EYNSHAM
Council & Community Issue 15 – October - November 2015
NEWS
The Eynsham welcoming party – thanks to Helen Keen for capturing the mood at August Oasis for senior citizens Life picks up pace when the schools go back – and the issues crowd in too, from chronic congestion on the A40 (page 6) to speeding within the village (page 2), depending on your lifestyle. On page 3 you’ll find a chance to shape our future housing. Dive in and have your say – every one of us can make a difference. Elsewhere, our talented contributors offer an anthology from past and present (pages 10–15); and leisure activities galore for readers of any age and taste. 1
In this issue • • • • • • • •
Eynsham futures Contact sheets Public services Home front Over to you Local people Recreation, group updates What’s On
3 4 – 5 6 – 9 10 – 11 12 – 13 14 – 15 16 – 18 19 – 20
Parish Council vicechairman Richard Andrews puts the case for making Eynsham a 20mph zone to see what support or opposition there is for the idea. Motorists usually express outrage at anything that slows them down, while parents and pedestrians worry about safety. A 20mph zone is a big decision and won’t be implemented unless there is clear support in the village. Why Eynsham should be a 20mph zone There is increasing evidence that 20 mph zones in built-up areas significantly reduce the risk of lifethreatening injury to pedestrians or cyclists. Calmer traffic is also more conducive to getting out and about on foot and cycles, thus reducing the isolation of older residents and giving everyone the opportunity for hassle-free exercise. Eynsham has narrow roads where safe speeds are already low but also some straight stretches where motorists speed up, quite often over the 30mph limit, simply because they cannot see any obvious impediment. A 20mph limit may also discourage traffic using the village as a rat-run to avoid the A40. Why now – it hasn’t been necessary before? The evidence for improved safety and higher activity levels in 20mph zones has become steadily stronger
over the years. The cost of creating such zones has fallen too, from hundreds of thousands of pounds to some £10–20k. Modern cars are quieter inside so it’s easy to speed without realising it; and quieter outside so there is less warning to pedestrians. We have many more cars but are rightly far less tolerant of injury to children & old people – and this is a chance to reduce the risks at minimal cost. What will be involved? There are only 5 public roads into Eynsham and no reason why any of the village should be excluded from the 20mph zone, so this will not involve too much signage ‛clutter’ on the roadsides. Apart from road humps – which we would not propose – the best way to reduce speed is to reduce road width, where that isn’t already done very effectively by parked cars. The actual method will depend on each road but the opportunity to add proper cycle lanes may be another benefit. Most roads won’t need any modification. What do residents think? A journey across the village will take about one minute longer at 20mph compared to 30mph. In practice the extra will be less, as it isn’t practical to do 30mph all the way even now. However, we accept there will be strong opinions on both sides so it is important that everyone has their say. Please contact a Parish Councillor (details on page 5) or you could start a debate on the Facebook page set up by Eynsham Futures – link at www.eynsham-futures.org.uk 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 30 November – copy deadline Friday 13 November.
• 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 • 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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What’s happening with the Neighbourhood Plan – your chance to shape Eynsham’s future The next stage in the process, now we have collated all the information you gave us at the various events from our launch day(s) to the carnival stalls, is to prepare a draft ‛Sustainability Assessment’. The word ‛sustainability’ gets used a lot these days but, as new houses should last a century or more, it makes sense to ask if they will be built where people want, if we can afford to buy or rent them, heat them, get to and from them to work and if facilities like shops, schools and medical centre can cope. At this stage we are not writing the Plan as such, just setting out the options and the questions we need to ask ourselves when it comes to deciding what to include and to leave out. All this will be based on what you have told us so far and we have been careful to make sure that specific local concerns have been included. We still need your involvement and contributions via a series of questionnaires to find out what you want/ need the village to be like in the next 15 years.
The first questions will be about the housing needs of you and your family and what you consider important as we expect these same things will be important to new residents as well. This time we want as wide a sample of people as possible, to gather numerical data. Numbers build up an evidence base which cannot be challenged by developers – and they will challenge if our plan doesnʼt suit them. For the same reason we will be asking you for some form of identification in case they claim that we simply made up the comments. We won’t publish any names but we need to crosscheck that information has come from bona-fide residents of the village. If you really can’t give your name, we will still record your comments but they may not carry as much weight if the plan is challenged. To make it easy for busy people who struggle to get to meetings or open days, we have put our questions online so you can dip in whenever you have a spare moment. We can’t send a paper questionnaire to everyone in the village but, for people who don’t 3
have any way of responding on-line, we will provide paper copies at the library, at some shops or we will deliver if you phone us. Our contact number is 01865 880106 and you can find the online questions at www.eynshamfutures.org.uk We are also planning a public meeting on Wednesday 7 October at 19:30 in the Village Hall, to set out the options and hear what people think about them and if we have missed any others.
Lot 245
Roy Wilkinson – Chairman, Eynsham Village Hall Management Committee, reports a welcome windfall As many of you will know, the late Fred Wright contributed an enormous amount of effort into the creation and then the running of our Village Hall. His family then very generously donated the proceeds from their ‘garage sale’ towards our funds. Following that sale, Lynette Brown, who runs a stall in The Square on Thursday mornings selling ‘bric-a-brac’ for charity, and who knew Fred and his family for many years, offered to sell some of the family china, chiefly in this ‛Garden’ pattern designed for Wedgwood by Eric Ravilious (1903–1942). And she recently handed us a cheque for £1,000 from the auction. The Management Committee offers their sincere thanks to Lynette and to the Wright family for raising between them a total of £2,305.45 for our funds.
Eynsham churches
Contacts
ST LEONARD’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND Vicar: The Revd Morey Andrews 01865 881323 Curate: Revd Kath Cooke 01865 881366 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 - see page 13 Electoral Services: WODC, 01993 861410 Fire Station: Station Road, 01865 881337; emergencies 999 Flooding: early warning 0345 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 Noise: WODC, 0845 3039706 (24 hours) Pest Control: WODC, 01993 861060 Planning: applications WODC 01993 861420 Play Areas: Parish Council, 07956 901622 Playing Fields: Management Committee Sue Brown, 01865 464267 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 13 Social Care (OCC): 0845 050 7666, emergencies 0800 833408 Sports Centre: Back Lane, 01865 731090 Street Cleaning: WODC 01993 861020 Street Lights: 24 hour fault line 0800 317802 - page 8 Toilets: Back Lane Car Park, 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.
Halls for hire
See also Music Room – feature on page 5
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Baptist Church Hall: 07900 066471 Bartholomew Room/Sports Pavilion: 07956 901622 Primary School Hall: 01865 881294 Red Lion: 01865 882903 Scout Hall: 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 883093
Local councils 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 Andy Mosson: 01865 880889 Sue Osborne: 01865 880285 Nick Relph: 01865 464264 Dennis Stukenbroeker: 01865 880609 Mark Zumbuhl: 01865 422207 – see page 6 Email formula: firstname.lastname@eynsham-pc.gov.uk PARISH CLERK Rachel Faulkner, 1 Glovers Close Woodstock OX20 1NS: 07956 901622 email epc.clerk@eynsham-pc.gov.uk OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (OCC) Charles Mathew: 01865 882205 County Hall: 01865 792422 WEST OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL Your WODC representatives hold a ‘surgery’ every 1st Wednesday 18:30–20:00 at the Bartholomew Room. Peter Emery: 01865 731199 Edward James: 01865 731009 Peter Kelland: 01865 880028 Council Offices: 01993 861000
Be in the know
Halls for hire
The Music Room off Queen Street – image © Alice Walker. See page 4 for other venues. The Music Room is a unique, grade II listed venue in the heart of Eynsham, available for art exhibitions, choir rehearsals/music recitals, dinner parties, exercise classes, training courses, etc. Features/facilities include baby grand piano, huge amounts of natural light and movable LED spots; chairs and tables (max. capacity 60), self-contained toilet and cloakroom, wi-fi, use of crockery/cutlery and urn; access to the garden if required. Parking by arrangement. Please contact Gemma Ferrier to discuss your needs: 07971 529242/gemmaferrier@hotmail.co.uk
PELLMANS Your Local Solicitors
Business and Employment Law Contracts, Legal Compliance and Disputes
Property
Buying and Selling Homes, Commercial and Agricultural
Wills, Probate and Trusts
Tax Planning and Lasting Powers of Attorney You can now download a waste and recycling calendar for October 2015-September 2016 from the WODC website. It’s especially helpful for any changes over Christmas and bank holidays. Alternatively, sign up to receive FREE email updates about your property direct to your inbox – including weekly bin reminders, bank holiday bin reminders and nearby planning applications. More information at www.westoxon.gov.uk 5
01865 884400 www.pellmans.co.uk 1 Abbey Street, Eynsham, Oxford OX29 4TB Home visits and evening appointments available
Public services
Local walks
Sue Osborne – Chair, Fishponds & Footpaths Committees (a bridleway report appears on page 13)
Mark Zumbuhl joined the Parish Council in August and is now a member of the Communications, Footpaths and Play Area Committees. His and all other council contact details are listed on page 5. We’ve lived in Eynsham since 2010, having moved to the area from Scotland in 2007 when I started working for Oxford University. My wife works at a primary school in Oxford and we have three children at Eynsham Community Primary School. I still teach and research at the University, and am also working at an international school in Oxford. Most of my career has been in higher education – including Glasgow, Manchester and Trinity College Dublin – but I’ve also worked in finance and council services for the London borough where I grew up. Eynsham is a fantastic place to live and we are very aware that the great things which drew us here contribute to the pressures of development in and around the village; so I look forward to working with parish council colleagues and the wider village community to ensure that we continue to enjoy the best possible environment and amenities in the future.
Grants for groups Rachel Faulkner – Parish Clerk
On 17 November the Parish Council will be considering bids from community groups for the financial year 2016/7. Deadline for your application is 31 October. Find the form and details at Eynsham Online, call me on 07956 901622 or email epc.clerk@eynsham-pc.gov.uk 6
You may remember that I commented in issue 14 on the work that had been done on the Eynsham Mill walk. I’m pleased to report that the landowners have cleared the footpath leading from Cassington Road to the A40 and beyond, after an approach by OCC. A resident wrote to point out that no distance is specified for the Wharf Stream Way. I can confirm that it is about 2km (1.25 miles) and this information has been added to the online map at http://tinyurl. com/eynsham-WSW – thanks for the feedback and apologies for the omission! Much of the undergrowth obscuring the start of the route has now been cleared; so along with the new waymarker posts the path is much easier to navigate. Thanks again to all concerned. As always, please continue to report any rights of way problems – or praise – to me or directly through the OCC website. Enjoy your walks! The new ramp and improved paths around the Fishponds have been wheelchair-tested by one of the committee members with the help of his Mum – thanks, both! They were happy to confirm that they got around with no difficulties and the ramp was easy to negotiate.
Minerals & waste
Richard Andrews – Parish Council Vice-Chairman Eynsham Parish Council are preparing their response to OCC’s latest gravel-digging strategy. The main issue is the sheer quantity OCC want to dig out in the next 15 years. OCC want to set a target roughly the same as 2006, ignoring the fact that demand for new gravel has dropped steadily for the last 12 years. Demand dipped during the recession but is now back on the same declining trend as more recycled material is used instead of new. To show how crazy OCC figures are, this year’s production will be about 40% of what they predict. Quantity does matter; if the demand for new gravel is so low there is no need to open up new pits, especially where the end result will be a lake as it would be near us. Fields east of Eynsham slow down Evenlode flood-waters which otherwise pose a flood-risk to Oxford and the Thames Valley; as this is contrary to Environment Agency policy, we are asking that fields south of the A40 be excluded from the plan. Our response will also ask that proper, funded, plans are always put in place to clean up when a pit closes – unlike Cassington where wildlife schemes haven’t worked and the site has to be fenced off from the public for safety reasons. OCC also needs to save £350,000 from the budget for household waste recycling centres by 2017/18.
They propose reducing the number of sites from seven to three, though a reduction in opening hours may allow them to retain a fourth. The consultation ends on 5 October and the future of Dix Pit is by no means assured. You can find the documents in Eynsham Library or online at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/waste
We plan to meet soon to start planning, selecting a design, etc. We’d love to hear from anyone who would like to be part of this group: you may have young children who use the park already or be a keen skater yourself, any age welcome. Please contact eynshamskate@gmail.com
Stranger than fiction
Planning
Dennis Stukenbroeker – Chair, Planning Committee The long-awaited West Oxfordshire Local Plan has finally been sent to the Government Inspector for examination. A public hearing on the draft plan will begin at WODC’s offices in Witney on 8 October for four days with a further week anticipated in November. If approved by the Inspector and adopted by the District Council, the Plan will determine how and where development will take place in the District until 2031. Details of the hearings and copies of all the documents can be found at www.westoxon.gov.uk/ localplan2031 Public response to the appeal by developers Pye against WODC’s refusal of an application for 19 homes on land west of Fruitlands (14/1009/P/OP) closed on 15 September. The appeal will be decided by the government Planning Inspectorate. The Parish Council has continued its objection to development on the site. Following a refusal of an application for three houses and 10 flats at The Gables on Newland Street (15/01184/FUL) the applicants have informed the Parish Council and neighbours that they intend to submit a revised application. This is said to be for a reduced number of units, four smaller houses and six flats, with all buildings limited to two storeys. Access will still be through the stone wall on the south side of Newland Street. It is intended that the majority of the site will be used as a ‛community orchard’ run by the Eynsham Green Tea group, with membership access to the public. The Parish Council objected to the original application.
Skate park Congratulations to all the teenagers involved in this project. They have been awarded £44k from the Landfill Communities Fund, distributed by WREN to help extend and refurbish the current facility. Eynsham Rotary Club have also very generously donated another £3k towards the project and we are aiming for more fund raising activities to increase this further. 7
Thames Water is on the hunt for privately-owned sewage pumping stations and wants to take over the electricity/maintenance costs. Please get in touch if you think you may have one. More information at: www.thameswater.co.uk/pumphunt
Traffic and transport
Key: (F) new park & ride facility on the A40, possibly near Eynsham; (G) A40 junction improvements at Eynsham and Cassington; (H) eastbound bus lane from Eynsham roundabout to Duke’s Cut, Wolvercote; (I) bus priority scheme on approach to Swinford Toll Bridge. Oxfordshire County Council representatives are making a presentation on proposed A40 improvements to the Parish Council on Tuesday 6 October at 19:30 in St Leonard’s Hall and holding a consultation in the Village Hall on Saturday 10 October from 10:00–16.00. You are welcome to come along.
Lighting up
Oxfordshire County Council has supplied a helpful note on Eynsham street lights as the nights draw in. Please supply the unit’s location and number if you can when reporting faults: 0800 317802 OCC policy is to use the latest technology to help reduce its carbon foot print and energy consumption. One of the newish technologies is LED street lights: these lanterns consume less energy than the standard lantern and are designed to direct all the light onto the roadway which reduces unwanted and intrusive light. Streets list: Back Lane, Duncan Close, Evans Close, Evans Road, Falstaff Close, Fruitlands, Greens Road, Hanborough Close, John Lopes Road, Marlborough Close, Marlborough Place, Old Witney Road, Pelican Place, Shakespeare Road, Spareacre Lane, Stratford Drive, Tilgarsley Road, Witney Road. We do not currently have plans to convert any further street lighting in Eynsham to LED, we will only replace the lanterns when they are coming to the end of their serviceable life and on new developments.
Orchard centre
Take your pick of free activities and courses at the Beech Road Centre, for children under 5 accompanied by an adult. Bookings / enquiries: 01865 880686.
Eynsham Dental Care
MONDAY 10:00–11:30 Baby & Me. Five-week course for new parents, bookable. 13:00–14:30 Messy Mondays. TUESDAY 09:30–11:30 HENRY healthy eating, maths and communication – rolling programme, bookable. WEDNESDAY 12:00–14:00 Childminder Group. The family room is available free of charge. THURSDAY 09:30–11:00 Ring a Roses. Music, dance & play. 13:00–14:45 Eynsham Baby Group. For expectant parents & parents with babies up to one year; includes a health visitor clinic. FRIDAY 10:00–11:00 Baby Weaning Group. For babies aged 4-6 months, with community nurse: 3rd Friday of month. 10:00–11:30 Stepping Stones. Bookable 10-week course. SATURDAY 10:30–12:00 Drop-In fun. All w elcome, especially dads & male carers. 17 October, 14 November.
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School report
Nine students achieved at least 11 A*/A grades at GCSE. Highlights from A levels follow (83 students): • 80.2% gained the highest grades A*-C, over 4 out of 5 of the results • 58% gained grades A*-B , an increase of 2% from last year • 28.2% of all A2 entries gained grades A* or A, above expected national figures • 98% of all entries gained A*-E grades
Seasonal clinics Seasonal flu clinics start on Saturday 26 September, with another on 3 October and further dates to follow as needed. Please make an appointment on 01865 881206 or via your online EMIS account if you fall into any of the following categories: Story and image © Mark Harrison The long-awaited zebra crossing on Witney Road is now in place, with lights/beacons, signs and non-slip tarmac on the way as we go to press. After years of inactivity and some might say underinvestment, a new eight classroom block has gone up between the tennis courts and the science block, on the site of the old cricket nets. It was due for completion by 1 September, in time for the new school term. The block, of modular construction, was built in collaboration with Capita, Carillion and builders ROAN. The cost (an estimated £2.4 million) was met by an Assessed Needs monies bid from government by OCC; Section 106 contributions to secondary education in Eynsham; and a sizeable amount from school savings. The building will provide five general classrooms, two science labs and an IT suite. Once it is complete the tennis and netball courts – unused for the last four years – will be fully refurbished. The plan is to have the courts administered and open to the public in much the same way as the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and the Sports Centre. This will add to the facility that the school already provides for Eynsham and wider community. The school would like to thank all our neighbours for their thoughtfulness and patience during the building phase, especially those living in Clover Place and Back Lane. The traffic and disruption at times has been heavy. Your support has been appreciated. Bartholomew students overcame many great individual challenges to produce excellent examination results this year. Headteacher Andrew Hamilton said, “They are a reflection of their fantastic commitment and the high quality teaching they have received. All our students should be justifiably proud of their efforts and the grades they have achieved.” 9
• • • • • • • •
You are aged 65 years and over Have asthma and are on regular inhaled steroids Have heart disease Are diabetic Have a kidney problem Have a liver problem Have had a stroke Have an illness or are taking medicine that lowers the natural immune system.
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
BEECH COURT NURSING HOME
Home front
37 Newland Street, Eynsham OX29 4LB Tel: 01865 883611
Eleanor Chance recounts an unusual anniversary, marked on 5 September by Eynsham Society members and friends – thanks to Eleanor Tingle for the photo.
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800 years ago, in 1215, King John was on the throne of England, busy with the barons and Magna Carta. Here in Eynsham, the head of the abbey which dominated the village was thinking about making money. What we now know as Newland Street is the direct result of his plans. What Abbot Adam decided to do was to lay out a new settlement in the fields to the north and east of the existing borough. The new plots stretched from the back of the houses in Mill Street along the road to Cassington. Half way along, opposite the entrance to what is now Queen Street, a building already existed. It was referred to as the ‘antiqua tenura’ (ancient holding) and is now represented by Beech Court. New towns like this were popular money-making schemes in the early 13th century. A similar venture was carried out at Cogges and these new towns, simply referred to as ‛Nova Terraʼ or New Land, never got another name. By turning our Newland into urban plots the abbey stood to benefit from four times as much rent as they were getting for the land as arable. Most plots were divided into a curtilage (enclosure) with a building on the street front and a close behind, much as we see today. The street width suggests that it was intended for a market place, but a market was something only the King could grant and there is no evidence that ever happened. The new borough – for that is what it was, the tenants holding by burgage tenure, which was as near as you could get to freehold in the Middle Ages – had its own court. This was probably held in what is now the White Hart, the oldest surviving building in the village apart from the parish church. The tenants had the right to elect their own reeve or headman. Court rolls from 1307 to the 20th century show that it dealt with property transactions, nuisances, and hedgebreaking and other agricultural offences; the only trading offences related to beer-selling. In 1366, perhaps because of falling rents, Newland was surveyed by a particularly obsessive abbot called Geoffrey, who measured the entire area meticulously down to the level of a barleycorn: approximately onethird of an inch! Rents were revised but the new urban community failed to thrive, some plots never being built on and lying vacant for centuries. However, the manor of Newland continued as a legal entity into the 20th century, the last formal court being held in 1925.
Best of Prestel
Jennifer Harland recalls a year at the cutting edge of information technology DURING THE 1979 printers’ strike when for 11 months no Times Newspapers were sold my Sunday Times journalist husband, Peter Harland, was charged with the task of investigating ‛new technology’ for the company, travelling the world to do so. He had always admired the skill of hot lead printers but was also deeply frustrated – 60 disputes at one point in his building alone – and became increasingly excited at the possibilities he saw for the future of electronic publishing. Prestel, or viewdata, the electronic information service developed by British Telecom and award winning engineer Sam Fedida, particularly attracted him. An adapted TV and telephone line was all Prestel users required and for a halfpenny they got a single ‛page’ or screen of information on any subject they wished to subscribe to. Peter launched his own ‛Best of Prestel’ service, filling our dining room with huge television sets, computers and quite a lot of wires around the place. This was the time of the Falklands War and Peter could update his Best of Prestel pages at any hour of the day or night. Test match round-ups and the day’s major news stories were kept on the system for a week, a forerunner of iPlayer though we did not know it then. My contribution was a recipe service which could occupy no more than three ‛pages’. These went down the line to our ‛umbrella’ information provider Alpha 460 in Bristol for the text to be illustrated by a graphic artist and re-appear with digitally imaged mixing bowls or lamb chops. 11
New stamps commemorating ‛Technology Today’ were to be issued on 8 September 1982 and Peter, a stamp collector in his spare time, wanted ‛Best of Prestel’ to mark its first year of operation with an appropriate First Day Cover. Sam Fedida happily agreed to sign personally 500 of the envelopes carrying his image. To each of these we fixed the unusually shaped 1st and 2nd class (26p and 15½p) stamps. The envelopes were then rushed from our Amersham home to Ipswich for franking on the due date with a specially designed handstamp depicting BT’s Martlesham Heath Research Laboratories.
courtesy of Jennifer Harland
Look closely and you will see the first class stamp illustrates an electronic point-of-sale pen, precursor to price scanners. In 1982 Peter told our local paper “costs have to come down a little further yet but when they do, it will become the accepted way of shopping for many people.” Have you a ‛Best of Prestel’ First Day Cover in your collection? I would be delighted to hear from you!
Over to you Many thanks to Sarah Couch for this glorious illustration of ‛three sisters planting’ – a native American approach to growing sweetcorn, green beans and pumpkins or squashes together.
Eynsham Good Neighbour Network, run entirely by volunteers, provides support for anyone in need within the village. Why not get in touch if you need some practical help or fancy a chat? You can speak to one of our co-ordinators from 10:00–14:00 on weekdays, or call 07443 564516 and leave a message at any time.
Norman nails it
This poem from Norman Butler-Miles first appeared in the Witney Gazette on 22 December 1999. Not a lot has changed! A letter from the A40 to all our wise MPs: Don’t block me up with bus lanes – a dualling if you please. Or must we have more deaths with a dangerous road and junctions? A short term gain for a long term loss is that how you like to function. So don’t delay the building before I come to a stop. Let’s move the country forward, not talk a lot of rot. It would be very easy and less pollution too if traffic was allowed to flow and smoothly move on through.
Open gardens Aid to Calais Eynsham resident Suzy Prior is supporting Witney Donations for Refugees in Calais. Urgent needs are camping gear, tents, tarpaulins, roll mats, sleeping bags, blankets, socks and men’s trainers/boots (size 41–43) (NOT food). An Eynsham drop off point is planned as we go to press: please check the group Facebook page or local notice boards for updates. Or donate online at https://crowdfunding.justgiving. com/witneyaidtocalais
Can we help?
Are you interested in helping run this event next year, or maybe in opening your garden? The first planning session will be on Tuesday 20 October at 20:00 in the Tolkien Room beside St Peter’s church – do come along. Contact Martin Flatman: 07719 646790/ email frmartinflatman@gmail.com
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Eynsham Car Scheme is a team of volunteer drivers, who offer lifts to health care appointments for local residents. Most of our clients are older people but if you have mobility problems, can’t use public transport and have no family or friends available, we can often help. Just call 07469 764174 or leave a message out of hours. 12
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a losing battle due to the indifference of some dog owners who leave their dog’s mess on the path (in someone else’s garden). This makes the task of grass cutting unhygienic and messy so the cutting may become more selective and less often – something that may compromise the enjoyment of the other users. Meantime, the Parish Council has ordered another dog waste bin for the Hawthorn Road end, which may improve the situation.
Road repairs You can really make a difference by sending in (polite) reports. This one from Conduit Lane, reported on 8 August, was marked up four days later and fixed within the month: “Small potholes in lane that runs from car park through to Mill St. as you reach end of lane on RHS as it falls towards main rd. Lady in wheelchair caught wheel in defect and fell out of chair. The pothole is not deep but it is in a location if you are in a wheelchair makes it very difficult to miss.” ‘Report a road problem’ on the County Council website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk – or go direct to http://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Shared space SUE CHAPMAN puts in a plea for the swifts
Many residents enjoy the footpaths and bridle paths in Eynsham. They make a useful route around the village, taking the user away from the roads. But are you aware that these paths are, in fact, usually over private property? One example of this is the bridle path that runs behind Beech Road (No. 206/8). When the developer who built the houses divided up the land he made each plot run up to the boundary walls to the south and west of the bridle path. So when you walk along this path you are walking through the gardens belonging to Beech Road residents and one plot belonging to Hawthorn House – all of which is private property. Some of the residents have worked hard over the last 5–6 years to make the path more accessible and attractive for walkers and riders but they are fighting 13
Did you have swifts nesting in your roof this year? Ours had flown south by mid August. They are birds of conservation concern – they are in trouble as numbers have declined rapidly in the past 10 years. One of the reasons is their nests are being destroyed by roof repairs and renovations. These amazing birds like to live in colonies and we are in danger of losing our well established one in Eynsham. A feature of the village in June and July is their joyful screaming parties as they swoop up and down our streets. I am helping with an Oxford survey asking if anybody has seen these birds entering roofs or buildings in Eynsham (they tend to leave a mess on the pavement!) and begging householders not to damage their nests. Please tell me if you have one or know of one. You can contact me at 13 Newland Street. Lastly, a word to the wise: from 1 October it will be illegal to smoke in a car (or other vehicle) with anyone under 18 present. The law is changing to protect children and young people from the dangers of second-hand smoke. Both the driver and the smoker could be fined £50.
People
The eyes have it – Penny Noel finds there is generally a way around her loss of sight – and even the occasional gleam of humour
black ‛splodges’ – making everyday focus and facial recognition hard. I often work out who people are from shape or mannerisms or voice. Band keratopathy involves a build-up of calcium over the cornea until it’s like looking through a net curtain. It can be scraped off but with diminishing returns. Moral – regular eye checks are wise at any age. My problem came to light – if that’s the phrase – 15 years ago but suddenly worsened in year 3 of a Fine Arts degree course: getting 38% for an essay because I couldn’t read. The best advice I’d give anyone is, open up and ask for help. Oxfordshire Association for the Blind has been amazing, with a massive range of tips and tools to make life easier – a hand magnifier for reading labels, a white wand for alerting bus drivers – whatever works for you. In my case, home assessment by the Oxford Access Centre brought in some serious equipment: a large PC screen, A3 printer, electronic magnifier for reading and drawing too.
Imagine navigating Eynsham’s pavements, even if you know the place, once your sight begins to fail. The potholes become trapdoors and projecting roots invisible ladders. Quite a few of us have taken a tumble and even broken limbs – not that anyone notices, as we don’t get out much these days. And let’s not start on dog turds. Or pavement parking. You might not notice this kind of disability – apart from a bit of a shuffle, which could be down to age. I can’t be doing with a white stick or guide dog (yet), though it makes for some funny encounters. Other people asking me to help them cross the road, for instance. Or a three-month wait for toenail treatment (“it’s a terrible problem, everyone living too long”), simply solved at the monthly foot-care clinic in Eynsham Baptist church. Loss of sight is complicated – you can have several conditions at once. Cataracts are almost commonplace, and readily sorted too. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops if caught early. Macular degeneration (AMD, though people avoid the ‛age-related’ bit) is more intractable. It involves loss of central vision and
I’ve learned a trick or two as well, like enlarging from smaller sections (as seen in the beetle mural at Eynsham Emporium – ed). My scribble drawing started as straight lines vanished with the AMD but it’s turned out rather nicely. I even venture into colour sometimes.
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Memory lane
Alan Craft DCFMCA
Mc Timoney Chiropractor GCC registered Deborah (Peters) Stolar returned to Eynsham on a flying visit recently and was delighted to recognise old places and make new friends In 1967 my family and I travelled to England from the States. My dad was a plant scientist, doing research outside Oxford, and we settled at 2 Abbey Place in Eynsham. I quickly joined the fifth form of Bartholomew School and was warmly welcomed by my classmates, my teacher Mr Ward, and Headmaster Mr Stevenson. How special those months were, sharing classes, music (Sgt Pepper and madrigals), custard at lunch, and great times with my new friends. We stayed in touch for many years after returning to the States and I hoped to re-connect this summer. We arrived in early August after a short visit to London and stayed in a lovely room at The Talbot. Walking into the village after almost 50 years was wonderful: I recognized the village square, of course, and simply followed my nose to my old house. Then on to Bartholomew School via Conduit Lane, that I walked every day... such great memories! I did not find any classmates, though many new friends went above and beyond to help with my quest. Thanks to Eynsham Online for guidance and extra special thanks to all the folks at The Swan who helped with my search. By the way, if you stop by, their pan‑fried halloumi and pepper sandwich is out of this world. My husband Thom and I were very moved by how caring and welcoming the people are in Eynsham. I did not get your names but I hope some of you will read this and know that we remember your warmth and kindness. And I still would love to hear from any classmates from the 1967 fifth form: please feel free to contact me on Facebook. 15
Tel: 01865 882992 www.chiropractorcraft.com
Recreation
OXFORDSHIRE based company Polar Technology Management Group has become the new title sponsor of Eynsham 10K, the road race Oxfordshire Grand Prix event held annually through the village. Group co-chair and founder Dr Scott Roberts said “We are proud to become title sponsors of this local event. We believe it is important for us to put something back to the local community and this is the perfect event to do so”. The Polar Group Eynsham 10k 2015 takes place on 29 November. Employees from across the Group will support the event by participating too.
AUGUST OASIS: Very many thanks to everyone from all three churches who helped in any way this year – see cover photo. It went really well and feedback has again been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you for all the hard work, both front of house and behind the scenes, particularly in the kitchen. Lin Miller
BOWLS: Eynsham Short Mat Bowls Club welcomes new members. Come along and try it out – your first 3 visits are free. Age is no barrier, our youngest member is 16 and our oldest over 90. Come and join us in the Village Hall on Tuesday from 19:00 or Thursday 14:00–16:00. Amanda Davies: 01993 779182 MARTIAL ARTS: Six-week courses for adults now run on Mondays from 20:00–21:00 in the Sports Pavilion. Simple, fun martial arts and keep fit, all in a friendly atmosphere, cost £30. Spaces are limited so bookings taken on a first come, first served basis. Claire Maden: 07540 316188/email cmmartialarts@live.co.uk The MIKE NIGHTINGALE FELLOWSHIP has invited the popular Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir to perform a concert on Saturday 28 November at 19:30 in St Leonard’s Church. With tickets just £10, including a free glass of wine, we hope the church will be filled to the rafters! All money raised will support our work with disadvantaged young people in South Africa. Tickets from 5 October at Evenlode DIY or via Margherita Pierini: 01865 880923.
Remember, Eynsham ‛Monday Club’ runs all year round and is open to anyone over 65 – enquiries Norma Gummow: 01865 882417/Linda Young 07766 054602. GREENTEA has planted eight sites around the village with apples, plums and quinces. We now have 12 old Eynsham apple varieties thriving locally and are grafting from these to create a new generation. We celebrate all this at our annual Fruit Festival with apples to taste and give away, juicing, food and recipes to share, games for children, quizzes and more. So come and join us on Saturday 17 October from 14:00–16:00 in St Leonard’s Hall. Sue Raikes: 01865 464021/sue.raikes@appleinter.net
© Julie Sailing-Free A MOMENT IN TIME: Eynsham Arts Group holds its Christmas Exhibition from 14–22 November in the Bartholomew Room. Members will be using an array of media to express what the title means to them and you are sure find an exciting range of new styles and a depth of artistic talent. So be quick if you want to snap up some quality, original artwork for that special Christmas gift at well below gallery prices, along with a varied selection of cards. More information and updates at www.eynshamartsgroup.org.uk OXFORD ORGANIC GROUP autumn meetings begin on Thursday 24 September at 19:30 in St Leonard’s Hall, when we discuss this year’s successes and failures on the veg plot and how people coped with the drought. Future meetings for your diaries: 29 October and 26 November – we look forward to seeing you. Christine Briner: 01993 868693/p.briner@virgin.net
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THE NEWLANDS INN Tracey and Ian would welcome you to join them at the Newlands for good quality reasonably priced local ales, and a great relaxed atmosphere. ROTARY CLUB OF EYNSHAM annual Charity Race Night will be held on Friday 16 October from 19:30 in Bartholomew School Hall, with cooperation from the school. Tickets will be available late September – £10 including meal. A good opportunity to help raise funds for local and Rotary charities. Tickets and enquiries: Alan Longford 01865 464179
YOUTH CLUB: we are really excited about re‑opening on Mondays (yr 9+) and Wednesdays (yr 6–8) from 18:30–21:00 opposite the Sports Centre. We have some new equipment, including a music room, with drum kit, guitars, lots of percussion and a computer to lay down beats and record people playing; we also have CD decks if you want to learn to mix. In addition to this we have lots of cookery and craft activities planned, as well as sports and games. Here is a photo of some graffiti we produced last year. New members welcome – find us on Facebook at Eynsham Youthy. Kristie Waller
ZUMBA: this new group meets Wednesdays 18:00‑19:00 in the Village Hall. We are a friendly bunch and don’t take ourselves too seriously! The class consists of basic Zumba routines with a bit of toning work in between. Bring a drink and perhaps a towel as we’ve been known to work up a sweat! £4.00 per class, all welcome. Sandra Syphas: 07913 420229 17
There is a pretty courtyard garden with a quiz night on the first Thursday of each month and an informal fun music quiz every Sunday afternoon at 4pm (with nibbles of course !!) CHEERS
Harvest at the Eynsham Churches Everyone Welcome
SERVICES ON MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 13:30 at the Day Centre in the Village Hall & 15:00 at Beech Court Nursing Home St Leonard’s, Church of England Sunday 27 September 09:00 Harvest Holy Communion Service 10:45 Harvest Service for all ages Focus on ‘Open Doors’ We will be having a special collection at these services for those in need.
Eynsham Baptist Church Sunday 27 September 10:30 Harvest Service Leader and Preacher: The Revd Zoltan Biro Monetary gifts to the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) Gifts of produce suitable for donation to the North Oxfordshire Food Bank and The Gatehouse Project for Oxford’s homeless will be most welcome, please.
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The service will be followed by a Bring and Share Lunch in our main hall.
REMEMBER WITH THANKSGIVING (service for the bereaved) St Leonard’s Church, Eynsham Sunday 1 November at 18:00 A special service where the death of a loved one is remembered and an opportunity to light a candle in their memory. If you would like the name of a loved one read out, please contact the Church Office: 01865 883325 / stleonards_stpeters@btconnect.com 18
What’s on September 25 26 27 29 30
Community Cinema, Far from the Madding Crowd Swap Shop, Sports Pavilion 10:00–11:30. Enquiries: 01865 884496 Litter Pickers, Baptist Church Hall 13:45 Eynsham Futures, Bartholomew Room 19:30 Arts Group, Bartholomew Room 19:30. John Langin, From soft paste to porcelain.
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October 1 Country Market, St Leonard’s Hall 09:00–10:30. Free tastings – chutneys 1 History Group, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30. Graham Bannell: Evolution of the built tradition. Enquiries: 01865 882400 3 GreenTEA, Eynsham Emporium 10:30–12:00. 6 Transport presentation – page 7 7 Council Drop-in, Bartholomew Room – page 5 7 Eynsham Futures, Village Hall 19:30 – page 3 10 Transport consultation - page 7 12 Friends of Helen & Douglas House, The Talbot 19:30. Quiz night. 13 Women’s Institute, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30. Harvest supper & auction. Enquiries: 01865 882011 14 Garden Club, Village Hall 19:30. Denise Santilli, Vines & wine making. Enquiries: 01865 882417 15 History Group, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30. Pam Mannix, Oxford’s Medieval Jewish history. 16 Rotary Race Night – page 17 17 Fruit Festival, St Leonard’s Hall – page 16 18 Gatehouse Volunteers: home-made food for the Oxford shelter. Enquiries: 01865 881346 20 Eynsham Futures, Bartholomew Room 19:30 20 Family Project, Ready Steady Spice 19:45. Enquiries: 07971 529242 20 Open Gardens, Tolkien Room – page 12 21 Carers’ Group, Eynsham Emporium 11:00. Contact Pamela Richards: 01865 881396 21 Eynsham Society, Village Hall 20:00. Enquiries: 01865 880563 22 Allotments Association AGM, White Hart 19:00. Enquiries: 07789 995111 24 One World Week Sale, Baptist Hall 10:00–12:00 25 Litter Pickers, Baptist Church Hall 13:45 28 Arts Group, Bartholomew Room 19:30. Ron Freeborn, Critique of members’ work 30 Community Cinema – page 18
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November
BARTHOLOMEW PLAYERS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS
with California Suite by Neil Simon
4 Council Drop-in, Bartholomew Room 18.30 - page 5 4 Theatre Club, visit to Malvern King Charles III open to non-members if space allows. Enquiries: 01865 880586 5 Country Market, St Leonard’s Hall 09:00–10:30. Free tastings – Christmas 5 History Group, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30. Martin Flatman, JRR Tolkien – an unusual Oxford don 7 GreenTEA, Eynsham Emporium 10:30–12:00. 8 Remembrance Sunday, village square 11:00. The Royal British Legion encourages all members of the village to join in a non-denominational Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, following a 10:00 service in St Leonard’s, to honour those who have given their lives for their country. Details to follow shortly. 9 Neighbourhood Action Group, Bartholomew Room 19:00. Enquiries: 07770 466237 9 Friends of Helen & Douglas House, The Talbot 19:30. Quiz night. 10 Women’s Institute, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30. Donella Chapman, Christmas table decorations 11 Garden Club, Village Hall 19:30. Joy Rawlins, Anglesey Abbey Gardens. Enquiries: 01865 882417 21 Community Cinema – page 18 14–22 Art Show, Bartholomew Room – page 16 18 Carers’ Group, Eynsham Emporium 11:00. 18 Eynsham Society, Village Hall 20:00. John Ashdown, The Radcliffe Camera 19 History Group, St Leonard’s Hall 19:30. Tony Hadland, Covert Catholicism in Oxon 21 Community Cinema – page 18 25–28 Bartholomew Players, Village Hall – see box 25 Arts Group, Bartholomew Room 19:30. 28 Mike Nightingale Concert – page 16 29 Gatehouse Volunteers: 01865 881346 29 Eynsham 10k – page 16 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 30 November – copy deadline Friday 13 November. Visit Eynsham Online at www.eynsham-pc.gov.uk
Our sponsors Thanks again to Eynsham Dental Care and the Eynsham Churches for their support - relevant features continue. Printed in Eynsham by Berforts Information Press 20
This is set in 1975 Los Angeles so we shall have a bit of Americanstyle fun, including a two-course Thanksgiving Supper before the show on Friday night, partnering with Bartholomew School, where we originated 40 years ago, in 1975 Venue: Eynsham Village Hall, Back Lane Dates: Wednesday 25–Saturday 28 November 19:45 Tickets: £9/£8 from Evenlode DIY Supper Show £18 only in advance from Denise Santilli: 07721 744020 / bart.players@gmail.com
The Joinery Shop Windows, Doors, Staircases, Book cases, All Bespoke Joinery, Timber, Sheet Materials planed and cut to size. Mouldings to pattern. Picnic Tables, Gates, Garden Seats, Fencing Materials
Tel 01865 883058 Fax 01865 883493 Mobile 07770766532 Timberyte Unit B Anvil Court Stanton Harcourt Road, Eynsham, OX29 4UD timberyte@hotmail.co.uk