Copy for the next edition should be given to Mr. George Adams at "Karibu", Main Street, tel: 680286 by midnight on
Thursday,25th Marchplease.

If you normally prepare your material using a computer, it would make my life easier ifyou could submit your offering in electronic form, though paper is, of course, fine. My ‘official’ e-mail address is: news-editor @ oxhill.org.uk if you wish to send me stuff that way.

This edition (424) was edited by George Adams.

Mobile Library

The library van will continue to visit Oxhill on Tuesdays, stopping at the Village Hall at 10 a.m. and staying there for 30 minutes.

In February the van will visit us on Tuesday 9th and Tuesday 30th.

You can renew books between van visits by calling 01926 851031, or online at www.Warwickshire.gov.uk/wild.

Editor

Refuse Collections

Collections will be made this month as follows:

Tuesday 2nd - Recycling Blue and Green bins

Tuesday 9th - Landfill Grey bin

Tuesday 16th - Recycling Blue and Green bins

Tuesday 23rd - Landfill Grey bin

Tuesday 30th - Recycling Blue and Green bins

Editor

Shipston Police

The Shipston SNT are hoping to move back into the station in March. However in the meantime the team are still operating within the area and can still be contacted by telephone on 01789 444670
or by email at shipston.snt@warwickshire.police.uk.

Kineton Oil Consortium

The consortium will be ordering oil again on March 24th. Please let me have your needs not later than 6 p.m. on Wednesday 24th.

D. Harper, 680529

April Issue

Please could I have all copy for the next issue by midnight on Thursday, 25th March?

If you normally prepare your material using a computer, it would make my life easier if you could submit your offering in electronic form, though paper is, of course, fine.

My ‘official’ e-mail address isnews-editor @ oxhill.org.ukif you wish to send me stuff that way.

George Adams - 680286

Cover Pictures

The Oxhill Art Group hard at work (we do hope that it was not a Life Study). Photograph provided by Angela Emmerson

Editor

Village Hall

Friday March 5th: Indian Meal

Our ever popular Indian Meal evening is set to happen on Friday 5th March. Doors will open at 7.30 for an 8 o’clock sharp start. We will have starters and a selection of delectable curries to tickle your taste buds followed by a dessert and all for the recession busting price of £10 per ticket.

This event is a virtual sell-out but if you want to go on the waiting list in case of any last minute cancellations, please call Angela Emmerson on 680565.

Thursday April 22nd: AGM

The Village Hall AGM will take place on Thursday, April 22nd at 8.00 p.m. and we know that a few of our long-serving colleagues will be standing down having made a huge contribution. Consequently, there will be opportunities for new faces and new ideas to influence the way that the Village Hall is run and the sort of event that is available. Please think seriously if and how you might contribute. If you want more details or information on what is involved please contact Derek Harbour on 680676.

Saturday May 22nd: Spring Progressive Supper

The date for another Progressive Supper has been set for Saturday May 22nd. The evening will start at the Village Hall at around 7.30 p.m., with subsequent courses being provided at homes around the village. This is a great opportunity for newcomers to the Village to meet existing residents and join in to what is always a popular event. There will be more details next month.

If you want to participate please contact Tracey Hackett (680366)

Derek Harbour

WI Meetings

Wednesday 3rd March

‘Gertrude Bell – Unsung heroine of the Middle East’, Mrs Jan Long MBE

Wednesday 7th April

‘My dancing years’, Rev Christine Turner

Wednesday 5th May

National AGM Resolution(s)

Wednesday 3rd June (at Whatcote Community Centre)

Ellen Badger Hospital Day Trust Horticultural Therapy, Gaye Calleja

All meetings are at 7.30 p.m. in Tysoe Village Hall (Whatcote in June)

Visitors are always welcome.

If you would like further details please contact the Secretary, Lynn Hicks, on 01295 680164.

Church Service Times

St. Lawrence Oxhill

All are warmly invited to our services

Sunday 7th - Lent III
9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Canon George Warner)

Sunday 14th - Mothering Sunday
3.30 p.m. Special Family Service (Rev Bill Rolfe)

Sunday 21st -LentV
9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (ML)

Sunday 28th - Palm Sunday
9.30 a.m. Family Service with blessing of palms (NM)

Deanery Services – every Tuesday in Lent – flyers in Church

For details of other services in the Benefice please see the list in Church or telephone the clergy.

Joy Bloxham

Heather and Bert would like to thank the friends who came to Joy's funeral and for the lovely cards and letters with messages of sympathy. We would also like to make special thanks to all those friends who sent cheques and other donations after the service.

A big 'thank you' is also due to Lillian and her friends for organising the tea after the funeral. A special Oxhill 'thank you' goes to Canon Nicholas Morgan for the lovely service. The three hymns were Joy's own choice.

When Joy first went into hospital we were having trouble finding transport until our family friend Diane came up with a rota of friends who would take us to visit Joy. We are most grateful. We were able to visit Joy in hospital at least twice a week for the seven months she was away, even on Christmas Day when Duncan took us over for an hour. Thank you very much Diane and Duncan.

The splendid sum of £689-50 has been sent to Cancer Research and Epilepsy Research. Thank you all once again.

Heather and Bert

Weekday Walkers

Our walks for March are as follows:

Friday 12th March

This is a 4.5 mile circular walk from Todenham with 300 feet of ascent, returning for lunch at “The Farriers Arms” Todenham. We will leave Oxhill at 9:30 a.m.

Friday 26th March

This is a 5 mile circular walk from Whichford with 500 feet of ascent, returning for lunch at “The Norman Knight” Whichford. We will leave Oxhill at 9:30 a.m.

Please contact Jim Saxton on 01295 680613 or at
saxton @ tiscali.co.uk before the Thursday prior to the walk.

Shipston Deanery

Everyone is most warmly invited to join us at any of our Lent Services, which travel from church to church throughout the Deanery. They always begin at 7.30 p.m., and there is coffee afterwards.

The theme this year is ‘The Christian Difference’.

Tuesday, March 2nd in Cherington,

‘An Allegiance that shows’, Ven. Dr. Gordon Kuhrt

Tuesday, March 9th in Halford,

‘A Joy that shows’, Rev. Canon Adrian Daffern (Precentor, Coventry Cathedral)

Tuesday, March 16th in Sutton-under-Brailes,

‘A Concern that shows’, Bishop David Evans

Tuesday, March 23rd in Stretton-on-Fosse,

‘A Faith that shows’, Rev. Malcolm Tyler, Area Dean of Coventry East

Tuesday, March 30th in Tysoe,

Holy Week Eucharist, Preacher Bishop Christopher.

Inspire your Choir: Instant Choirs II

Looking ahead, there will be another Deanery singing workshop with Julian Harris on Saturday, May 22nd, beginning at 2.00 p.m. in St. Edmund’s Church, Shipston. Full details will be found in the churches.

Finally, a prayer as we journey through Lent.

Christ of the desert,
we will walk with you through darkness,
testing, loneliness and suffering
on your road to Resurrection.

And you will walk with us
in the wilderness of this world through darkness,
testing, loneliness and suffering
on our road to Resurrection.

Jill Tucker, Rural Dean

Exhibition At Compton Verney

Francis Bacon: In Camera

27 March – 20 June 2010

This exhibition examines Bacon’s work in relation to film and photography. It includes significant oil paintings, film footage, stills and archival material from Bacon’s studio, which shed new light on the visual references to film and photography in his work and his transformation of these images in fluid oil paint.

Public Defibrillators in Shipston on Stour

You probably already know that Barbara & Mick Shepard have been running basic first aid courses in the village hall this year. We have all been shown how to do CPR (see paragraph 4!), so this news release about events in Shipston is timely. Ed.

When someone suddenly collapses from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the street or at a public event, time and knowledge are crucial factors about whether they survive. All too often, they die before an ambulance can reach them.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) kills more people a year than breast cancer, lung cancer and AIDS combined, but a Midlands charity, Arrhythmia Alliance, is aiming to cut the risk of death from SCA by introducing life-saving emergency equipment in public places across the country, with the Warwickshire town of Shipston-on-Stour being one of the first.

SCA is the abrupt loss of the heart rhythm caused by an electrical problem with the heart. The only treatment for a patient in cardiac arrest is the use of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which delivers and electric shock to restore the heart to a normal rhythm.

In the event of a SCA, the first seven to eight minutes are critical, with early defibrillation increasing a person’s chances of survival from 5% to 50%. It is estimated that 12% of these incidents happen in public places. The idea of community AEDs is to enhance emergency services and first responder schemes.

Working with the Ambulance Service, Arrhythmia Alliance is helping to place AEDs across the country, in external weatherproof cabinets, keypad locked for security and easily identifiable by their prominent (emergency green) colour. If a sudden cardiac arrest is suspected, a 999 caller is directed to their nearest cabinet and given the access code to retrieve the AED. The operator is then able to talk the caller through using the device while an ambulance is on the way.

In the Midlands, four cabinets have recently been located in Shipston-on-Stour and one in 2008 in Stratford-upon-Avon (outside Prontaprint in Greenhill Street). All have been funded by the local community and local businesses. A further cabinet has also been located in the village of Newbold-on-Stour in memory of Mr Charles Lobban, who passed away in 2008 from sudden cardiac death.

Arrhythmia Alliance and the West Midlands Ambulance Service are offering training to anyone who is interested in learning how to use the devices. The training sessions are free and open to all with the first session on Tuesday 23rd February between 6.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. at Shipston Sports Club and a second at the Newbold Village Hall on Thursday 25th February between 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

The Shipston launch will be the first GP practice in the UK to locate an AED outside of premises for public use.

Arrhythmia Alliance Trustee, Trudie Lobban said, “This is a fantastic initiative that will save lives. AEDs can literally mean the difference between life and death when someone has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. I believe these should be located in all towns, especially at public and sporting venues and remote areas where it may take paramedics longer to get there. This is such an important project for us and one that will make a huge impact. We are working with ambulance and paramedic services across the country to implement as many AEDs as possible. If your loved one experienced a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, you would want to have an AED as close by as possible to improve their chance of survival”

The charity can facilitate the placement of AEDs across the country but the devices need to be paid for by local groups or organisations. Arrhythmia Alliance will offer support and resources that can help get a project off the ground in local areas.

For more information, please contact Ben Fry at ben@heartrhythmcharity.org.uk or call 01789 451830.

SCA Key Facts

In the UK, approximately 100,000 deaths occur each year as a result of SCA.

Survival rates following a cardiac arrest are directly related to the time it takes for resuscitation and particularly defibrillation, so you can see how vital community AED projects and First Responder schemes are.

Although the AED machine delivers an electric shock to restore the heart to normal rhythm, there is no danger to the victim because the AED performs tests to determine if a shock is needed. Then, and only if deemed necessary, is a shock delivered.

In the UK, 12 children die every week from Sudden Cardiac Arrest

During 2008-2009, 25.7% of emergency or urgent call outs took longer than eight minutes to arrive on scene. During 2008-2009, 3.1% of call outs took 20+ minutes for an ambulance to arrive on scene.

Deaths among young women from SCA have increased 30%, according to data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

First Aid Talks

I’m sure those who, like me, have been attending the first aid talks by Mick & Barbara Shepard at the village hall would like express their thanks to them for the invaluable advice that has been passed on during the sessions.

One of the many tips given by Mick that I think is worth sharing is that if you ever have cause to call the emergency services then put on all the lights on the front of the house to draw attention to the address. Modern technology in the form of SatNavs are wonderful at getting them to the area but the last 100 meters are often the most difficult and hence drawing attention in this way particularly at night can save valuable minutes. If you have a car on the drive turn on the hazard flashers as well because they show up from quite some distance away.

Mike Collins

Welcome

We would like to welcome to the village Adam Jordan and Helen West, who have recently moved into Peacock Cottages. We hope their stay with us will be long and happy.

Editor

At the Peacock

Special events include the Taste of Wales on St. David's Day, Monday 1st, the Taste of Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday 17th, and a Guest Chef evening on Monday 22nd. These are in addition to the standard three of Coffee Morning on Wednesday 3rd, Charity Quiz on Sunday 7th and Village Lunch on Wednesday 17th.

Pam and Yvonne are compiling a cook-book, using menus contributed by their guest chefs and others, to raise funds for the Church and Village Hall. If you have any recipes to offer please give them in at the Peacock.

Editor

Gardening Club News

Our talk this month was given by Dr Roger Pringle, the now retired Director of Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust. It was centred around gardens of the Tudor period looking at gardens from the 15th century, which were often walled for herbs and vegetables rather than recreation or pleasure. The latter were usually attached to the large houses/castles and still in the pre 16th century the majority were for the growing of fruit and herbs and not flowers. He said the greater wealth and the more peaceful conditions after the War of the Roses as time went on brought with it a new climate of more pleasurable gardens. Much hard work and labour were required for these types of gardens. Roger displayed a rather large gardening book in his ownership which was circa 500 years old for us to gently browse through. He showed slides on knot gardens, arbours, mazes and topiary work which were all becoming popular. In all it was a very interesting evening.

REMINDER - our AGM is on 18th March when re-registering and new members will all be welcomed. We will sample some wine and cheeses to keep us going and look into the exciting new programme for the coming year.

Sue Hedley

Scarecrow Weekend

There will be an open meeting in the Village Hall on Friday March 12th, starting at 7.30 p.m., to discuss all matters connected with the Scarecrow Weekend.

Please come along and make your views known.

Lilian Welsby

Vicarage Notes

Thought for the month

This year’s Deanery Lent services are based on a book by Nick Fawcett entitled “Spot the Difference” and reflect upon what might make the Christian way of life distinctive in our society. The concluding communion service is at Tysoe Church at 7.30 p.m. on March 30th. All are specially welcome as the preacher is the “new” Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, making his first visit to this benefice.

While some of the Lent sentiments may well be unfashionably dreary – I wonder if the concept of penitence finds much acceptance in the corridors of power – the season should really be one that is encouraging a positive response to the challenges of today. We are called to be constant in our care for others, and faithful to God.

God bless,

Nicholas Morgan 01608 685230

OWLS

As I write this, the OWLS group is busy making next boxes for our birds of prey. We are building boxes for barn owls, tawny owls, little owls and for the now diminishing kestrel (proof of this activity can be seen on the owls web site!). We are grateful to Rhian and her builder friend who managed to get us all our timber at a vastly discounted rate and also cut to size. I will shortly be wandering the village perimeters looking for suitable trees to mount our boxes on. If you think you may have a suitable site, please phone me (680664). As their own initiative, Paul and Tom Heritage have already erected five barn owl boxes around Oxhill and Little Kineton.

March is also the time to clear out bird nest boxes and remember to keep feeding your garden birds. Use the higher protein bird foods, and fresh meal worms are also good, but please don’t scatter whole peanuts which can choke chicks. If you are buying new plants for your pond, make sure you only buy native plants; imported plants such as floating pennywort and water primrose are very invasive and can clog up waterways. Sow comfrey seeds between now and June, any spare patch of garden will do. Their leaves are fantastic added to your compost heap, liquid manure can be made from the whole plant, and most importantly, the flowers are a favourite with bees.

Apologies for the lack of Nature Notes, which will return in April.

Grenville Moore

Saturday 6th March
Ginny Davis Productions presents
‘TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE KITCHEN’
This show was a sell out at the Edinburgh Fringe 2008
Ginny regularly performs for fund raising organisations; for more information go towww.ginnydavis.com.
At The Townsend Hall, Shipston on Stour
8 p.m.
£20 to include supper
To buy tickets contact Rebecca Mawle, 01608 674929

Saturday 13th March
CHILDREN AND ANIMALS
Concert in St. Laurence’s Church, LIGHTHORNE
7 p.m. for 7.30 prompt start
£7.50 to include a glass of wine and nibbles
Contact Jane Rigby, 01926 651420

Wednesday 14th April
NEARLY NEW CLOTHES SALE
Townsend Hall, Shipston
10.00am to 3.00pm
Entrance £2 to include coffee/biscuits
If you would like to sell your clothes please call Rebecca 01608 674929 to book your plot

Thursday 29th April
FASHION SHOW AT ALSCOT PARK
Domino, Merino and Justina
By kind permission of Emma Holman-West
7.30 p.m.
£30 to include Champagne and Canapés
For tickets contact Rebecca Mawle, 01608 674929 or Domino, 01789 204889

Stour Singers

The orchestra of the Swan is coming to Shipston-on-Stour on Saturday 8th May at 7.30 p.m. to join Stour Singers in a joyful programme of music by Vivaldi & Handel in St Edmund’s Church. The concert will be conducted by Richard Emms, the choir’s founder/director.

The programme begins with Vivaldi’s Magnificat followed by Handel’s Laudate, pueri, Dominum which is, perhaps, less familiar. It is really a solo piece for virtuoso soprano with choral & string accompaniment, full of thrilling Handelian runs to be sung by guest artist Katharine Fuge, the renowned international Baroque specialist singer. The second half opens with Ombra mai fu, the well-loved Handel’s Largo, performed by Emma Selway who is a principal mezzo-soprano at the Royal Opera House. All these musicians combine in the final item, Vivaldi’s Beatus Vir. Rarely heard but instantly accessible to any listener, it has a beautifully interwoven texture and tunes you can whistle on the way home.

That this event can happen in Shipston is a personal tribute to Richard Emms who has worked for some 35 years to put the town on the choral map. It’s a very special occasion - don’t miss it!

Tickets at £12.50 for adults (accompanied children free) from:- R Clarke 27, High Street, Shipston, choir members & at the door.

For any further information please contact Vic Twyman Tel: 01608 664215

Philosopy Corner

If a man is alone in the forest and talks to himself when no woman can hear, is he still wrong?

WOT2grow

The Community Orchard - Update 1

If we get more winters like this, locally sourced produce will become more important. Local initiatives are important at times like these and the Community Orchard that is being proposed by the WOT2grow team is a good example.

The vision as described in January is to create a new orchard in the vicinity of the three villages to provide fruit and juice for local people and to enable local children to see fruit grown and harvested to help them understand something about where food comes from. In addition to an orchard of apple and pear trees, we also envisage soft fruit being grown and harvested and apples being donated by people who currently have trees in the community to produce juice for local sale and consumption.

The first committee meeting of WOT2grow (please note that ‘WOT’ stands for Whatcote, Oxhill & Tysoe) took place on January 27th. Paul Sayer (Oxhill) together with Mike & Sue Sanderson (Upper Tysoe) joined the existing team of Graham Collier & Sam Littlewood (Tysoe), Liz Atkinson (Whatcote) and Derek Harbour (Oxhill) to recruit interest in the three villages. Derek accepted the nomination to become Chair whilst the second stage Business Plan and full Application is developed, which we hope to achieve this spring. Regular monthly meetings are planned for the future and updates will be reported in the appropriate community ‘news’ media.

It is the intention of the team that the Business Plan, once completed will be aired at a public meeting in the spring when there will be an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions to strengthen the plan and application.

For more information please contact:
Liz Atkinson 680045 / 07768 166483,
Derek Harbour 680676,
Sam Littlewood 688137,
Paul Sayer 680451,
Sue and Mike Sanderson 688080 or
Graham Collier 680127 / 07889 360133.

The WOT2grow team

Growing in the community of the Vale of the Red Horse

Hogwood Farm

We would like to offer our sympathy to Brian and Sarah after the recent fire at Hogwood farm. We understand that there were no injuries to anyone at the farm and only minor losses to the farm itself.

Editor

Accident and Medical Emergencies

First Call - 999

Then Call

Ambulance Responders

Mick & Barbara Shepard

07977149317 Mobile / 01295680644 Home

3, The Leys, Oxhill, Warwick, CV350QX