Copy for the next edition should be given to Paula or Vanessa by midnight on 15thSeptemberplease.
Paper submissions can be left in the box in the Church

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

This edition (442) was edited by Paula Buffery & Vennesa Druce.

Cover Picture

Celebrating the end of last years Land's End to Oxhill cycle ride.

Contributions to the Oxhill News

The editors would welcome any pictures, photographs, drawings, poems, puzzles, recipes, announcements or items of local news for possible inclusion in The Oxhill News.

The deadline for receipt of entries to the News is the 15th of the month.

Please emailnews-editor @ oxhill.org.ukor place paper contributions in the box labelled ‘The Oxhill News’ in the Church.

October Issue

The copy deadline will be the 15^thof each month, this is necessary due to the external printing of the News.

Please can you ensure all copy is sent to us by midnight on 15^thSeptember 2011 for the next edition –news-editor @ oxhill.org.uk A box labelled ‘The Oxhill News’ has been placed in the Church for any paper based contributions.

Paula & Vanessa

Mobile Library

The library van will continue to visit Oxhill every 3rd Wednesday, stopping at the Village Hall at 10 a.m. and staying there for 30 minutes.

This monththe van will visit us on Wednesday 14th.

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

Refuse Collections

Recycling and green waste bins (blue and green bins) will be collected on Tuesdays 13th and 27th.

The grey rubbish bins will be collected on Tuesdays 6th and 20th.

Weekday Walkers

The following are the walks for this month:

Friday September 9^th–

A 4.5 circular walk from Shenington going close to Hornton with 390 feet of ascent. Lunch at The Bell Shenington – Leaving Oxhill at 9:45am.

Friday September 23^rd–

A 6.9 mile walk from Brailes to Whichford with 390 feet of scent. Lunch will be at The Norman Knight Whichford. – Leaving Oxhill at 9:45am.

Due to the numbers on the walk Jim Saxton now contacts regular members to get meal decisions by Wednesday evening. Those who wish to join us are most welcome, but please contact Jim Saxton on 01295 680613 or at saxton @ tiscali.co.uk before the Tuesday evening prior to the walk.

Cycle Oxhill to Paris

We're at it again!

Oxhill's favourite cycling team:

Liz, Hugh, Brian, Steve, Mike and Vanessa, are cycling from Oxhill to Paris this month in aid of the popular village charity -

Chernobyl's Children Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire.

Our trip is over 300 miles in 6 days! Follow our progress on our blog:

CycleOxhillToParis.blogspot.com

We'll be updating every day on the trip, so log on and see how we're doing. And please donate! Donations can be made on the blog or in a box at the Peacock pub.

Vannessa Druce

Garden Club

Summer is here and the flowers are out!

Start snapping your entries for the Club’s photographic competition.

Entries should be no bigger than 7x5 in, unmounted, name on reverse, please.

Compositions should be:

a)single flower portrait, may include leaf or leaves OR

b)a general floral composition

Bring your entries along to the September meeting (15^th) or get them to

Ann Saxton (Medway, Green Lane) by 29^th September.

The new programme for monthly meetings includes:

September 15^th -
The Archaeology & History of Tysoe – Kevin Wyles

October 20^{th -}
Mushrooms & Toadstools. Beware! –Christopher Scotter

November 17^{th -}
Climbers & Wall Shrubs – Janet Cropley

December Christmas Party – date and venue to follow later.

Meetings take place in Oxhill village Hall at 7.30pm, unless stated otherwise.

Deanery Garden Party

Everyone, from across the whole Deanery, is warmly invited to attend the Rural Dean’s Garden Party on the afternoon of Saturday, August 13th, at The Old House, Oxhill, between 3pm and 5pm. We know from past experience that, should it rain, the house can accommodate an awful lot of people, so don’t let the weather put you off!

If you can bring a cake, that would be lovely! Every year people offer donations, even though we have never asked for them; this year therefore we will be inviting donations for the work of TEAR Fund, particularly in the light of the growing crisis in the horn of Africa.

Wot2Grow Apple Day

Following last year's fun packed Apple Day we will be holding another one this year on Saturday October 15^th in Oxhill Village Hall. There will be the usual activities including apple pressing, fun things for children to do and apple products to buy. More details next month but do put the date in your diary!

Church Service Times

St. Lawrence Oxhill

All are warmly invited to our services

Sunday 4th - Trinity XI
9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (ML)

Sunday 11th - Trinity XII
6.30 p.m. Evensong (NM)

Sunday 18th - Trinity XIII
9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (ML)

Sunday 25th - Harvest Festival - Trinity XIV
9.30 a.m. Family Service (NM)

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

Deanery News

Dear Friends,

I hope that everyone has had a good summer, and enjoyed some rest and relaxation. As we enter the season of Harvest, there is one significant Deanery occasion. On Tuesday, October 11th at 7.30pm in Long Compton Church the Deanery Synod will meet to consider the current moves towards the Ordination and Consecration of Women to the Episcopate: i.e. women bishops. The meeting will be given over to examining this matter in some depth, so that the views of our Synod are known ahead of the Diocesan Synod on November 5th when a formal (Diocesan) vote will be taken. All are very welcome.

Talks about the Bible, in Tredington

This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the English Bible. To mark it, Gordon Kuhrt is to lead four sessions on the Bible, to be held in the Chancel of St. Gregory’s, Tredington, and everyone from the Deanery is invited.

Wednesday October 5th: How was the Bible assembled?

Wednesday October 19th: How is the Bible to be interpreted?

Wednesday November 2nd: How is the Bible translated?

Wednesday November 16th: How is the Bible to be used?

Every blessing,

Jill

From the Parish Registers

Baptisms:

welcomed into God’s family

July 31st Eleanor Rose Lily Buffery

Paula and Martin would like to thank everyone who helped to make Eleanor's Baptism Day so special.

Vicarage Notes

Dear friends,

St.Lawrence’s Day – August 10^th

I was pleased that a good congregation was able to share in and enjoy our patronal Festival Service. Do book August 12^thnext year – we’ll try and make this day a regular occasion.

Harvest Festival

All are very welcome to the special service on the 25^thand gifts towards the decoration of the Church are much appreciated.

National concerns

In Brailes Parish News 1911, the Vicar expressed concern about industrial unrest across the country. As the awful scenes of a few weeks ago remind us, the lessons of history have not yet been learned. It’s easy to pontificate – solving the problems is going to be a huge challenge – the breakdown of family life, the lack of respect for people and property and the disappearance of the guiding principles that should create a healthy society.

The “send in the troops” reaction may produce some short term security, and, certainly, human rights must be balanced by human responsibility. However, the government (of any political opinion) needs to re-inforce the founding (and Christian) principles of our nation through educational, social and financial guidelines and legislation.

100 years ago, the Vicar expressed the prayer that all should live together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding – working together for the common good. Nothing changes!

God bless,

Nicholas Morgan 01608 685230

Village Hall

Maintenance day & BBQ

On Saturday, August 20^th, we had our annual maintenance day and members of the committee were joined by some doughty volunteers to carry out some much needed tasks. These included high level cleaning, painting and gardening. I would like to thank all that turned up and helped out, your efforts are much appreciated.

In the evening we had a BBQ with some great salads, again generously given by various volunteers and despite the variable weather, we had a very pleasant evening.

Stuart Whittaker

Village Hall Events

Forthcoming Events

Thursday Afternoon Socials – 15 September

This very popular event that was a success last winter is re-starting on Thursday 15 September from 2.00pm till 4.00pm and will take place every alternate Thursday until next spring. The format is very relaxed and if you come along you will see that there are opportunities to join in with the selected ‘craft’ of the week or just have a cup of tea and a chat with your friends.

Please try to make the first meeting because we will be discussing the format of future meetings and what people want to do during these sessions.

A Tapas Safari – Saturday, 24 September

A new take on an old favourite – meet your friends in the Village Hall from 6.45pm for a pre-Dinner drink, accompanied by some Spanish music and then off to 3 different houses in the Village for some interesting plates of Tapas and accompanying drinks before returning to the Village Hall for Desert, Coffee and possibly a nightcap.

For the Safari traveller you get to meet different people, see different houses and taste different delicacies and for the hosts you have all the fun of welcoming people into your home to taste your creations but without the formality of ‘sitting round a table’ to eat on a tight schedule.

We are looking for hosts to provide a selection of Tapas for 4 to 10 guests and for those who wish to join in but are unable to host a course; tickets are available at £17.50 per head, (a bargain for a variety of food and wine at host’s homes!)

If you would like to participate in the progressive supper please telephone Diana Cronin on 680938 and let her know whether you would prefer to host a round of Tapas (recipes/guidance is available if needed) or would like some tickets.

Friday Night at the Village Hall – 14 October

Our popular Friday Night at the Village Hall returns on October 14^thwith a meal of Normandy Pork and vegetables followed by an Apple based desert for the bargain price of £7.50. This is an ideal lead-in to the Apple Day that takes place, courtesy of the WOT2Grow Orchard Group and the OWLs Group, on Saturday 15 October.

Tickets for the Friday night event are available from Tricia Harbour on 680676

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

On the 3^rdAugust a second meeting of those interested in celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee took place at the Village Hall. More villagers were present and Pam and Yvonne at the Peacock have pledged their support. The enthusiasm shown at the first meeting was again evident and the meeting decided to go ahead and start to make arrangements.

The consensus was again that a two day programme of events would be appropriate and after much discussion we arrived at an outline programme.

This commences on Sunday 3^rdJune 2012 around midday with a Church centred celebration. We will then participate in the National Big Diamond Jubilee Lunch along Main Street. Children’s field games will follow during the afternoon and the early evening will hopefully see some home grown entertainment. It was suggested that the Festival Choir might come together and that the many talented musicians in the village might be encouraged to form a scratch band to entertain us! The evening will conclude with a ‘bring your own picnic / barbeque’ and music from the last 60 years to dance too.

All events will be centred on the field adjacent to the Old Methodist Chapel. There will be a marquee in the field.

Monday 4^th& Tuesday 5^thJune 2012 are official Bank Holidays and therefore on the Monday a full day of events is planned to start at 2pm with the gathering of the Oxhill Derby Hobby Horses in the parade ring for judging! Racing will follow with classes for all ages. Some form of display and afternoon teas will follow. There will be more field games including a Tug-O-War and the now traditional Family Water Volleyball tournament. The main food event of the day will then commence which will centre on a pig roast with vegetarian alternatives! The evening will continue with live music and at some point in the evening a loyal toast will be given and some form of light event will be coordinated with the timing of the lighting of local beacons.

The next stage of planning is to establish a budget and understand what it will cost to deliver the programme outlined above. The next meeting will be held at 8pm on Wednesday 7^thSeptember at the Village Hall. It you want to help make it happen and haven’t been involved yet then please come along and volunteer to help make the Diamond Jubilee weekend a memorable one for Oxhill.

Once we have an idea of ticket costs we intend to survey the village visiting every house and hopefully getting you to commit to the event and provide a refundable deposit for your tickets. The event will be a private function open only to the village and we will endeavour to ensure that all Villagers will be able to attend. All events over the weekend will be available for an all inclusive price but it will be necessary for tickets to be booked well in advance as numbers must be limited. Now is the time to start organising your family and friends to come to Oxhill to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and make your ticket requests.

Any questions at this stage please contact Mike Collins on 680564.

Computers Available

The Village potentially has the opportunity to obtain a couple of Personal Computers for the use of Villagers to enable them to learn, in a risk free way, how to use them, how to access the internet or how to use Skype, etc.

Before we go through the process of trying to obtain them, we would like to know what the likely usage would be. If you think that you, or a friend or neighbour would make use of such a service if it was available, please call Tricia Harbour on 680676.

Kineton Art Group

Kineton Art Group will be holding their Annual Group Art Exhibition and Sale of Paintings at Kineton Village Hall on Saturday and Sunday, the 8th and 9th October 2011. Doors will be open from 10-00 am until 5-00 pm each day. Refreshments including tea and home-made cakes will be available throughout each day.

If you need any other information please let me know. You can telephone me on 01295 788890 or send an e-mail togail @ kinetonartgroup.co.uk.

Shopping in Shipston

In March Transition Shipston members carried out a shopping survey, comparing prices in Stratford Tesco's with prices at Shipston's independent shops and Co-ops. The analysis showed, based on an Internet shopping basket selection, that it need cost no more to shop in Shipston, even before you take into account the high petrol costs of driving to Stratford or Stow or Banbury.

Now there is even better news about shopping in Shipston. Following pressure from local residents, the larger Co-op (previously Somerfields) has lowered its prices to match the price band of the Stratford Tesco's, resulting in 1000s of price cuts over a variety of goods. They now have a shelf sticker saying ‘Family Value’ for all items which have been reduced by 10% or more to help shoppers identify the best value as a result of the reductions.

The smaller Co-op is exploring whether it can match these price reductions, and we hope all this will lead to more people shopping locally. This will help keep all the independent shops thriving too, and they offer an amazing variety of food, clothes, hardware, flowers, gifts, craft products which people who live far away often seem to appreciate more than those of us who actually live around this very special market town.

Helen Winnifrith

HARVEST FAYRE

a local celebration of local food and local produce

Sunday 25th September 2011
Town Centre, Shipston On Stour
11am till 4pm

Local Produce Stalls
+ music, crafts & eco ideas
... and the new "Transition Tower"

Organised by Transition Shipston & Surrounding Areas
Contact Pam Bennett, 01608 685606
pam @ pambennett.com

At the Peacock

Quiz Night

Quiz night on Sunday 4th September at 8pm, this month supporting the Chernobyl’s Children for the Oxhill to Paris cycle ride.

Village Events

The village coffee morning is on Wednesday 7th September at 10:30am and the village lunch is on Wednesday 21st September.

Bordeaux Night!

It’s Bordeaux Night on Wednesday 28th September. Come join us for a buffet of delicious French dishes accompanied with 4 different wines, finished with a selection of savoury French cheeses. All this for £29.95.

Winner of the Great British Pub Award from Morning Advertiser Freehouse of The Year for East & West Midlands. The national final is on September 8th at Hilton Park Lane.

Good luck Yvonne and Pam!

Gifts Galore

Gifts Galore, Christmas Shopping opportunity in the Old Chapel, Oxhill in aid of St. Lawrence Church and Air Ambulance.

28th & 29th October.

Julia Stirman

Skittles & Pig Roast

To raise funds for St Lawrence Church we are holding a Skittles and Pig Roast at the Oxhill Village Hall on 1st October 2011. Tickets are £7.50 from Lillian.

Contact : 680468

Art Exhibition

The very successful Art Exhibition that was recently held in the Village Hall resulted in a donation of £75 for the Village Hall and the committee would like to record its thanks to Barbara Kenny and her team of helpers.

Wot2Grow Community Orchard

At the end of June the WOT2Grow Community Orchard Community Interest Company held its first AGM, it didn't seem possible that we had been going for a year! The Management Team were delighted to welcome members to the meeting and were able to explain what had already happened and what was going to be needed over the coming year especially the work to plant the fruit trees. The Management Team were all re-elected.

The first major working weekend of the summer was held on July 30^thand 31^st. The boundaries were cut back using a topper on the Saturday morning and then in the afternoon an intrepid team tackled the footpath and the fence area. A large quantity of weeds and nettles were strimmed or cut back by hand and put on the compost heap and a bramble mountain was created in the middle of the orchard ready to be disposed of on a suitable day. The old blackcurrant bushes beside the allotments were cut down along with more brambles and weeds and added to the compost heaps. Having had cow muck delivered for mulching round the fruit bushes we started to spread that after watering the plants and then watered that in too.. All the bushes and canes were watered as despite some rain the ground was pretty dry.

On August 6^thmore water was delivered to the orchard and the final bits of boundary clearing were completed by willing helpers. Again every plant was watered and the autumn raspberries were mulched with green waste compost.

We also measured the boundaries and marked out the provisional site for the workshop which is dependent upon getting planning permission.

A very big thank you to everyone who came and helped out – it was a fantastic effort!

Do visit the web-site

www.wot2grow.co.uk

Following last year's fun packed Apple Day we will be holding another one this year on Saturday October 15^thin Oxhill Village Hall. There will be the usual activities including apple pressing, fun things for children to do and apple products to buy. More details next month but do put the date in your diary!

If you require more information please contact one of the team:

Liz Atkinson (680045), Paul Sayer (680451), Derek Harbour (680676), Sue and Mike Sanderson (688080), Graham Collier (680127), Julia Stirman (01608 686776)

OWLS Photographic and Art Competition

It’s time for all you creative Oxhill people out there to get busy!

This year we are inviting you to submit any creative media such as paintings, collages, sculptures or photos.

There are two categories:

Local nature: Oxhill wildlife, landscapes and people in their natural environment

British nature: wildlife

Open to 2 age groups (12 & under and adults).

Entries, which cost 50p each, should be submitted to Rhian, Weavers Barn, Rouse Lane, Oxhill (680574) or to any other OWLS member.

(Please state which category you are entering!)

Entries will be exhibited and judged in the Village Hall on:

Sunday 9^thOctober, 4pm till 6.30pm.

Cream teas will be served!

Kineton Oil Consortium

Will be ordering again!

The cut off date for orders is September 14th at 6pm.

Contact Diane Harper - 01295 680564

Electric Blanket Safety Tests

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service will provide electric blanket testsFREE OF CHARGE,for people aged 50 or over,between Monday 3rd October and Friday October 7th 2011.
Don’t miss this opportunity. Old or damaged electric blankets cause a number of fires each year, which can result in injury or death. These can be avoided by simply getting your electric blanket checked.

Testing, by appointment only, will take place at the following venues around Warwickshire:

Leamington Town Hall, Monday 3rd October
Rugby Library, Tuesday 4th October
Nuneaton Fire Station, Wednesday 5th October
Kenilworth Library, Thursday 6th October
Stratford Fire Station, Friday 7th October

To book an appointment, call the Trading standards Service on:

01926 414004 (Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm)

or email

ebtesting @ warwickshire.gov.uk

Country Car Boot

for Shipston Home Nursing

4th September 2011

Gates Open at 9:00am at

Honington Estate

CAR BOOTERS BY APPLICATION ONLY
£15 per car/£20 per small van/£25 large van

Call Rebecca 01608 674 929
or emailrebecca@shn-fundraising.co.uk

PUBLIC ENTRY FEE £2 per head
Max £5 per car

FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE

Shipston Fun Run, Walk and Cycle Ride

for Shipston Home Nursing

25th September 2011

9:00am start

For more details call Gilda Gardner
01789 740083/07970 177951

Faire is the Heaven

FREE Admission - Retiring Collection,

The Carice Singers will be in residence in Oxhill, rehearsing in Oxhill Chapel over the two days of Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September. Anybody is more than welcome to pop in and listen to us while in rehearsal free of charge.

Quentin Blake - as Large as Life

Compton Verny

Saturday 15 October – Sunday 11 December 2011

Quentin Blake is one of Britain's best-loved and most successful illustrators, having won countless awards and appointed Britain’s first Children’s Laureate. He is known by young and old alike, his name having been synonymous with his illustrations for Roald Dahl’s books.

Recently Quentin has been commissioned by hospitals in the UK and abroad to produce works which have a therapeutic effect on their residents. Quentin Blake - As large as life brings together over 60 works for the first time at Compton Verney, for visitors to experience their effects for themselves.

Notice Board

Would you like to recommend any trades people, handy men or businesses that could benefit other in the village? Anything you would like to sell, trade, give away?

Let Us Know!

The notice board will change each month but all entries will be kept permanently on the Oxhill Village website anytime you need it:

www.oxhill.org.uk

Lost Cat

The photo attached is of a cat that has been around for about 6 weeks in the Main Street, Gilkes Lane area of the village. We think it may be a stray. Does anyone recognise it or know anything about it.

Please contact Ian and Sally on 01295 688167.

OWLS Calendar 2012

is now ready and, in spite of increased costs, the price will be the same as last year’s at £8.00 or £7.50 for two or more.

Copies can be purchased from any of the OWLS
or contact Gren (01295 680664).

Free upright Piano.

Archibold Ramsden, Leeds, upright Piano in need of a new home. Family owned from new, purchased about 70 years ago. Little used, sadly no longer able to accommodate.

Anyone interested please ring Ian and Sally on 01295 688167

Accident and Medical Emergencies

Time is critical in medical emergencies and so in order to ensure we attend as quickly as possible

First Call - 999

Then Call

Ambulance Responders

Mick & Barbara Shepard

07977149317 Mobile / 01295680644 Home

3, The Leys, Oxhill, Warwick, CV350QX