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Art Classes 07772249695
Nick Baldw in – Village Hall Mondays 2-4pm
Bell Ringing
Andrew Jeffrey - Secretary 738729
Church St Laurence
Priest in Charge -
Revd Barry Jackson 01926 640248 Associate Priests Revd Canon Dr Richard Cooke 690213 Revd Dr. Alan Cartwright 01926 640904
Church Wardens
Linda Clark 738143
Andrew Jeffrey 738729
Parochial Church Council
Alan Reilly chairman 730476 Godfrey Boulton—Secretary 738244 Pauline Tarrant—Treasurer 730687
Linda Clark 738143 Andrew Jeffrey 738729 Philippa Upton 738491 Christine Pym 738948
David Holman 730326
Fishman - comes round
Chris - - Wed 9.30ish 01295 758841
Footpaths Team
David Holman 730326 John Crocker 730220 Mike Pa lmer 730901 Brian Noble 730688
Milkman Dairy Crest - early morni ngs
Tues. Thurs. Sat 01295 264776
Mobile Library - 01926 851031
Every 3 weeks on a Tuesday 11.20 - 11.45
Neighbourhood Watch
Linda Clark 738143
Newsletter
Tony Tarrant 730687 Keri Holman 730326 David Holman—adverts 730326
Newspapers
S&G. Smith Banbury 268499
Parish Council
Chairman. Les Faulkner 730576 Vice Chair. Michael Pearson 730276 Valerie Ingram also Clerk. 730203
Jan Burgess 730443 George Nell 730995
Police Warwickshire 01926 415000 Police Wellesbourne 01789 444600
Parish Plan
Brian Noble - Chairperson 730688 Tammy Barker - Secretary
John Crocker - Treasurer 730220
Post Office -- Mon 9.00a m-1.00pm
Valerie Ingram - 0ld Post Office 730203
Postman Delivers in the morning
Post Box weekdays 4.15pm Sat 7am
Riding School
Valley Farm - Denise Faulkner 730576
Tuesday Club
Keri Holman 730326 Mavis Palmer 730901
Village Hall
Mike Pa lmer - Chairman 730901
Linda Clark - Secretary 738143 Terry Clark - Treasurer 738143 Elisabeth Gilchrist 730213 Joan Noble 730688
Hilary Wareing 738750 Ray Adkins 730042
Warmington & District Bridge Club
Mondays-Warmington Village Hall 7-10p m Mike Pa lmer 730901 Pauline Tarrant 730687
Warwickshire County Council
Wednesday morning
Green & Recycling Bins - Fortnightly. Grey Bin - Fortnightly - Intervening wks
Email - [email protected]
Websites - www.shotteswell.com
http://shotteswellvillage.co.uk
D IR E CT O R Y
Shotteswell
Newsletter
April 2015
Issue 22
2 47
46
Editors Tony Tarrant - Mount Stuart - 730687 / Keri Holman - White Cottage 730326
Advertising - David Holman - White Cottage 730326
Produced by the Tuesday Club [email protected]
Holistic Therapist new to Shotteswell
Hi, my name is Julieann and I have just moved to this lovely village of
Shotteswell. I am a qualified Holistic Therapist and Reiki Master. I have
my own business called Journey Holistics and I offer many treatments
including holistic body massage (a combination of aromatherapy and
swedish massage), Reiki healing, Hopi ear candles and holistic facial’s.
I also offer health advice and teach Reiki courses.
Holistic therapy addresses all parts of the individual, not just the
physical aspect of a person but mind, body and spirit. Both physical
and emotional well-being depends upon the balance and flow of
energy through the body. Treatments can help restore this balance
allowing the body to heal itself naturally.
Holistic treatments are not intended to serve as a one time fix, it is an
ongoing journey of discovery, and supported by positive lifestyle
changes – living better, being healthier and striving for wholeness, you
can be the best that you can be.
Feel yourself relax and unwind in my treatment room with soft music,
glowing candles and lovely smells from the aromatherapy oils. You
will feel relaxed, de-stressed and rejuvenated.
Please visit me on www.journeyholistics.co.uk or call me on 07910
741673 to book an appointment or for more information.
3
A few years ago Mike and I decided to have a holiday in Sri Lanka.
For me it was the holiday of a lifetime but for Mike it was a return to the island where he spent much of his childhood.
We flew into Colombo to be met by Nihal who was to be our mentor,
guide and driver for the next three weeks. He was very knowledgeable and proud of his country and spoke four languages fluently. Nothing was too much trouble for him and he was always smiling and a joy to have around. Next morning we set off on a long drive northwards to our next destination, stopping several times for refreshment breaks in the heat. One such stop was at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Twice a day all the elephants (about 50) are taken down to the river to bathe and what a sight it is to see them
walking through the village with their handlers. The roads in Sri Lanka are dreadful and the bus drivers and tuk tuk drivers do not suffer
fools gladly and will just run over anything that gets in their way! This is why it is recommended that you do not drive yourselves
around.
We eventually arrived at the Kandalama Hotel which was our base for the next few days. This beautiful hotel is built into a rock face in the
jungle and has a fantastic infinity pool overlooking a large lake, known as ‘a tank’ in Sri Lanka. We were told to keep the balcony door firmly shut when not in the room because the monkeys have no hang ups about entering and stealing fruit and nuts from the bowls. From this hotel we did several trips but a memorable one was to
Polonnamura. On the way Nihal took us to a Rest House right on the edge of a beautiful lake. It was here that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stayed on their first Commonwealth Tour just after she became Queen., and the owner proudly showed us her room and ensuite. It was rather like the Premier Inn of today but would have been the height of luxury in the 1950’s. We did have coffee on her veranda built out over the lake and a little bird from the kingfisher family kept coming and sitting on the rail beside us – a magical
Sri Lanka - The Pearl in the Indian Ocean
4
moment. Polonnamura was built in 1070 and is a World Heritage Site and is still being excavated today. Lots of buildings and Temples
are available to go into but you have to enter bare-footed as they are sacred places. This caused Mike and me to have burnt soles on our feet as we are not used to walking on the bare hot rock. We also visited Sigiriya, a site of historical and archaeological significance with a massive column of volcanic rock rising up 200 mtrs. Mike remembers climbing up it early one morning with his father. It is now very commercialised and you need to be very careful and carry plenty of water. We did not attempt it as it was the hottest part of the day!
We then headed for Kandy stopping at the Spice Gardens on the way. Here all medical students have to spend time learning about the
medicinal properties of the plants. It was an interesting place to visit and a massage was a must! Now we were nearing Mike’s old home
territory of Matale. It was no longer the thriving rubber and coffee plantation which his father managed and most of the land had been
sold off by the Government after Independence. However we did find the rubber factory building along with the turbine house on the river which supplied the estate with electricity – both now derelict
and taken over by the jungle. Part of the estate was bought by a local entrepreneur who grows and supplies the greenery you find in
bouquets. He was very kind and hospitable and delighted to help us on our quest. He told us the family house was still there and he would take us in his 4x4 – the only way to get up there. It had been derelict for many years but had recently been bought and was in the process of renovation, but we were able to wander around at our own freewill. It was very nostalgic for Mike and he could remember every room in the building. The summerhouse where he had his train set was still there and so was the little swimming pool where he and his sister both learned to swim. The location was outstanding on the top of a mountain, built there to catch all the cooling breezes
as there was no air con in those days, just electric fans. The views were stunning but sadly Mike’s mother’s lovely garden had all gone,
45
Quizzes in the Village Hall
The village hall has hosted a couple of quizzes over the winter and raised
£476 towards funds. The evenings were hosted by quiz master Terry Clark and light suppers were thanks to Tammy Barker. We will be providing more
entertaining evenings to tax your knowledge in the Autumn. Terry Clark
44
Wroxton House Hotel Silver Street, Wroxton, Banbury
Tel: 01295 730777 [email protected]
www.wroxtonhousehotel.com
3 COURSE SUNDAY LUNCHES £23.50 - Served between 12 noon and 2.00pm
Booking advisable
PRIVATE CELEBRATIONS Up to 80 guests with fabulous service
and award winning food, ensures a day to remember
5
taken over by the jungle. A very moving day – for me because I had heard so much about their life there, and for Mike lots of lovely
memories of very happy times.
From there we visited Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth. We watched a Cultural Show and walked in the beautiful Peradeniya
Botanical Gardens. Now it was time to drive up into the hills where it was much cooler and tea planting country. We stopped to watch the tea planting process from leaf to cup. We finally reached our destination of Nuwara Eliya (pronounced New Railia), where Mike went to boarding school, and the Hill Club. The Hill Club was founded in 1876 by a group of British planters who missed their home comforts and food. To this day it is still very English and serves such things as roast dinners and Spotted Dick pudding! The
school still stands today but is now an Army Base. We were told we would not be able to visit, but we tried and with Nihal’s help the
Commander finally agreed to let us in. They showed us around and Mike was interested to see that the old blackboards were still on the
walls in the classrooms. They kindly gave us refreshments sitting in the room that was once Mike’s dormitory. The sick bay was still there and the Headmaster’s house which the Army Commander now lives
in. The sports field is now a vegetable garden and it is interesting to note that at this altitude they grow lots of our vegetables such as
cabbage, leeks, carrots, salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans. Incidentally mobile phone signals from here and in the depths of the jungle were great!!
It was now time to come down from the hills and head for the coast passing beautiful scenery and waterfalls on the way. We arrived at Yala in the late afternoon – what a fantastic place, but what a shock to come for us as this was the coastline that the Tsunami first hit Sri Lanka in 2005. Yala is a safari park on the SW coast and a truly beautiful place to visit and by the time of our visit it had picked itself up and rebuilt most that had been destroyed. Apparently, on the day of the Tsunami, a party of visitors were on an early morning safari
6
trip and had stopped at a beautiful beach to have breakfast. Whilst eating breakfast the sea had suddenly receded and they all stood
watching it until they realised that a 50 ft. wall of water was racing towards them. By then it was too late and some of the bodies were found a mile inland in the jungle. Now there is a beautiful stainless steel monument on the beach, shaped like a breaking wave, with all their names engraved on it. It was very emotional standing on that beach looking out to sea. From now on our journey took us right along the coast seeing the devastation that can still be seen today. Lots of re-building work has gone on and life has returned to normal for many people, but it was very sad to see.
The remainder of our stay was spent at Bentota Beach and in Colombo. Everywhere we went security was very high because of
the on-going problems, but we felt very safe. Mike had wanted to visit Trincomalee on the East coast where he spent many childhood
holidays, but Nihal said it was too dangerous. We would have been OK but Nihal could have been attacked and his car stolen – he was a
Buddhist and the Tamils ruled that area. A sobering thought, but now everywhere is peaceful. We still have contact with Sri Lanka through the Ceylon Association who arranged our memorable trip for
us and who have done so much work to help the orphans of the Tsunami. We just wished Mike’s parents had still been alive – they
would have loved hearing all about it.
Mavis Palmer
43
21
42
01295 730544
The Moon and Sixpence Main Street Hanwell Oxfordshire OX17 1HW
www.themoonandsixpencehanwell.com
A picturesque pub restaurant for families, couples friends, wedding parties, a relaxing pint, a spot of lunch, something
special...come and see for yourself
Weekly changes in Table d’hôte menu Two and Three Course Meals available
Family Sunday Lunches Ideal for functions - small and large, from
parties of 10 to 150 peoples.
From outstanding food from our function or à la carte menus that can be tailored to any specific
requirements, along with a professional,
highly trained team of friendly staff
Summer coming - enjoy Alfresco Dining
on our Patio Terrace
Pimms & Champagne by the glass
7
We are glad to welcome back Mary Jeffrey to our meetings. Mary has
been living in Cornwall for the past five years but has now returned to
live in the village.
Since our last newsletter we have spent many a Tuesday morning
using our brains doing different quizzes and having lots of fun with
different games. We have also had quite a few mornings where we just
had coffee and chatted, and chatted, and chatted!
We have also learnt some new domestic skills. Dilly demonstrated the
art of sugar craft. On another occasion we sampled sausages made by
Tony Tarrant who then gave a demonstration of how they were made.
Two lovely local ladies demonstrated flower arranging. We also
invited ourselves to see Emily Pearson’s new kitchen and now we all
want new kitchens! In September we spent a morning in Eileen’s
kitchen learning the secrets of her famous doughnuts. Followed of
course by coffee and delicious fresh doughnuts!
In September we visited the art exhibition of paintings by Hazel
Robinson (Eileen’s sister). After admiring the lovely artwork we sat
in Hazel’s garden for coffee and biscuits. Money raised from this
event went to charity.
In November we helped some church members organise a mini
Christmas Bazaar and soup lunch for church funds.
We finished the Autumn term with an enjoyable buffet lunch with a
beautiful array of food prepared by club members.
In February we had our post-Christmas lunch at The Plough,
Warmington. A few of us did say we would walk there, but then
thought better of it! The fish and chips especially were delicious and
the portions very generous. Not many of us managed a pudding!
Also in February we had our annual pancake making session to
celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Our menfolk were invited and everybody
enjoyed the delicious pancakes cooked by Eileen and Mavis.
Tuesday Club
8
In March we are hoping to organise an Easter lunch.
As you can see we all enjoy our Tuesday mornings with lots of
different activities. Please feel free to come along to the Village Hall
any Tuesday between 10.30 and 12 noon (10.00 to 11.30 on library
van days). You will be most welcome.
Our activities programme is displayed on the Village Hall notice board
and can be seen on the community website Shotteswell.com but for
further information please contact Keri Holman (730326) or Mavis
Palmer (730901).
Joan Crocker
LUNCH AT THE HALL.
It came to our notice from a recent questionnaire completed in the Village
that quite a few people would like more social events and with this in mind
we decided to start a monthly LIGHT LUNCH AT THE VILLAGE HALL. The
first one took place on Friday 6th February when home made soups and
beans or spaghetti on toast were on the menu, the second was on Saturday
7th March when again we had home made soups, crusty bread and a
Ploughman's. On both occasions coffee, tea and cakes were served.
We were undecided whether a Friday or Saturday would suit most people
but so far about the same number attended on both days, so no decision
has yet been made, please let us know your views.
The next LIGHT LUNCH will be on Easter Saturday 4th April when we hope
to see many more of you attending as it is a nice relaxing social event.
Please do try to come to support us.
Any profit made will go towards Church Funds.
Pauline Tarrant, Christine Pym, Elisabeth Gilchrist
41
S.K Auto Repairs Unit 6, Manor Farm Buildings Mollington Road, Shotteswell
Banbury Oxfordshire OX17 1HZ
Mobile: 07769 565114 Tel: 01295 738300 E-mail: [email protected]
MOT TESTING CENTRE (Open 6 days a week)
Service & repair any make/model
Tyres Exhaust, Brakes, Clutches etc. Specialist in Peugeot, Citroen, Hyundai,& Landrover
Established since 2002 with a professional, Friendly & welcoming atmosphere
VEHICLE COLLECTION & DELIVERY WITHIN
10 MILE RADIUS.
Exit Shotteswell on Mollington Lane and garage just before Valley Farm Riding Stables
Traditional and
Contemporary stoves
Full Hetas Fitting Service
Chimney Lining
Accessories & Spare Parts
Friendly Professional Service
Ample Free Parking
Visit our showroom at Beaumont Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 1RH
(opposite Jewson)
T: 01295 253936 E: [email protected]
www.ironandwood.co.uk
40
Red Horse Vale Ltd. Windmill Farm
Banbury Road (A422)
Oxhill
Warwickshire CV35 0RP
Offer the following with delivery services throughout the area:
Coal and Solid Fuels, Central Heating Oil, Farm Oils,
Logs and Kindling Wood. Gas in Cylinders, Oil Tanks Sand & Ballast,
Cement, Slabs, Fencing Materials,
Garden Supplies, Top Soil, Composts, Wood Chippings,
Animal Feeds, Garden Sheds
& Cement Mixer Hire
Always at your Service ! Call us for a Free Quotation !
Also E. Commerce Shop
Tel: 01926 642832 website: www.redhorsevale.co.uk
email: [email protected]
MISS “T” CATERING
Good Home Cooked Food
Catering for events such as:
Anniversaries, Weddings,
Christenings, Birthday parties,
Funerals & private dinner parties
Also available
Cutlery and Crockery Hire.
Contact Victoria Taylor on:
Mob: 07841 910037
Home: 01295 780206
ARC Garden Services
Logs & Kindling Wood Seasoned Hardwood
Delivered to your door
Or
Collect from Wroxton
ESTABLISHED OVER 10 YEARS
Call Richard or Sylvia Cook For a prompt and efficient
Service
01295 730010
or 07774981297
F N PILE & SONS FIR TREE FARM, WARMINGTON
BANBURY. OX17 1JL
Tel 01295 211790
Your local Supplier For:
Wood Burning & Multi Fuel Stoves
Lawnmowers Garden Machinery
Workshop & Garden Tools Calor Gas - Outdoor Clothing Spares, Repairs & Servicing
Open Mon to Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm
Sat 8.30 – 12.00 noon
9
Since the last article on the progress of the Parish Plan, various areas highlighted for further enquiry have been
addressed.
As you will know we set up some Action Groups to look at the outcomes and the issues that were raised and how they could be addressed. To date we have made progress in some areas and in others we have still to
move forward to resolve some of the issues. We have now reached the point where we will shortly produce the full
Parish Plan report and record what we have achieved so far and what still remains to be done. As Parish Plans are considered to be live documents i.e.
able to be updated at regular intervals, this will enable us to report on progress, probably through this excellent Village Newsletter and on the Community website www.shotteswell.com .
We have updated our information on the website to include a Combined Survey document which embraces a revised Survey Summary with the full
Questionnaire statistical data. This is entitled “Summary Report and Survey Results-Autumn 2014”. This contains minor amendments to the text in
some areas, notably in the area related to comments about the Parish Council and the views expressed in the Summary Survey original document. We accept in hindsight that the comments drew conclusions that were not
based upon the statistical information but more on some of the comments and conclusions drawn from a perception of community relations in
committee discussions. We apologise for this oversight and hope the amendment in the above document corrects the position.
We intend the Parish Plan report to be a comprehensive summary of the work we have done since the start of the project in 2013 and will include sections on the purpose of a Parish Plan, a record of the progress over the
last two years, details of the geography, position and features of the Parish, a brief history, Survey outcomes and Action Plans.
A final note on village history as this is an area where we have tried to bring together various information sources from records and individual
Shotteswell Parish Plan Your Village - Your Say
10
memories. We found ourselves creating a document that asked many questions, noting conflicting views and with many gaps. We have therefore
concluded that to provide a comprehensive history section will take a lot more research and resolving conflicting sources of information than we can address in the Parish Plan.
So we will be suggesting in the Parish Plan report that, like Warmington, it
would be a good idea to set up a History/Heritage Group to provide a
comprehensive record of our village history. So those interested in our
Village history, this is your opportunity!
Brian Noble - Chairperson Shotteswell Parish Plan Steering Committee
Last year the crops grown in this area were mainly wheat and barley,
which gave a few problems. Some paths had not been kept clear and
the farmer was informed. A considerable amount of branches and
fallen trees, which were brought down by the strong winds, have been
removed. This year the crops could be mainly rape which could
generate a lot of problems, so all the farmers concerned have been
requested to ensure the footpaths are kept clear.
The land on which the Roger Peel Millennium Footpath is located (the
path is mainly permissive) has recently been sold and we are grateful
to John Taylor for keeping the path in such good condition over the
years.
URGENT
I would again like to remind ALL persons using the footpaths –
normal and permissive – THAT THEY MUST KEEP TO THE
LINE OF THE FOOTPATHS and not take short cuts or alternative
routes. Your dogs must be under control at all times. In fact if you do
stray from the footpaths you are trespassing on the Landowner’s land.
Shotteswell Footpaths
39
FENNY COMPTON CINEMA
Held in the Village Hall
The next showing at Fenny Compton Cinema will be
Mr. Turner
on April 25th at 7 pm
Further details from - Keith Hicks - 770747
or check on events blog:
fcvhevents.blogspot.com.
To join the film list and have the options emailed at the earliest opportunity please send your details to:
[email protected]. To book in advance contact - Keith Hicks, Tel: 770747.
38
R.Wakelin Heating
Services Ltd. 31 The Dairyground, Shutford,
Oxon. OX15 6PN
Tel: 01295 788359
Mobile: 07810 754434
Boiler Servicing / Repairs
Gas and Oil
Gas Safe Registered Offtec Registered
(190421) (C6644)
Banbury Farm &
General Supplies
Ltd.
Supplier of fencing materials, paving slabs, sheds, gates, tools and
much, much more…
Come and visit us, we are situated on the
B4100 between Warmington and Gaydon.
Or contact us on:
01295 770707
11
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PERMISSIVE FOOTPATHS
HAVE BEEN CREATED DUE TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE
LAND OWNER AND IF WE DO NOT OBEY THESE RULES
WE COULD LOSE THE USE OF THE THESE FOOTPATHS,
THEY CAN EASILY STOP PEOPLE USING THESE PATHS
BY CLOSING THEM. WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THE USE
OF THE ROGER PEEL MILLENNIUM FOOTPATH DUE TO
LACK OF CONTROL OF THEIR DOGS BY SOME OWNERS.
If you are unsure about the location of the footpaths and their
status then a copy of the Village Footpaths may be obtained from
David Holman Tel No 730326.
DOG FOULING - IT IS OBVIOUS THAT ALL DOG OWNERS
AND DOG WALKERS ARE NOT CLEARING UP THEIR
DOG’S MESSES ON THE PATHS. Please ensure that you keep
the footpaths clear.
.
Please note ALL FOOTPATHS are open to people with or without
dogs, but the dogs MUST be under control at all times - this means on
a lead or at heel. Dogs are only allowed in the Playing Field if they are
walked across the field on the footpath and under control as stated
above. .
David Holman
St. Laurence Church Bellringers
The sound of bells ringing is deeply rooted in British culture. Almost everyone in Britain lives within hearing range of bells. They provide the grand soundtrack to our historic moments, call out for our celebrations and
toll sadly in empathy with our grief. The bitter-sweet sound of just one bell or the majesty of a whole peal, has become part of the English Heritage and
much of the country's history can be traced through the history of its bells. It is hard to believe that it is well over 15 years now, and probably closing in
12
on 20, since our first practices after the bells were re-hung and, since learning, we have rung in the new millennium, Royal Celebrations and a
number of special events.
A ‘brief’ recent history of Shotteswell’s bells - the bells in their current state
are a fairly recent event in the history of the church. Until 1996 the church had an un-ringable set of five bells, but were re-hung. There had been a ring of five here since John Briant added a treble to the existing four bells in
1808. The old wooden frame, a four bell frame of standard layout with the treble hung above between parallel beams was removed in favour of a metal frame in 1995 as part of the rehanging, restoration and, for one bell,
recasting.
Is bell ringing easy? Do I need to have Popeye muscles to pull those heavy
bells? Learning to bell ring is all about technique – much more than it is about strength or mathematical ability. People disappearing up into the
tower attached to the bell rope doesn’t happen (often J). The type of bell ringing in this country is called full-circle ringing, as the bell's mechanism on a wheel allows it to rotate 360 degrees. First the bells are rung 'up', with the
angle of swing gradually increased until the bell is swinging full circle and it can be balanced mouth upwards on the stay - known as being 'set'. For the bell ringers, they must pull the bell at each 'stroke' to make it rotate again
for another full circle swing. Each time the bell ringer pulls the rope the bell swings and sounds. Sounds tricky, but once grasped after a few practices it
is the basis for all future ringing. In Change Ringing, it is possible for the bell ringers to adjust the time at which they pull their rope to control the speed of striking to produce the pattern of changes.
Once gained, bell ringing is a skill for life you'll never forget and can open up a lifetime of experiences and enjoyment. At St Lawrence there is a very
social group of ringers that practice regularly. We were unfortunate in 2014 that the restoration work limited our practices during the summer months, but we have continued to ring regularly since. Once the scaffolding came
down a flurry of visiting ringing groups cleared off the dust that had settled and since then we have rung regularly on a Tuesday night. Practice starts
from 7.30pm on a Tuesday. So if you’re interested in learning to ring, or about the bells in general, please come along.
Andrew Jeffrey, Secretary Shotteswell Bellringers.
37
APPLES - (Coxes or similar); 1 per person Method
Peel, core and halve
Put cut side down into a buttered dish with a piece of butter paper over them Bake 15-20 minutes
Remove and pour over sauce – see below
Sprinkle with almonds
Bake at 180C 20-25 minutes
NB If keeping dish warm, turn oven right down so that the sauce doesn’t continue to caramelise into hard toffee. Sauce – for 3 apples
1 ½ oz flaked almonds
2oz butter
3 oz sugar – ½ caster and ½ soft brown
I tablespoon flour - or “white mixture”/rice flour etc
1 tablespoon milk
Sauce
Put all except almonds in saucepan, stir on low heat until smooth
Pour over apples; as per above sprinkle almonds on top and bake
Kate Whythe
Caramelised Apples with Almonds
36
I am delighted to report that
£49.57 has been raised this quar-
ter, through EASYFUNDRAISING,
for Church funds. This is the most
we have achieved, so far, in a quarter which is brilliant so many
thanks to all who have supported us.
We have, at present, 33 members signed up and a total of £394.59
has been raised since we started.
REMEMBER: EVERY LITTLE HELPS at no extra cost to yourselves.
Thanks, Pauline Tarrant 730687
TIDY GARDENS
Mowing: Weeding: Hedge Cutting
Patios: General Maintenance: Fencing
John Stuart Suncroft, Shotteswell, OX17 1HU
Mobile: 07974 170039 - Evenings: 01295 738494
Forthcoming Events
Light Lunch in the Village Hall - Saturday 4th April
Progressive Supper - Saturday 6th June
Shotteswell Village Fete - Saturday 4th July
13
The Village Hall continues to provide a facility for the residents of
Shotteswell and surrounding areas.
Secondary glazing was installed for the main hall windows and the
bulge in the rear retaining wall was repaired in the autumn.
In response to the findings of the Parish Plan a sub-committee was
established at the AGM to look at ideas for revamping decoration in
the main hall. The group has looked at colour schemes, new curtains
and improved lighting for the hall and reported back to the
committee in January. However we also need to repair plaster defects
(cracks and damp-affected spalling areas) before redecoration can
commence. We are now following up these ideas and looking to
raise funds to allow them to go ahead. We will be looking for offers
of help with the preparation and redecoration so please contact any
member of the committee if you can assist. We will circulate a note
around the village nearer the time. Grant applications are being made
along with other fund raising possibilities.
Quizzes have been held in November and March and provided an
entertaining evening for the full house that attended in addition to
contributing to funds.
Anyone able to offer funding ideas or support should contact our
Chairman, Mike Palmer.
Hire of the hall for parties and other functions continue in addition to
the regular clubs and meetings.
The Village Fete this year is on Saturday 4th July and we will provide
our full support as usual.
Regular activities include:
Monday afternoons– Nick Baldwin’s Art Class
Shotteswell Village Hall
14
Tuesday Mornings – Tuesday Club
Thursday Morning – Exercise Class
Committee members are:- Mike Palmer (Chairman), Terry Clark
(Treasurer), Linda Clark (Secretary and Lettings Officer), Joan Noble,
Elisabeth Gilchrist, Ray Adkins, Hilary Wareing and Jane Ablett.
Don’t forget that in addition to providing a venue for your parties and
activities the hall has equipment which is available for hire and a table
tennis table.
Hire costs:
Hall - £5 per hour. (includes tables, chairs and kitchen equipment)
Equipment for individual hire
Go-pack folding tables - £2 each
Chairs - 25p each
Cutlery and crockery - POA
Skittles & Coconut Shy - £5
Trestle tables - £3
6m Gazebo - £30 (deposit required)
Contact Linda Clark 738143 or Mike Palmer 730901
35
The Tomato Garden
An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He
wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very
difficult work as the ground was so hard. His only son,
Vincent, who used to help him was in prison. The old man
wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I
won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just
getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if
you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would
be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love Papa.
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the
bodies are buried. Love Vinnie.
At 4 a.m the next morning FBI Agents and local police
arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any
bodies. They apologised to the old man and left. The same
day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s
the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you, Vinnie.
34
of schools. The Council will consolidate the Safer Routes to Schools programme and ensure a pace of delivery through the establishment
of a cross-party task force to oversee the programme. Spending will be allocated to road safety engineering initiatives in the vicinity of schools, to include, but not limited, to advisory limits outside schools, 20 mph zones and 20 mph speed limits.
Match Fund investment of £4.170 million from BDUK to extend the
coverage of Superfast Rural Broadband to 98% of Warwickshire households has been agreed.
Parish Plan – The County Council continues to support the community in preparation of their Parish Plan. Our Officers have
attended coordination meetings and, hopefully, when the work of the Steering Group is completed the Parish Council will adopt the
recommendations of the Steering Group when producing their Parish Plan.
As usual, if anyone would like to get in touch with me, please call on 01295 770792 or send an email to [email protected] and I will endeavour to help you in any way I can.
Cllr. Chris Williams, Member for Kineton Division - WCC - September 2014
CLIVE SHARPLES
We were very sorry to hear that Clive died in hospital on Thursday
March 12th. Clive, Ciss and their three children moved to the house
he built in Middle Lane in the sixties. He was a very keen member of
the Banbury SubAqua Club and he and Ciss spent many holidays in
the Maldives. His great hobby was woodworking and turning and he
made many items for the village, including the handrail leading from
Chapel Lane to the church gate, the Village Hall wall notice and the
Notice Board outside the Village Hall. When the church bells were
rehung in 1996 Clive used the old oak beams to produce bowls, cake
slices, etc, which he sold in aid of the church.
15
In the 22 months since Fosse Foodbank
opened and in that time we have provided
food parcels for 328 people in the local
area. On top of this we have been able to
supply food to other foodbanks in the
area to provide food parcels for another
1000 people. The vast majority of our
clients have only ever needed one parcel of three days of food to help
them get over a crisis they were facing.
This has only been possible because of the work of a great team of
volunteers and the generosity of people in the area that have donated
nearly 17 tonnes of food since we opened.
One of our latest clients came for help because her partner had walked
out, leaving her and her daughter with no money, significant debts and
no food in the house. The Foodbank was able to deliver a food parcel
to her and provide advice on other agencies that could offer support in
her situation. It is terrible that people can end up in this position, but
when things like this happen it is good that we can be here to help.
As well as helping people with short term crises we are also working
to combat some of the underlying causes of food poverty. We have
been working with Orbit Housing and in March 2015 are launching a
new Job Club to help people get back into work.
Thank you for your support, it is making a positive difference in the
lives of many local people
Barry Jackson
FOOD BANK CONTRIBUTIONS
Regrettably we have very few regular contributors to the Food Bank in
the Village. It would be much appreciated if you could drop round a
bag of non-perishable food regularly to Keri & David Holman, White
Cottage, Mollington Lane at any time. Please come to the back door.
Fosse Foodbank Update
16
Views from the Vestry
By the time this article is published the recent
conservation project should be completed and we
can afford to look back over the last four years with
some satisfaction in the confidence we will have
achieved all we set out to do. Elsewhere in the
Newsletter you will find details of the financing of
the project and it is thanks to the efforts of David
Holman that sufficient funds were raised through local sponsorship
and tenacious grant applications - including a very generous
contribution from English Heritage who provided 46% of the required
funding.
All the windows at risk of losing ancient glass have been conserved,
and it is very pleasing that so little replacement glass was required, the
vast majority of the work used the existing glass in its former position.
One result of the release of money set aside for unexpected work on
the masonry was the opportunity to tackle a couple of extra windows.
With the scaffold in place around the tower a close inspection of the
modern replacement window in the tower revealed its unsatisfactory
nature, in particular the poor installation into the window aperture.
This had to come out and be reinstalled so the decision was taken to
use hand made glass suitable for the period of the window, and to use
a pattern, also consistent with the period of the structure. This proved
a very successful change and has improved the appearance
significantly both from the interior and the exterior. A couple of
windows on the north side of the church were also added to the
specification, further enhancing the glazing throughout.
The high level masonry is beginning to blend admirably with the rest
of the ancient stonework and the pinnacles look as though they have
always been part of the structure. They give the tower a balanced and
stable appearance without being intrusive in any way.
The south door and its access into the churchyard has also been
tackled and although there are no plans to use the door on a regular
33
Warwickshire is the preferred option. Currently, central government has stated that devolution, at a national level, was
necessary to see proper devolution for cities and county areas. The theory is that power together with money would be delegated down to city and county areas allowing each authority to determine how and where its taxation was to be spent. This matter is due to be debated during the early part of March at the County Council.
Community Grants – I am pleased to report that through my support the Village Hall were successful with their application for a
Community Grant. A sum of £500 has been awarded to improve the windows in the building.
Fiscal Matters at WCC – This has been a quiet time as far as the County Council is concerned. Most of the administration has been
concentrating on the preparation for the 2015 Budget which was debated on Thursday 5th February for 14 hours. In essence, this is the second year of a four year Budget and any changes were alterations
to ensure that the proposals made last year will be achieved.
There have been some unexpected costs with regard to the Care Act
which will cost the County Council some £4 million per annum extra to implement. As a direct result, the County Council has announced
that Council Tax will increase by 1.95%. This equates to 48p per week for an average Band D property.
The Council is committed to ensuring residents feel safe in their homes and recognise that street lighting is a key element in this perception of safety. We will invest £4 million in LED street lighting
as part of a match funding exercise of some £20 million in total. There was total support the Council’s bid to the DfT for capital
investment to escalate the upgrade of street lighting to LED technology so as to ensure the delivery of savings, reduce energy costs and maximise flexibility on part-night lighting policy. The Council is committed to ensuring the safety of our children through investing £3 million (£0.5 million reallocation and £2.5 million new allocation) in traffic, road and cycling safety in the vicinity
32
Hopefully, winter has now passed by and we can look forward to springtime.
Fire & Rescue - After completing their Public Consultation, the Fire & Resue Service, through the County Council, have accepted the new proposals for running the Fire & Rescue Service in
Warwickshire. These proposals include continuing discussions with adjoining authorities with a view to improving efficiencies,
improving our access time in rural areas. A reduction from 20 minutes to 15 minutes is now the accepted standard with a
likelihood that this will be reduced to 10 minutes during this year. As far as Shotteswell is concerned the Fenny Compton Fire Station will continue to be operational. The Fire Service must be congratulated on their excellent performance when attending the recent house fire in Shotteswell. It must be remembered that 70% of the work of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service is not associated with fire but far more with rescue. A new Fire Station operating 24/7 will be based at the Aston Martin site. This facility will operate
the new high speed four-man team which is the preferred method of operating these days. The new Fire Station should come on line
towards the end of this year. The Fire Brigade Union have accepted and endorsed the new proposals.
Impact of the Scottish Referendum – The decision taken by Scotland that they should stay within the UK has crystallised Regionisation debate within the country. The practical proposals
for devolution have struck a chord with the national mood as politicians from all parties are now discussing how English
authorities could benefit from additional powers. We, in the County, in conjunction with other Shire Authorities, have
approached the government to find out how authorities could benefit from additional powers. There is a fear that Warwickshire could be subsumed by Birmingham but I believe that there is no appetite to move in this direction and independence for
Report from Cllr. Chris Williams,
Your County Councillor
17
basis its advanced decay certainly detracted visually. In order to
preserve as much of the old timber as possible just the rotten sections
were removed and replaced with new oak giving rise to a rather
startling effect, though as the new timber mellows its appearance
begins to mature in a satisfying way. It is very obvious that over the
centuries the level of the graveyard has risen significantly, not
surprising when it is apparent that burials have taken place in this plot
for over a thousand years. To keep the south wall of the church dry a
gully has been constructed to stop the soil piling up against the church
and this has been the subject of considerable efforts over the last
couple of years to ensure the water running from the roof does not
saturate the walls. The drainage all along the south side has been
improved dramatically. One consequence of the gully is the
necessity for steps inside the church leading up to the raised threshold
level of the south door and a bridge over the gully to reach the
churchyard. This external bridge did give rise to problems when it
was first re-laid because at times of heavy rainfall water tended to
splash back under the door and run into the church. This problem has
been addressed and we hope there will be no further incidents of water
intrusion but I think we will need to look at the way the south door fits
into the aperture and devise some way of making it a little more
weatherproof.
In my last article in August I drew attention to the churchyard wall, a
section of which collapsed last winter. We were awaiting permission
to remove a couple of hazel trees whose movement in the winds had
undoubtedly caused the wall to collapse, and we then had to obtain
diocesan permission to use local volunteer labour to address the wall.
These permissions were granted in September and later in the autumn
Terry Clark cleared the timber from the trees and Andrew Pick and
Michael Betts used a massive machine to delicately pull the trees from
the ground - an impressive sight! Their skill ensured the roots came
out in one piece though rather large holes remained, but with very little
disturbance in the churchyard and no further damage to the wall. We
were then left with around 6 metres of wall to rebuild and a huge pile
of mixed stone!
18
I'm thrilled to say that this job is just about complete. Keith Harper
nobly volunteered to lead the efforts and he has made a wonderful job
reconstructing the wall. It is a job that would have cost well over
£1000 to employ a builder but we have achieved the splendid final
result simply for the cost of the materials. Well done to all who have
had a hand in this particular project. The pictures below illustrate the
extent of the work.
And now for the future! Our next architectural survey is overdue and
the PCC has resolved to commission that as soon as the present works
are complete. We will get a full structural report and that will enable
us to plan for the future. There are several exciting ideas in the
pipeline and I hope to be able to report on our future plans in the next
article.
Finally, the mowing season is upon us. The volunteer mowers have
their rota but more help is always welcome. Do let me know if you
would like to get involved.
Alan Reilly - 25th February 2015
My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo, so I had to put my foot down!
My wife and I were happy for twenty years; then we met!
I was at an ATM and an old lady asked me to help check her balance, so I pushed her over!
31
The good news is that Faster Broadband is getting closer to those of
us in Shotteswell. The Wroxton telephone exchange has now been fibre enabled. That upgrade was not part of the CSW consortium contract as it is in Oxfordshire.
The next step is a waiting for the Wroxton exchange to be connected to a roadside cabinet in Shotteswell and this is part of CSW’s current
contract and is scheduled for the last half of 2015.
You can keep up to date by visiting the CSW website (www.cswbroadband.org.uk) and by visiting the Shotteswell community website (www.shotteswell.com) where, if you register an
interest, you will get an email alert when a new item is posted, including the latest bulletins from CSW.
John Crocker
Faster Broadband - A Waiting Game!
PROGRESSIVE DINNER PARTY in aid of Church Funds
This year's PROGRESSIVE DINNER PARTY is to be held on SATURDAY
6TH JUNE 2015. As nearly all villagers know this is a lovely, relaxing, fun
evening and a great way to get to know your neighbours better. We are lucky enough to have seven people who are willing to host this year so if
you haven't already put your names down as guests it would be advis-able to do so as soon as possible.
The cost is £17.50 per person plus each guest to take a bottle of wine to their first host.
If anyone is new to the Village and would like more information please
do not hesitate to contact me. Pauline Tarrant (730687)
Email: [email protected]
30
Area 5 Linda Clark, Yew Tree Cottage, Snuff Lane 01295 738143
Please also consider joining the Rural Watch scheme if you have not already done so. Contact details:
Martin Sanford
Police Community Support Officer 6060 Wellesbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team
Stratford on Avon Police Station Tel: 01789 4446000 [email protected]
Linda Clark - Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. Tel.01295 738143 Email: [email protected]
Road Verges in and around Shotteswell
You may recall an article on the above subject written by a concerned
villager in the Shotteswell Newsletter’s April 2014 edition concerning
the terrible condition of the verges in and around the Village.
Despite passing bays being introduced on the Mollington Lane the
condition of the verges has not improved and may even be worse, due
to vehicles not using the passing bays, tractors and heavy vehicles
causing most of the damage.
What action can be taken to ensure people use these passing places?
19
OBITUARY
We are sorry to inform you that two well known Shotteswellians,
Mrs Valerie Scott and Mr Frank Newby both in their nineties died
in the latter part of last year. Both of these people did a lot for the
Village and I have recorded some of their activities.
Valerie Scott came to the village in 1966 with her twin daughters
Emma and Deborah. She lived at the Manor for several years before
down sizing to Corner Cottage and then moved to Southrop near
Lechlade to be near her daughter Emma. Valerie played an active part
in Village life, being on the Parish Council and an excellent Parish
Clerk for several years. In conjunction with the late Ann Greenwood
she ran a children’s library.
Frank Newby also came to the Village in the early sixties with his
wife Ann and two children Carol and Robin and lived initially at
Manor Cottage and later at Cobweb Cottage before moving to
Stratford upon Avon in 2004. Frank was involved in many activities
in the Village. As the Village had no Pub he set up the home based
Pub Club, was a member and Chairman of the Parish Council. He was
Chairman of the Village Hall Committee and was the leading light in
converting the redundant Village School (which was purchased for the
Village by the late Miss Porfumo) to a Village Hall. Frank was
involved in the building of the extension and was also busy with the
maintenance. He set up and ran the Village Birthday Club, helped
with the Village Fete and if this was not enough was instrumental in
helping to provide Kineton High School with a swimming pool.
For those who haven’t heard of the Birthday Club - on your birthday a
parcel of small gifts was delivered to your home, very early, with a
Birthday Card and your name was put up on the blackboard on the
Village Hall, a flag was also flown for the day at the Village Hall and
Cobweb Cottage. This job was very time consuming, as I carried it
out a couple of times when Frank was away.
David Holman
20
What a difference a year makes! When I wrote my notes from The Potting Shed for the April 2014 issue of the Shotteswell News
Letter, I commented on the very wet weather of that winter two years ago – 13 ½ inches of rain between mid December 2013 and mid February 2014. In exactly the same period this winter we have had 4 ½ inches – only a third of the quantity of the year before and really much more normal in our part of England. There has also been no significant snow to speak of either which has made life easier for us all in Shotteswell.
At the time of writing this, the snowdrops are in full flower and are at their best. It may surprise you to know that snowdrops are not native to the UK. They do not appear to have been introduced by the
Romans, but seem to have been first grown here sometime in the 16th century. They are of course native to both Western and Eastern
Europe and particularly in the Baltic areas. Like poppies which have their well known connection to the First World War, snowdrops have their own connection to the Crimean War half a century earlier. Soldiers were enchanted with what they perceived as the purity of the snowdrop when they were bogged down in Crimea, and saw its flower as heralding Spring on the battlefield. Many survivors brought back the bulbs to England to plant in their own gardens.
With the first signs of Spring not far off, look out for frogs and toads arriving at any suitable water in order to spawn. In our garden the most likely to be seen is the common frog. Adults vary in colour but are usually a shade of green or brown with darker patches behind the eyes. They move by hopping whereas toads prefer to crawl. Each female frog can lay several thousand eggs, which we can see as small black dots (embryos) surrounded by the characteristic transparent jelly, and left together in clumps. The frog’s eggs develop into
tadpoles and those that survive leave the ponds in early summer as tiny froglets. Unfortunately, only a tiny proportion, perhaps only five
Notes from the Potting Shed 29
Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives
ever and the largest voluntary organisation in the country. In Warwickshire there are over 5,000 Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators with a membership exceeding 50,000 residents.
Since the last newsletter The Neighbourhood Watch scheme in
Shotteswell has been set up so that there are five areas with a co-ordinator for each. A letter-drop to each household was done around
New Year inviting all residents to support the scheme and provide contact details if they wished to their area co-ordinator so they could be advised of any relevant Neighbourhood Watch information. Each household was also provided with a map of the village. Neighbourhood Watch information and updates can be found on:- www.shotteswell.com. The area co-ordinators are as follows:-
Area 1 David Holman, White House, Mollington Road 01295 730326 [email protected]
Area 2 Ray Adkins, Manor Cottage, Mollington Road
01295 730042 [email protected]
Area 3 Anne Omer, Snowdrop View, First Turn 01295 730312
Area 4 Emily Pearson, Redlands Farm, Second Turn 01295 730276 [email protected]
Neighbourhood Watch
28
Roadside Rubbish Collection!
For the past 4 months Anne and Jim Omer have been saving up the rubbish they pick up on their daily perambulation round the top field
in Shotteswell (up First Turn to the B4100, along to Second Turn, down Second Turn and then past the Village Hall towards the Bus Stop and then back home).
This is a photo of the rubbish
they have picked up, which they previously placed in their own waste bin, but as the volume seemed to be increasing it was decided to save it up for a 4 month period to demonstrate just how much stuff was being
discarded.
The overwhelming majority of the drinks cans are Stella Artois and some have even been found intact and unopened but still thrown
away into the verge. 90% of the litter is deposited along Second Turn which seems to be the dumping ground of choice. Most of the cans seem to be discarded in the early evening so if anyone happens to be walking down Second Turn at that time of day and spots drinks cans being thrown onto the verge from a vehicle then any clues as to the identity of the perpetrator will be gratefully accepted.
SHOTTESWELL CHARITIES
Please remember that a loaf of bread from the SHOTTESWELL
CHARITIES will be delivered to every house in the Village, at Easter, as it
has been for the last few years. If you do not want to receive the bread, and
have not already told us, please let me know asap.
Thank you, Pauline Tarrant - 730687
21
out of every two thousand eggs survive to be adults. Natural predators including fish, birds, and even road-kill are the main
culprits. Some adults will then return to the same pond the following Spring.
Let’s hope for another good summer in our gardens – a repeat of the
weather last year would be great.
Mike Palmer
Bridge is fun, sociable and stimulating.
Locally you can play rubber bridge at the Warmington Bridge Club, which meets most Monday evenings in the Warmington Village Hall.
This is an enjoyable and friendly evening from 7.30 to 10.00 pm. Newcomers most welcome. For further details - Pauline Tarrant 730687.
Also, if you would like to learn this fascinating game Beginner’s
Bridge lessons are available from Tony Tarrant - 730687. In Kings Sutton Memorial Hall, Marion Day of the North Oxfordshire Bridge Club is offering friendly Duplicate Bridge ‘supervised play’ sessions together with seminars on specific topics of bidding and play on Wednesday mornings. Coffee from 9.40 am and then Bridge from 10.00 am to 12 noon. Contact Marion on 01295 811393, or Jonathan on 0776 6621710.
22
ALL the contracted refurbishment work of the St Laurence Church has
been completed; details in Alan Reilly’s article “Views from the
Vestry”. The only remaining work to be completed is the restoration
and improvements to the drains and gullies on the North side and a
small amount on the South side, all this work will be completed by a
small band of villagers this year. All the costs of the project have been
fully funded and payments have been made to all contractors. On
behalf of the Parochial Church Council I would like to thank the
generous contributors to the “Sponsor a Window Scheme” which
raised over £10,000 and those who contributed financially by fund
raising, storage of materials and those who provided physical effort, a
great village effort.
The estimated cost of the project was £122,400 which included
Architect’s fees, Builders’ materials, labour and VAT, but due to
various contingencies being less than planned and some not being
required the total cost was less than estimated, so some extra work
has been accomplished.
David Holman - Tel .No. 730326
Funding for Fabric Repairs to St. Laurence Church
Shotteswell
A brunette goes into a doctor's office and says that her body hurts wherever she touches it. "Impossible," says the doctor. "Show me."
She takes her finger, presses on her elbow, and screams in agony. She pushes her knee and screams, pushes her ankle and screams, and so it
goes on; everywhere she touches makes her scream with pain.
The doctor says, "You're not really a brunette are you?" S
She says, "No, I dyed my hair. I'm naturally blonde."
"I thought so," he says. "Your finger is broken."
27
Amusing names for Shops and Trades People.
Fish & Chip Shops: A Fish called Rhondda. Licensed to Grill. Frying Squad, The Codfather.
Bridal Shop: Aisle Alter Hymn.
Chimney Sweep: Up Yours.
Plumber: Drain Surgeon.
Landscape Gardeners: Clever Sods.
Plasterer: Flat Boy Skim.
Sports Shop: Merchant of Tennis.
Roofer: Bonnie Tyler
Dentist: Nothing but the Tooth.
White Goods Shop: Sell Fridges.
Hairdressers: Hair Force One
Window Cleaner: Seymour Clearly
26
For many years Alan and I have been swimming regularly at Spiceball
in Banbury on a Sunday evening where we participate in the adult lane
swimming session. This session follows a very popular Aquarobics
class which is run by Izzy Pilkington. Over time we got to know her
as she talked to members of her class in the foyer as they went home.
This prompted me to mention the fact that we were keen to start some
kind of exercise class in Shotteswell using the Village Hall, and Izzy
agreed to come and have a look and assess its suitability. She thought
it ideal and so we decided to gauge support for the idea with a view to
launching a class in the village.
As a result we started Aerobics classes at the beginning of October
and have been running for about 6 months now, meeting on a
Thursday morning for a one hour session starting at 9.45am. We run
in 6 week sessions, with each session costing £30 - making a cost of
£5 per class.
Izzy is a fully qualified PE teacher and instructor and in addition to
running regular Aquarobics classes in both Banbury and Chipping
Norton she also teaches Pilates and Aerobics.
The Village Hall can comfortably accommodate 10/11 people for a
class and at the moment we have 10 regular members so there is room
for an additional member or two. Very often there is someone who
can't manage the class on a particular week so space is created. If
anyone else is interested in joining our fun classes then do let me
know (01295 730476). Izzy is a sympathetic and encouraging teacher
who makes the classes varied and interesting, paying particular
attention to the needs and capabilities of each person. We are very
fortunate to have available the skill and expertise she brings to our
group.
Sue Reilly - 26th February 2015
A New Venture - Aerobics Classes in
Shotteswell Village Hall
23
Looking back as I near retirement in May there were two major
influences that led me to put myself forward as a District Councillor
for the Burton Dassett Ward in 2004: the first was that, having retired
recently from the hurly burly of a demanding job in the corporate
business world, I was anxious to prevent the old brain box from silting
up!
The other – more importantly – was that having lived and brought up
my children in Arlescote since 1979, I wanted to “put something back
in the tin” for all the pleasure and enjoyment this area had afforded me
and my family - similar to the contribution I felt my own Parish
Council was making for the benefit of Warmington & Arlescote
residents.
I succeeded the late Brian Hampson who had been the Ward Member
for 16 years – a respected and experienced Councillor. So what were
my initial reactions and impressions of becoming your District
Councillor?
Firstly, having had no previous experience of local government, a
mixture of gratitude for the electors’ confidence yet sheer panic over
whether I could fulfil this! My latter state of mind was barely
mitigated by the then paucity (since improved) of the District
Council’s induction training for ‘green’ District Councillors; and in
particular, knowing what services the District or County Council were
responsible for. I well remember in the early days going to Parish
Council meetings and being terrified that my lack of basic knowledge
would be glaringly and publicly exposed!
Another early frustration that struck me was the length of time the
decision making process takes in local government – by contrast to the
corporate world - because of all the various consultative protocols that
have to be undertaken. Nor did the “promise” materialise of the role
taking only a little of one’s time! I soon found that the combination of
case work, preparing for and attending meetings, reading endless
papers and so forth averaged anything between 25-30 hours a week.
Some Reflections as your District Councillor:
2004 – 2015
24
The steep learning curve gradually flattened and late 2005 I was
invited to become a Cabinet member responsible for the
Environmental Services portfolio, with the prime remit to re-negotiate
the refuse & recycling contract, and in so doing, introduce a more user
& environmentally-friendly service (remember all those black plastic
sacks and various recycling boxes?). After a long and often bumpy
gestation period, the system we have in place today was introduced in
2008 and has been a success in terms of residents’ acceptance of it (a
91% satisfaction rate) and in placing our District Council in the
recycling “Top 10” of all local authorities nationally. A satisfying
result for all the blood sweat ‘n tears involved!
For a time I was responsible for the Planning portfolio and latterly was
Chairman of the East Area Planning Committee – neither role being a
particularly easy or enviable one during a period of significant change
in planning regulations introduced by the Government. Planning and
development in the widest sense is, and always will be, a controversial
issue – perhaps best summed up by the old adage “you can please
some of the people some of the time but not all the people all of the
time”! Locally I am well able to recall some of the difficult
applications that stood to impact on every one of the 6 villages in my
Ward, some of which were successfully defended, others not so.
During my time as a District Councillor I have always endeavoured to
support the role Parish Councils play for their communities. I am
firmly of the view that these elected volunteer bodies are the most
important cog in the local government wheel, being the tier closest to
the grass roots. Bottom up rather than top down is an ethos I have
always believed in as this approach is helpful when seeking to
represent communities’ views at the next (District Council) level.
I often ask myself what have I contributed during my time as Ward
member by way of changes/improvements. Tangibly, the answer is
probably not a lot! But this has to be balanced against what changes/
improvements are actually wanted in communities where, as things
stand at present, they are broadly happy in their own skins? This is
25
why I have been an advocate of Parishes having their own Parish Plans
so that a clear mandate and blue print for the future is established - on
the one hand for operating the status quo where desired but on the
other, developing an action plan to bring about such improvements
that are seen as necessary and desirable, say, 15-20 years hence.
Accordingly, I commend the current work being undertaken in
Shotteswell to come up with its own Plan and I shall look forward to
hearing in due course that it has been formally adopted.
My retirement in May coincides with my term as Chairman of the
District Council coming to an end. Undertaking this primary civic role
has been both an honour and a privilege and amongst other things, has
brought me into contact with the huge variety of charitable and
voluntary organisations that add value to the rich tapestry of our
district as a whole. If I was to sum up my lasting impression of what
all these bodies actually contribute and achieve, it is simply this – The
Big Society ethos is very much alive and kicking – and long may it
continue to be so.
Finally, as is so often the case with this sort of ‘job’, without the
enduring support, patience (typified by - “it’s in the oven”!) and
understanding that I have been lucky enough to have had in abundance
from my wife Liz I could not have done what I have aspired to do
throughout my Ward over last 11 years, and I hope above all else that I
may have helped in making this as good, if not a better place to live in.
Simon H Jackson - 28th February 2015
Councillor Simon Jackson, our District Councillor for the last
11years, has decided not to seek re-election at the May elections. We
would like to thank Simon for all the work he has carried out in the
District and for Shotteswell, especially for his untiring efforts in
ensuring that the Wind Mast application was rejected. We know that
his duties amount to about three days a week and hope he will be
able to spend more time on his gardening and riding and we wish
him a long and happy retirement.
