session on 26 April.

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Should dogs be banned entirely from the playing fields? Our recent items on dog mess and its impact on young football players – and the horrific © Manchester Evening News eye infection that can result – have prompted further responses.

“Another unwelcome hazard is being jumped on by an out-of-control dog. This has happened to me twice recently on Oxford Road playing field – once by a fully grown dog (the owner did have the grace to apologise, thank you) and again by a totally untrained puppy, who licked me all over the face and mouth before I could fend it off. No apology on that occasion, just a lecture ostensibly delivered to the animal but obviously intended for my ears – “She doesn’t realise you’re only a puppy and just want to play”. If a dog is untrained and uncontrollable it should surely be on a lead! I believe that I have the right to enjoy a walk on the playing field without being set upon / molested.”

The Playing Field Managers write: Excessive dog mess on the south field (Pavilion side) remains a major problem. Since irresponsible owners fail us, team managers and parents have to clear the pitches before games and training begin. Dog excrement can pose a serious health risk to children.

It can also infect the dogs of responsible owners. A match had to be suspended this season when a child’s hands and shirt became covered in dog mess. The player had to be thoroughly cleaned up before the game could continue.

The south field is for the recreation of all who live in the village and around it. Regular grass cutting, however, would not be possible without the pitch fees received from the football clubs that use the field.

Two suggestions are being explored for improving the current situation: to increase the number and visibility of the dog waste bins; and to make the line of the footpath clearer, by reinstating the sign/waymark at the stream. This may encourage dog owners to avoid the playing surfaces.

Eynsham Brownies have also identified dog fouling as a major issue in the village. They will be embarking on a campaign and producing posters asking people to clear up after their dogs. The Parish Council spends £2000 of our council tax on emptying the bins so it is in everyone’s interest to see them better used.

People

This issue of Eynsham News may be the last one printed locally, as our one remaining printer is consolidating its operations. Jon Buckingham, Eynsham printer man and boy, arranged a tour before the presses move – a local reception centre will maintain a presence for customers.

Print and publishing is deeply rooted here, as readers of the Eynsham Record know. John Danter, son of an Eynsham weaver, was turning out Shakespeare folios in London at the end of the 16th century; Michael Sparke, a Puritan publisher, was selling books to the Bodleian Library in the 17th. Nineteenth century developments in printing, paper-making and transport enabled massive increases in output – Oscar Mellor’s hand press at Swinford in the 1950s represented an heroic but short-lived backlash – and by 2005 no fewer than 8 print firms appeared in the Eynsham Directory.

From its origins in 1968 as Cotswold Press in Swan Street, then behind the big blue doors on Abbey Street / Church Street, Information Printing (as it was) expanded to Southfield Road and steadily absorbed its neighbours – parts of James Burn, Britannia Print Finishers, Witney Press and most recently Blenheim Colour. Progress has a price, of course. Under pressure from foreign / internet competition, a wiro-binding team of 50 has shrunk to only two; one only hopes

the rest found local jobs. Some formats (business cards, posters, display materials) are now produced elsewhere.

The leaner modern set-up is very impressive, however, producing academic, scientific and more popular work in great variety. A complex guide to clinical coding standards; papers from a foreign language conference; a gorgeous study of fixtures and fittings in period houses; a full-colour facsimile of a medieval musical manuscript – all this and more were in production on a “quiet” day last month.

Shorter runs and self-published work – from children’s tales to cookbooks – can be handled too, with a design arm in Cheltenham available if required.

Though Jon had a cautionary tale of a (nameless) author with a print run of 2,000. Five years on, 200 have sold and the remainder, still on the premises, will at the least be liable for storage charges after the move.

Berforts Information Press has been a BBOWT corporate member, is Forestry Stewardship Council certified and takes environmental issues very seriously.

Recycling bins are everywhere – and noise from the huge compactor has been reduced as well.

The merger with Berforts in 2012 has clearly extended the range of services on offer, though at present a book printed in Eynsham must go to Stevenage for its hardcover and dust jacket, so streamlining is essential. Technical advances call for continuing response as well: the huge eight-colour offset litho Heidelberg press from Eynsham is heading off to join a brand new model which is several times faster and also cheaper to run.

Martin and Morey Fr Martin Flatman has decamped from the house beside St Peter’s Church but the call of the garden continues.

“I love living in Eynsham, as I have since 2005 when I arrived as Catholic priest. My wife Frances and I moved house last month – but no further than Hazeldene Close. Why they called it that, instead of

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Swinford Green, I do not know as there is already one in North Leigh!

“So you may see more of me now as I try to walk rather than drive between house and church, to ensure the Church is open for anyone in daylight hours and to lead prayers (Mass) every day. I still look after the big garden but have reduced the work required with more shrubs and lawn and fewer fancy bits. Hopefully I shall still be around in 2016 to help run Eynsham Open Gardens and open St Peter’s garden, as I did in 2014.”

Revd Morey Andrews of St Leonard’s Church is running the London Marathon on 26 April.

“Last year my middle son spent 8 days in the children’s hospital at the JR near Oxford. They looked after him brilliantly and also cared for us, his parents. Thankfully, all is well now.

“When the opportunity arose to run the London Marathon I knew I had to support this charity. In addition I always wanted to run a marathon before I was 50 (in 2016) so now I have a chance to do both.

Tips and words of encouragement appreciated! You can sponsor me at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ MoreyAndrews ”

Leslie Goulding

01/02/1924–02/02/2015: neighbour Pat Atkins recalls

Leslie came to live in Eynsham, and to work at the Radcliffe Infirmary, in 1967. A quiet man, he was not well known in the village but his life’s work – research into heart monitoring equipment – made him a leader in the field of cardiological science and technology and led to great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. He was good company with a great sense of humour. He was awarded an MBE in 2011.

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Recreation 1ST EYNSHAM RAINBOWS and 3rd Eynsham Brownies now meet at the Scout HQ, Back Lane, on Fridays 16:00–17:00 and 17:00–18:30 (term time only).

Contact Carole Burden: 01865 880416.

BARTHOLOMEW PLAYERS Chairman Gareth Hammond handed over a cheque for £350 from their latest charity supper show to Sue Greenwood, leader of 1st Eynsham Scout Group. Sue said the money would help them purchase a new flag pole.

Our next production will be Night Must Fall, a psychological thriller by Emlyn Williams, from 13–16 May in the Village Hall. Tickets £8 (concessions £7) from www.bartholomewplayers.ticketsource.co.uk or Evenlode DIY. Do come along and support us in this our 40th year. Tickets for Friday’s charity supper show (£16) from Denise Santilli: 07721 744020/email bart.players@gmail.com CREATIVE WRITING: Are you interested in joining this new group? We plan to meet monthly, exchange ideas and give constructive feedback on request.

Enquiries 07534 836258/jeanettecollis62@gmail.com

EYNSHAM CRICKET IS BACK! Patrick Arnold reports. Email him or Gary Cook via the club at eynshamcc@ gmail.com or visit www.eynshamcc.org It’s been a tough few years for members down at the Eynsham Cricket Club. If the fire that razed the clubhouse to the ground in January 2012 was not devastating enough, the floods of last winter left the outfield down at Cassington Road so bereft of grass that no cricket was played there at all in 2014. But out of the ashes (and the quagmire) the club now faces a really exciting future. Through generous donations, assistance from sporting bodies and a lot of hard work by a number of people, the pitch is covered in lush green grass and on the boundary now sits a fantastic new clubhouse worthy of a great village cricket club.

Why not come and see the opening ceremony and match against Wimbledon CC on Sunday June 14 – or better still watch league games starting on Saturdays from May. There are also big plans for the junior section, continuing on the work started with the primary school during our exile last year. In addition to the Thursday night training sessions at the school, junior members (and parents) will be encouraged to attend sessions at the clubhouse on Friday nights.

Furthermore, Eynsham intends to run sides at U15, U13, U11 and U9 age groups. Please contact us if your son or daughter is interested in joining in.

But it’s not just about the kids. Fundraising remains important and so from BBQs, visiting Aussie teams, parties to race nights, there is lots to come and see – not forgetting the new clubhouse and bar! We need more senior players too, of all abilities. To encourage Dads back to cricket we are having some Sunday morning Dads games to seek out the talent we know is lurking in the village.

Your cricket club needs you this year, see you all down there soon! Dates to note: • Sunday 14 June Official Opening Day of the new clubhouse and match v Wimbledon CC • Sunday 5 July Eynsham v Troopers CC of NSW, Australia • Sunday 31 August President’s Day and Beer Festival MARTIAL ARTS: Claire Maden has been working with adults at the gym and in children’s martial arts classes for the past three years. She is now getting involved with curriculum work in the Primary School, to help keep the children fighting fit, as well as learning that fitness is fun. After-school sessions continue on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Eynsham Village Hall – and the first month is FREE! Enquiries 07540 316188 / email cmmartialarts@live.co.uk

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Aspiring rugby league players, if you are looking for an exciting club to join, check out the Oxford Cavaliers. The club meets every Friday from 18:00–19:00 at Eynsham sports centre and a session costs just £2.

Started 18 months ago by Bartholomew School sports coach John Connaughton, the club has an active under-13s team that has just enjoyed its first season of competition playing in Hampshire Youth League.

An under-12s is to start at the end of March and the plan is to keep on adding a lower age group year on year. Says John, “Rugby has been a very positive part of my life and I really want to give youngsters around Oxford a chance to share this incredible experience”.

John is looking to expand not only membership but also support for the club. Already Bartholomew School is helping coaches to get fully qualified, local businessman Nick Westbury has been a major sponsor and several other rugby businesses and clubs have donated through a crowd-funder page. Even David Cameron has given the Cavaliers his backing.

Visit the club on Facebook - Oxford Cavaliers (Youth Section), follow them on Twitter @OxCavJrs or contact John at: jcon1606@bartholomew.oxon.sch.uk

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PINKHILL SCOUT TROOP continues on Wednesday 19:00–21:00 at Scout HQ and we look forward to making the most of warmer weather to get outside. Contact Ruth Webster: 01865 883772/ruth@thewebsters.me.uk YOGA FOR ALL: After turning up regularly in the Village Hall since 2007, Hazel Faithfull has passed on her Thursday morning classes to Eleanor Wadge.

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Easter at our churches Good Friday 3 April 10:00 Ecumenical Service in The Square followed by coffee and hot cross buns in St Leonard’s Hall St Leonard’s Church of England, The Square Palm Sunday 29 March 09:00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10:45 All-Age Celebration Holy Week For additional opportunities to meet with Revd Morey Andrews to pray, please contact him on 881323 Monday 30 March 07:00 Prayer walk around Eynsham (meet at St Leonard’s) to pray for the village and community.

18:00 Church open for prayer Wednesday 1 April 12 noon Church open for prayers Maundy Thursday 2 April 20:00 Holy Communion. Church open until 23:00 for silent prayer and reflection Good Friday 3 April 14:00 Last hour of the Cross Saturday 4 April 20:00 Easter Vigil Easter Day Sunday 5 April 09:00 Holy Communion 10:45 All-Age with Holy Communion St Peter’s Catholic Church, Abbey Street Holy Week – Monday 30, Tuesday 31 March Mass at 10:00; Wednesday 1 April Mass at 17:30 Holy Thursday 2 April 20:00 Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by Watch of Prayer till midnight Good Friday 3 April 15:00 Liturgy of the Passion Holy Saturday 4 April 20:30 Easter Vigil & First Mass of Easter Easter Day 5 April 10:00 Sunday Mass Confessions after Mass on Sunday 29 March, Monday 30, Tuesday 31 March & Wednesday 1 April Eynsham Baptist Church, Lombard Street Maundy Thursday 2 April 12 noon Communion service and soup lunch 19:30 Reflections and Communion Good Friday 3 April 19:30 Reflective Service Easter Day 5 April 08:00 Holy Communion followed by breakfast 10:30 Family Service with Holy Communion followed

by Easter egg hunt All are welcome to join us at any of these services.

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What’s on

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28 Choral Society, St Leonard’s 19:30. Dvorak 29 Litter Pickers, Baptist Church Hall 13:45

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April 2 Country Market, St Leonard’s Hall 09:00–10:30.

Free tastings – biscuits, sweet and savoury 4 GreenTEA, Eynsham Emporium 10:30–12:00.

8 Garden Club, Village Hall 19:30. Roger Umpleby, The kitchen garden today. Enquiries: 01865 882417 13 Friends of Helen & Douglas House, The Talbot 19:30. Quiz night.

14 Women’s Institute, St Leonard’s Hall 19:00. AGM. Enquiries: 01865 882011 15 Carers’ Group, Eynsham Emporium 11:00. Contact Pamela Richards: 01865 881396 16 History Group, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30.

AGM and talk, 30 years of Eynsham Record.

Enquiries: 01865 882400 21 Annual Parish Meeting – page 7 24 Community Cinema – page 18 26 Litter Pickers, Baptist Church Hall – page 13

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29 Arts Group, Bartholomew Room 19:30. Ron Freeborn, Figures in a landscape; image © the artist.

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1 Blood donors welcome, Village Hall 13:30–15:25 and 16:15-19:30. Tel: 0300 123 23 23.

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2–10 Art Show, Bartholomew Room – page 12 3 Gatehouse Volunteers: home-made food for the Oxford shelter. Enquiries: 01865 881346 4 May Day – First day of dance with Eynsham Morris 7 Elections, Village Hall 07:00–22:00 – page 5 7 Country Market, St Leonard’s Hall 09:00–10:30.

31st birthday cake 7 Primary School, May Day celebrations 13 Neighbourhood Action Group, Bartholomew Room 19:00. Contact Ron Hollis: 07770 466237 13–16 Bartholomew Players, Village Hall – page 16 14 Oasis, Baptist Church 14:30.

Spring reunion tea. Enquiries: 01865 881780 16 Garden Club, Market Square 09:00.

16th Annual Plant Sale plus Country Market stall 20 Carers’ Group, Eynsham Emporium 11:00 22 Community Cinema – page 18 27 Arts Group, Bartholomew Room 19:30. Martin Beek, Plein air painting. Enquiries: 01865 722989 These listings are open to all community groups and we welcome photos too – see page 2 for contact details. Next issue will be out on 25 May – copy deadline Friday 8 May.

Floral designs for every occasion Bouquets, plants, cards and accessories Local deliveries and e-florist service

Visit Eynsham Online at www.eynsham-pc.gov.uk

Our sponsors Thanks again to Eynsham Dental Care, Eynsham Garden Centre, Electrical Hire & Sales (Oxford) Ltd and the Eynsham Churches for their support in 2014/5.

We’d like to thank all advertisers and sponsors who help us reach 2,000 homes six times a year, with comprehensive coverage of local activities and events.

Looking toward year three, we aim to keep the mix of adverts / features, news and comment as before, so advertising space is limited (31%). If you are a current advertiser, or would like to advertise in future, we’d love to hear from you. For sizes, costs and deadlines please contact Sandy Hellig: 07551 876285, email sandy.hellig@gmail.com or visit http://eynshamnews. org.uk Printed in Eynsham by Berforts Information Press

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37 Mill Street, Eynsham OX29 4JX 01865 881624 www.mille-fleurs.co.uk

The main A40 Eynsham Mon-Sat 8.30 – 5.30 Sun 10.00 – 4.30 Home grown bedding. Selection of pots & containers.

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