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EDITORIAL
As we look forward to a month of celebration of the winter solstice, the birthday of
the Saviour of the World, of getting through another year, or maybe of all of these
things, spare a thought for those to whom, for one reason or another, there can be no
celebration. Here is Edmund Gosse writing about his father. Silly fellow!
0 n the subject of all feasts of the Church he held views of an almost grotesque
peculiarity. He looked upon each of them as nugatory and worthless, but the keeping
of Christmas appeared to him by far the most hateful, and nothing less than an act of
idolatry. 'The very word is Popish', he used to exclaim, 'Christ's Mass!' pursing up his
lips with the gesture of one who tastes asafoetida by accident. Then he would adduce
the antiquity of the so-called feast, adapted from horrible heathen rites, and itself a
soiled relic of the abominable Yule-Tide. He would denounce the horrors of
Christmas until it almost made me blush to look at a holly-berry.
On Christmas Day of this year 1857 our villa saw a very unusual sight. My Father had
given strictest charge that no difference whatever was to be made in our meals on that
day; the dinner was to be neither more copious than usual nor less so. He was obeyed,
but the servants, secretly rebellious, made a small plum-pudding for themselves. (I
discovered afterwards, with pain, that Miss Marks received a slice of it in her
boudoir.) Early in the afternoon, the maids, - of whom we were now advanced to
keeping two, - kindly remarked that 'the poor dear child ought to have a bit, anyhow',
and wheedled me into the kitchen, where I ate a slice of plum-pudding. Shortly I
began to feel that pain inside which in my frail state was inevitable, and my
conscience smote me violently. At length I could bear my spiritual anguish no longer,
and bursting into the study I called out: 'Oh! Papa, Papa, I have eaten of flesh offered
to idols!'
It took some time, between my sobs, to explain what had happened. Then my Father
sternly said: 'Where is the accursed thing?' I explained that as much as was left of it
was still on the kitchen table. He took me by the hand, and ran with me into the midst
of the startled servants, seized what remained of the pudding, and with the plate in
one hand and me still tight in the other, ran until we reached the dust-heap, then he
flung the idolatrous confectionery on to the middle of the ashes, and then raked it
deep down into the mass. The suddenness, the violence, the velocity of this
extraordinary act made an impression on my memory which nothing will ever efface.
From 'Father and Son' (1907) by Edmund Gosse [For another view, seepage 38. Ed]
PARISH & BENEFICE SERVICES
2nd December - Advent Sunday
10.30am Langford
Benefice Advent Eucharist HM,EJ
6.00pm Kencot
Evensong
NUW
9th December - Advent II
9.00pm Alvescot
Holy Communion
NUW
9.00am Broadwell
Holy Communion
HM
9.00am Westwell/Holwell Combined Holy Communion
EJ
10.30am Shilton
Parish Communion & Baptism
HM
Children's Church Christingle
11.00am L Faringdon Matins EJ
4.00pm Alvescot
Christingle
NUW
6.00pm B Bourton
Evensong
NUW
6.00pm B Poggs
Advent Carols HM
6.00pm Kencot
Evensong
EJ
15th December
6.00pm Holwell
Carol Service HM
16th December - Advent III
9.00am B Bourton/Alvescot Holy Communion
EJ
10.30am Langford
Family Communion HM
4.00pm Langford
School Christingle
HM
6.00pm Alvescot
Carol Service NUW
6.00pm L Faringdon Carol Service EJ
6.00pm Shilton
Carol Service HM
17th December
6.30pm Kelmscott
Carol Service EJ
23rd December - Advent IV
10.30am Filkins
Family Carols & Crib ServiceHM
10.30am Holwell
Parish Communion EJ
6.00pm Broadwell
Benefice Nine Lessons & Carols
HM
6.00pm Westwell
Carol Service NUW
6.30pm B Bourton
Carols in Church
FSW
24th December - Christmas Eve
11.30pm Alvescot
Midnight Service
HM
11.30pm Langford
Midnight Service
RL
11.30pm Westwell Midnight Service
NUW
25th December - Christmas Day
9.00am B Bourton
Parish Communion EJ
9.00am Holwell
Parish Communion NUW
9.00am Shilton
Parish Communion HM
10.30am Broadwell Parish Communion NUW
10.30am Kencot
Parish Communion AM
10.30am Filkins
Parish Communion EJ
10.30am Kelmscott Family Communion MK
11.00am L Faringdon Parish Communion HM
31st December - Christmas I
9.00am Langford
Holy Communion
NUW
10.30am Kencot
Parish Communion NUW
6th January - Epiphany I
10.30am L Faringdon Benefice Eucharist Service HM, EJ
6.00pm Holwell
Evensong
HM
13`n January - Epiphany Il
9.00am Alvescot
Holy Communion
EJ
9.00am Broadwell
Holy Communion
NUW
9.00am Westwell/Holwell Combined Holy Communion
HM
10.30am Filkins
Parish Communion NUW
10.30am Shilton
Parish Communion EJ
Children's Church
11.00am L Faringdon Matins HM
6.00pm B Bourton
Evensong
HM
6.00pm Kencot
Evensong
EJ
20`n January - Epiphany III
9..00am B Bourton/Alvescot Combined Holy Communion NUW
9.00am Holwell
Holy Communion
EJ
10.30am Broadwell/Kencot Combined Matins
HM
10.30am Kelmscott Family Communion NUW
10.30am Langford
Parish Communion EJ
6.00pm Filkins
Evensong
HM
6.00pm Westwell
Evensong
NUW
27`n January - Epiphany IV
9.00am Kencot/Broadwell Combined Holy Communion
HM
9.00am Shilton
Holy Communion
NUW
10.30am Alvescot
Parish Communion NUW
10.30am Filkins
Family Communion & Christingle HM
11.00am L Faringdon Parish Communion EJ
4.00pm Langford
Evensong
EJ
6.00pm Holwell/Westwell Combined Evensong
HM
3rd February - Candlemas
10.30am Shilton
Benefice Eucharist Service HM,EJ
6.00pm Kencot
Evensong
To be decided
Combined services are in the first-named church
There is also a Communion Service at Black Bourton every Wednesday at 10.00am
CELEBRANTS & SERVICE LEADERS
AM Andrew McMullon
EJ Liz Johnson
FSW Frank Stewart-Wood
HM Harry MacInnes
MK Min Keen
NUW Neville Usher-Wilson
RL Ron Lloyd
BENEFICE SERVICES 2008
Date Benefice service at 10.30am Evensong at 6.00pm
6th January L Faringdon Holwell
3rd February Shilton Kencot
16`th March B.Poggs - cum- Filkins Palm Sunday
6th April
B Bourton
4th May
Broadwell Rogation Sunday
1st June
Kelmscott
6th July
Alvescot
3rd August
Holwell
7th September Kencot
October
Harvest Festivals
2nd November Westwell
7th December Langford
THE LECTIONARY
2nt December - Advent Sunday (P)
Isaiah 2.1-5 Psalm 122
Romans 13.11-end Mathew 24.36-44
9th December - Advent Il (P)
Isaiah 11.1-10 Psalm 72.1-7, 18-19
Romans 15. 4-13
Matthew 3.1-12
16th December - Advent 111 (P)
Isaiah 35
Psalm 146. 4-10
James 5.7-10 Matthew 11. 2-11
23rd December - Advent IV (P)
Isaiah 7. 10-16 Psalm 80. 1-8
Romans 1. 1-7 Matthew 1. 8-end
24th December - Christmas Eve (P)
Isaiah 9.2-7 Psalm96
Titus 2.11-14 Luke 2.1-14
25th December - Christmas Day (G or W) Isaiah 52. 7-10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1.1-4
Johnl.l-14
30th December - Christmas I (W)
Isaiah 63.7-9 Psalm 148
Hebrews 2. 10-end Matthew 2.23-end
6th January - Epiphany (G or W)
Isaiah 60. 1-6 Psalm 72. 10-15
Ephesians 3.1-12
Matthew 2.1-12
13th January - Epiphany II (G or W)
Isaiah 42.1-9 Psalm 29
Acts 10.34-43 Matthew 3. 13-end
20th January - Epiphany III (W)
Isaiah 49.1-7 Psalm 40.1-12
1 Corinthians 1. 1-9 John 1.29-42
27'h January - Epiphany IV (W)
Isaiah 9.1-4 Psalm 27-1, 4-12
1 Corinthians 1.10-18 Matthew 4.12-23
3rd February - Candlemas (G or W)
Malachi 3.1-5 Psalm 24 7-end
Hebrews 2.14-end
Luke 2.22-40
SAINT CHARLES, KING & MARTYR
As every schoolboy knows, the morning of 30`t' January 1649 was so cold that King
Charles called for an extra shirt so that no one who watched his execution could think
his shivering was from fear. Actually, those who were there all remembered
afterwards how calmly the King waited in the banqueting hall in Whitehall that
morning as his scaffold was prepared. Charles' last words to Bishop Juxon, the Bishop
of London who attended him, and to the crowd were `I go from a corruptible to an
incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.
Remember.'
And the Church certainly did remember, for as soon as the monarchy was restored
with the coronation of Charles II in May 1660, King Charles was canonized as Saint
Charles of England, and his martyrdom is annually remembered on his feast day of
30`'' January. Over the centuries, many churches have been dedicated to St Charles,
King and martyr, including a chapel in St Mary's Church, Headington in this diocese
as recently as 1958.
Those who venerate St Charles dwell not on the political turmoil of his reign but on
the undoubted belief he had in the catholicism and universality of the church, in the
pre-eminence of the celebration of the sacraments in the presence of God rather than
in the power of preachers, and in the importance of the religious life. He restored to
English churches the central role of the liturgy, the formal altar (as opposed to a
communion table), vestments, and music, and his reign saw the establishment of
communal religious life for the first time since the reformation 100 years earlier.
Above all it was and is widely believed that if Charles had agreed to the abolition of
the bishops his life would have been spared. This Charles refused to accept, and so he
is adjudged to have died a martyr for his faith.
THE RECTOR'S LETTER
Dear Friends
I always enjoy this time of year when the countdown to Christmas begins. Although
there is all the stress of getting Christmas cards sent, presents bought and decorations
hung up, there is also something magical about it. For me it conjures up images of a
child fingering the parcel-stuffed stocking at the end of the bed or gazing entranced at
the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. It is a time when the dark evenings serve to
highlight the warmth of a home, the security of the family and the fun of friends.
But one has to say that it also throws into stark relief the emptiness, the superficiality
and the sadness that sweeps into the lives of countless men and women. Broken
relationships are strewn all over the place, and loneliness envelops multitudes. The
end of the year is so often overcast with depression as the newspaper and television
reviews catalogue the disasters of the previous twelve months. As someone once said
`New Year is the time when the optimist stays up late to see the New Year come in;
the pessimist stays up to make sure the old year has gone out.' That is exactly why the
celebration of Christmas is so important to me. The birth of Christ declares that
violence and greed and lust, and all the other things which mess up our world do not
have the last word. It is fascinating how we use that phrase `the last word', whether it
is the `last word' in fashion or the `last word' in aero-engineering. We usually like to
be the one who gets in the `last word'.
The New Testament talks about the child born in Bethlehem being the last word about
God. When it comes to understanding the heart of God, what he is like, his character,
his power and his ways of working - Jesus is described as `the last word'. We can
never get beyond him. He is seen as the most perfect representation in human terms of
the Creator of the Universe. It is sac that our Western World has, on the whole
relegated the Christmas story to the nursery - all right for the primary school toddlers
with their Nativity plays, but to be left behind by sophisticated adults for the so-called
`real world' of commerce, politics, business, education, art and so on.
But go deeper and we see that the Christmas is where Christ illuminates everything. It
makes him rather uncomfortable because he has a way of throwing light on the failure
and the conceit and the emptiness of so much of our society. But he is also
enormously comforting because he is the embodiment of love.
And however terrible the world may be, and the horror of what goes on is sometimes
unbearable, that is not the end of the story. The New Testament makes the daring
claim that Jesus is the last word on History and on Life. It sees that in the end Love
wins.
Harry MacInnes
CHILDREN'S CHURCH
The last Children's Church for 2007 will be our special Christingle Service on Sunday
9"' of December at 10.15am in the Shilton Old School. We will have our usual fun
with sweeties and oranges but there will be a surprise activity planned for that day.
Our next Children's Church will be the first in 2008, on Sunday 13"' January... same
time, same place.
We have had a wonderful start of the year with lots of fun and interesting subjects
covered. Please don't hesitate to drop in and see what we do, we meet every second
Sunday of the month at the Shilton Old School/Village Hall at 10.15am. This gives
the parents a chance to drop the children in and then, if they want to, join the Family
Communion Service in the church just across the way. We join the main service about
40 minutes later. If you have any queries, do please contact me on 01993 847039.
Debs Price
PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY GROUP
W e shall conclude our studies of St Mark's Gospel on 10`" December. We are a very
informal group, and you are most welcome to Join us. For more details, please phone
me on 01367 860846.
Liz Johnson
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
We meet again on 5`'' December at 2.45pm in the Methodist Chapel Schoolroom,
Filkins. The Rev Peter Goodhall will be with us for our pre-Christmas time together.
He will no doubt remind us in his thoughtful and sensitive way of the `Reason for the
Season' Do join us if you would like to. On 2°d January we have our Members'
Meeting when we discuss the year ahead and decide how to allocate our charitable
monies. We hope all members will be able to come to this `cosy meeting.'
Marjorie Barstow
SHILTON BAPTIST CHAPEL
The weather is showing an independent attitude these days - so will it ignore the fact
that the official start of Winter is 21" December ? Who knows.
As I write, the trees have been slow in responding to Autumn, but by the time you
read this at the beginning of December there should be some bare branches. Anyway,
according to some shops Christmas is looming since October and we were being
encouraged to shop early (not a bad idea really, especially for the large families).
But, of course, for the devout Christian we need to keep hold of the true, real meaning
of the celebration.
`For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon
His shoulder! And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God,
the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.'
Isaiah ch.9 verse 6.
What a precious truth. Ray Honeyford
Preachers for December and January
2nd December
Informal
9`th December
Barry Shepherd Carol Service
16th December
Graham Sparrowhawk followed by communion
23rd December
No service
30th December
Derek & Deanna Gardner
6th January
Informal
13th January
Graham Sparrowhawk followed by communion
20th January
Sue Barnes
27th January
No service
Visitors are always very welcome and especially for the Carol Service. Everyone
from the Chapel would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas.
Elizabeth Harfield
JESUS IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM
The byrthe of Jesus Christ was on thys wyse. When hys mother Mary was betrouthed
to Joseph before they came to dwell togedder she was founde with chylde by ye holy
goost. Then Joseph her husbande beinge a perfect man and loth to make an ensample
of hir was mynded to put her awaye secretely.
Whill he thus thought behold ye angell of ye Lorde appered vnto him in a dreame
saynge: Joseph ye sonne of David feare not to take vnto ye Mary thy wyfe. For that
which is coceaved in her is of the holy goost. She shall brynge forthe a sonne and thou
shalt call his name lesus. For he shall save his peple from their synnes. All this was
done to fulfill that which was spoken of the Lorde by the Prophet saynge: Beholde a
mayde shall be with chylde and shall brynge forthe a sonne and they shall call his
name Emanuel which is by interpretacion God with vs. And Joseph assone as he
awoke out of slepe did as the angell of the Lorde bade hym and toke hys wyfe vnto
hym and knewe her not tyll she had brought forth hir fyrst sonne and called hys name
Iesus.
When Jesus was borne at Bethleem in Jury in the tyme of Herode the kynge. Beholde
there came r wyse men from the eest to Ierusalem saynge:
Where is he that is borne kynge of ye Iues? We have sene his starre in ye eest and are
come to worship him. When Herode ye kynge had herde thys he was troubled and all
lerusalem with hym and he gathered all ye chefe Prestes and Scribes of the people and
axed of them where Christ shulde be borne. And they sayde vnto hym: at Bethleem in
Iury. For thus it is written by the Prophet. And thou Bethleem in the londe of Jury art
not the leest concernynge the Princes of Iuda. For out of thee shall come the captayne
that shall govern my people Israhel.
Then Herod prevely called the wyse men and dyligently enquyred of them ye tyme of
the starre that appered and sent them to Bethleem saynge: Go and searche dyligently
for ye chylde. And when ye have founde hym bringe me worde that I maye come and
worshippe hym also.
When they had heard the kynge they departed: and lo the starre which they sawe in ye
eest went before them tyll it came and stode over the place where the chylde was.
When they sawe the starre they were marvelously glad: and went into the house and
found the chylde with Mary hys mother and kneled doune and worshipped hym and
opened their treasures and offred vnto hym gyftes gold frackynsence and myrre. And
after they were warned of God in a dreame that they shuld not go ageyne to Herod
they retourned into their awne countre another waye.
With this translation of The Gospel of Saint Mattbew by William Tyndale in 1526,
Englishmen could for the first time read about the nativity in their own language.
BENEFICE CHOIR
It is not my usual month for writing about the choir, but being the end of the year, and
coming up to a very special season, I would like to take the chance of reminding
everyone that the choir is working very hard in preparation to lead a slightly
`alternative' `Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols', just before Christmas at St Peter &
St Paul's, Broadwell on Sunday 23rd December at 6.00pm. Connoisseurs amongst you
may well have heard much of the music before, but I can guarantee that nobody will
have heard some of it in the form presented.
However, even to those people in the Benefice who do not consider themselves
particularly church minded, I would hope that the choice of both music and lessons
will hold some interest and start the Christmas week off properly, by making it feel
like... well, Christmas! We are enjoying preparing for the service (I am at least), and
there are some carols for everyone to join in singing with, as well as some being sung
by just the choir.
I'm even told that there will be mince pies and some mulled wine after the event, so
come along for what I hope will be a very enjoyable service for all concerned, and
find out what your Benefice Choir can really do and what you could do as well if you
ever considered joining us.
For those who do not know Broadwell very well, the Goodenoughs very kindly
provide ample parking space on either side of their drive (about 50 yards down the
road from the church), with this being signposted on the night. It is advisable to bring
a torch if you come as it is `out in the country'.
If you have any questions, do please contact me in the usual ways: telephone 01993
841807 or 07850 064775, or email me on david@glebourton.fsnet.co.uk
David New
WOODBINE WILLIE
A few weeks ago I was playing in a bridge drive in Filkins. As is the way at such
events, one moves from table to table exchanging names before playing the regulation
few hands. At one table a woman introduced herself as 'Studdert Kennedy'. Any
relation to Woodbine Willie?' says I. My grandfatber' says she.- and instantly is
established one of those gossamer links between past and present that form time's
mighty web. Here is one of the Reverend GA Studdert Kennedy's typically muscular
poems which helped to make him the 'best loved padre' of WWI. Indeed his poems
originally appeared under the title Rough Rhymes of a Padre'.
It's Hard to be a Carpenter
I wonder what he charged for chairs At Nazareth.
And did men try to beat him down,
And boast about it round the town,
`I bought it cheap for half a crown
From that mad carpenter'?
And did they promise and not pay,
Put it off to another day,
O did they break His heart that way,
My Lord the Carpenter?
I wonder did He have bad debts,
And did He know my fears and frets?
The Gospel writer here forgets
To tell about the Carpenter.
But that's just what I want to know.
Ah! Christ in glory, here below
Men cheat and lie to one another so
It's hard to be a carpenter.
Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy was born a vicar's son in Leeds in
1883. He was educated at Leeds Grammar, and then read classics at
Trinity College Dublin before training for the Anglican priesthood. He had just been
appointed vicar of St Paul's, Worcester when war broke out in 1914, and Studdert
Kennedy volunteered to become a chaplain in France.
He became affectionately known as `Woodbine Willie' for his habit of distributing
cigarettes along with spiritual comfort to the soldiers in the trenches. In 1917 he won
the Military Cross at Messines for rescuing wounded men lying in no-mans land after
an attack, but became disillusioned with the course the war was taking and developed
a belief in pacifist socialism.
He wrote many poems that are now collected under the title `The Unutterable Beauty',
a phrase used by his poet contemporary John Peale Bishop: `I burned in the
unutterable beauty of being alive.' This could have been Studdert Kennedy's epitaph
when he died in 1929.
DON'T FORGET YOUR BENEFICE CALENDAR
Order now and get your copies of the Benefice calendar in plenty of time to post to
family and friends. It is A4 portrait format and therefore is postable as a 'large letter'.
There is space by each date for diary appointments, birthdays, etc.
The calendar features our benefice villages, and costs a very modest £3.99. You can
pick up your copies at village events until the end of the year, from the Filkins Village
Shop and Coffee Shop at Cotswold Woollen Weavers, or from Ian Moore (01993
842962), Jean Roberts (01993 841194) or me (01993 842470)
Marilyn Cox
EVERYONE COUNTS AT CHRISTMAS...
... or as Clarence the angel says to George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life' (and if
that's not the ultimate Christmas movie, what is?):
`Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around
he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?'
FROM THE REGISTERS
HOLY BAPTISM
14th October
14th October
28`th October
28th October
9`th December
Shilton
William Luca Buchicchio
Kencot
Henry Peter Wallace Snow .
Filkins
Edward Robert Morley & Mason Rae Gould
Langford
Daisy Ann Elizabeth Romanek
Shilton Clementine Theresina Phillipa Hill
HOLY MATRIOMNY
3rd November
Margaret Dyde.
8th December
Black Bourton
James Alexander Wildman & Joanne
Alvescot
Stephen Robert Oakey & Sally Ann Bell.
Langford
Thomas Reynolds aged 80 years
HOLY BURIAL
12th November
ALVESCOT
St Peter's
CHRISTMAS AT ST PETERS
Do come and join us in celebrating Christmas. Our Christingle (with St Peter's
infants) is at 4.00pm on 9`h December; the carol service is on 16`h December at
6.00pm (followed by seasonal refreshments) and Midnight Service is on Christmas
Eve at 11.30pm.
We will be carol singing around the village again. Do come and join us for a good
evening - everyone is welcome the more the merrier and louder. We'd especially like
to see (and hear) you if this is your first Christmas in the village. If you aren't able to
participate do listen out for us and be ready for our collecting box. We will meet by
the village notice board at 6.30p.m. on Tuesday 18`'' December.
With the arrival of Advent Sunday our thoughts turn to Christmas preparations. We
will be decorating and cleaning St Peter's on Saturday 15`'' December at 10.00am and
everyone is welcome to come and participate. We would like to use seasonal foliage
and flowers for a green, red and gold theme so any you are able to bring will be
gratefully received. If you would like more details or would like to give greenery or
flowers but can't come on the 15`'' please contact me on 01993 842435.
Jayne Lewin
ST PETER'S INFANT SCHOOL
Our school's harvest festival took place on 16`'' October at St Peter's Church. The
Church looked wonderful with all the flowers and displays of children's work. Thank
you to all those who were able to join us in our celebration and to the children for
their singing, poetry and prayers.
To support their learning on `Festivals and Celebrations' this term, the children in the
Foundation Stage Class held a `pretend' wedding ceremony. Harry MacInnes (below)
led the service and the children all had roles to play from the father of the bride to
bridesmaids, page boys and ushers, not to mention the bride and groom. All the
children looked splendid in their special outfits and Classes 1 and 2 enjoyed being the
Guests it flip ceremony
On 14th November the school held a Christmas Gift Evening. Many thanks to Sandie
Morris and Sharon Waters for a organising another successful evening, to all of the
stallholders and to all those who came along and supported the event on the night.
This year, St Peter's has once again supported `Operation Christmas Child'. ' The
children were moved by the film ' footage shown of children receiving , gifts through
the International Relief ' Programme and many of have been ; busily collecting gifts
to fill their shoe ' boxes. Thanks to Nicky Witt who =: collects the boxes from school
each year and delivers them to the collection point on behalf of the school.
The school supported Children in Need on 16th November by holding a nonschool
uniform day.
On Saturday 24th November, the school held its Christmas bazaar. This is always a
great afternoon that is enjoyed by children and adults alike and is highly successful in
raising money for school funds.
Now we are looking forward to our Nativity, `Is There a Baby In There?' Colin
Newlands is helping the children to learn the songs and we are all practising hard for
our performances on Thursday 13`h December. If you would like to join us for our
Nativity, please do come along at 2.00pm in the afternoon or to the evening
performance at 6.00pm.
Our Christingle Service at St Peter's Church will be held on Sunday 9`th December at
4.00pm. This will be in aid of The Children's Society and everyone is welcome.
Finally, from all the governors, staff and children of St Peter's we would like to wish
all the readers of The Parish Pump a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Sam King
BLACK BOURTON
St Mary's
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL AND CAROLS
Please visit St Mary's Church from Saturday 15th December to 4th January to see the
Christmas Trees, each of which will be decorated to represent a Christmas Carol. It
was a beautiful sight last year and I am sure it will be worth a visit this year. All
donations will go towards the fabric of the Church.
On Sunday 23`d December at 6.30pm there will be Carols with mulled wine and
mince pies, when everyone is welcome to join us.
The PCC would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and may 2008 be a healthy
and peaceful year.
Doreen Hart
BROADWELL
St Peter & St Paul's
ALTAR FLOWERS
Christmas
Jenny Lowe
CAROL SINGING
We will be singing around our village on Friday 215` December. Meet as usual
outside the church at 7.00 pm. Hope for a fine evening.
BENEFICE CAROL SERVICE
The Benefice Nine Lessons and Carols Service is on Sunday 23`d December at
6.00pm. It would be very nice if we could have some help decorating the church for
this. Our thought is that lots of candles standing on every available space would be
just right, as well as holly and other decorations. Any offers?
June Goodenough
FILKINS & BROUGHTON POGGS
St Peter's
METHODIST CHAPEL NEWS
Pedalling magnificently as part of the Historic Churches Bike Ride, Barbara Edwards
visited 23 churches and raised £480. Well done Barbara!
Laura Farmer
SOUNDS FAMOUS?
Friends and fans of our illustrious tomb-raider composer Nathan McCree will hail the
completion of his first soundtrack for an animated short movie.
The film, called `Waterlollies', was animated and directed by Australian Adam
Phillips, who has said of Nathan '.. the audio in this movie is stunning. I secured
several weeks of Nathan McCree's time and he has done a job that I'll describe as
simply beautiful. From the gorgeous lilt of the opening tune, to the sombre darkness
of the end melody, I'm so happy with it that words can't describe...'
So Adam Phillips is happy, and you will be too when you watch this charming short
film for free at http://www.biteycastle.com/waterlollies.html
Messrs Phillips and McCree now have a full-length film up on the drawingboard.
They just need the money... Lolly for Waterlollies! So, calling all you angels out
there...
FILKINS 150TH ANNIVERSARY - ALL SAINTS SERVICE
Our special service this month was an All Saints Service held on Thursday lst`
November, when we remembered loved ones who have died. Village residents were
asked to submit the names of those they wished to be remembered, and in a very
moving and poignant service each name was called out in turn, as we recalled friends
and family members. This was the first time such a service has been held here and I
hope it will become a regular fixture in our church calendar.
HARVEST SUPPER
Our Harvest Supper was a very lively affair with over 70 people attending. A big
thank you to Allison Papworth and her team of helpers who provided us with an
excellent meal, followed by the swan song of our young village musicians - Hannah
and Eliott Greenwood, Dominic Hagues and Oliver Choyce. Along with other young
musicians, they have entertained us for several years and we thank them for their hard
work.
Many people do not realise that funds from the Harvest Festival and Supper are not
for the benefit of our church but are sent to Farm Africa. This year we were able to
send them £270 from the two events, which will enable them to buy several goats.
Barbara Bristow
BANG GOES BINGO
On behalf of Cancer Reasearch and MacMillan Nurses we would like to
thank everyone who gave money, donations and prizes to make our last Bingo the
biggest and best we have ever run. The result was two cheques, each for £250, going
to the two charities. We would like to offer special thanks to all those who helped on
the night: those who set the Village Hall up, the tealadies and of course our caller...
Well done, Clive! Last, but not least, thanks to everyone who played. And we would
both like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas, and good luck
for the New Year.
Mick Margaret Hambidge
NURSERY UPDATE
It's been a really busy first term at Filkins Nursery as we have settled in to our lovely
refurbished building and explored all the new equipment and toys. We have seen the
introduction of `Le Club Francais', with the children learning practical everyday
French through games, songs, stories and rhymes.
Many are already beginning to say some of the numbers to 5, repeat `Je m'appelle...'
and say how they are feeling. We are also really pleased to welcome Michelle, from
the Salt Box Music Company, who brings more unusual instruments, puppets, and
stories. The children are already delighting us with their newly acquired skills in
rhythm, pitch, tempo and dynamics.
We have had lots of fun events, including a fancy dress day on 13`h November to
support the BBC's Children in Need appeal. Christmas activities include a story in
church with Liz Johnson on 14`" December, our Nativity on 18`h December, and our
Christmas Party on 19th December. We always welcome visitors to the Nursery, so if
you would like to come and see what we get up to and meet the team, please ring me
on 01367 860594.
Louise Jenkins
EILEEN WOULD LIKE TO SAY...
I do hope everyone will understand but I will not be sending Christmas cards this
year. Of course, I am always delighted to welcome friends who drop in.
Eileen De Brandt
ALL CHANGE AT THE FIVE ALLS
Hello there, our names are Gemma Buckley and Tim Carter and we'd like to take this
opportunity to introduce ourselves properly as the new managers of the Five Alls Inn.
The welcome that we have received since we arrived a few weeks ago has been
greatly appreciated (even though our unpacking was put off for days!). In fact it has
been so overwhelming that it really has endorsed the special nature of this village and
the surrounding areas.
We are also pleased to announce, as many of you have discussed with us, that every
Monday from 6:30pm is now our `Official Five Alls Steak Night.' We are offering
you delicious Rump Steaks with Confit Tomatoes and Chunky Chips, all for just
£5.00.
Our Christmas menu is now available to browse and we are now taking bookings.
Hopefully this Christmas will not only be white but new and exciting too, here at The
Five Alls.
Gemma Buckley & Tim Carter
VILLAGE RESIDENTS' FIVE ALLS ROOM OFFER...
Book early for Christmas! Get rid of your unwanted guests! Avoid laundry and
washing up! All good reasons to take advantage of a great offer just for Filkins
residents, their families and friends... Sunday to Thursday night: £39.50, and Friday to
Saturday: £49.50 per room.
Advance bookings only. Price includes full breakfast and up to two guests. Valid until
315` December 2007. Please call The Five Alls on 01367 860 306.
ROSTER FOR VOLUNTARY CAR SERVICE TO SURGERIES
Covering Filkins, Broughton Poggs, Broadwell, Kencot, Langford and L Faringdon
'4th December Mr M Hambidge 860381
3rd January Miss H Squire 860337
! 6th December Mr P Coleman 860571
8th January Mr M Hambidge 860381
11th December Mr J Moir 860031
10th January Mr A Woodford 860319
13th December Mrs V Godfrey 860498
15th January Mr A Heath 860129
18th December Mrs P Clark 860500
17th January Mr P Coleman 860571
20th December Mrs C Lauzier 860644
22nd January Mrs J Higham 860197
25th December No Service
24th January Mrs V Godfrey 860498
27th December No Service
1stJanuary
No Service
(All codes 01367)
For hospital runs, or with any problems, contact me on 01367 860319 ;
Local surgery runs £2.00
Hospitals: Fairford & Witney £6.00 Swindon & Cirencester £8.00 Oxford £10.00 At
the JR, parking charges may have to be paid, and will be added to the bill.
Tonyh Woodford
HOLWELL
St Mary's
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2007
Holwell and Westwell share their Service of Remembrance. This year we were not at
Westwell's Memorial with its evocative relic of the First World War, the clock hand
from Ypres, it was the turn of Holwell.
A fine autumn day but poignant with the thought of British forces now deployed in
Iraq and Afghanistan. A gathering which ranged from veterans of the Second World
War to children whose experience of war is inevitably from television. Douglas Hurd,
erstwhile Foreign Secretary, laid the Wreath and later read the inspiring words from
the Oration of Pericles.
Cannon Ron Lloyd, a most welcome visitor to his old parish, led the moving service
and in his address told us the story of how the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior came
into being: one man's idea, at first shrugged off, but with tenacity brought to
fulfilment and which has given comfort to so many mourning families.
It was a special occasion and the collection of £200 was given to the Poppy Day
Appeal.
Anonymous
KELMSCOTT
St George's
CHURCH BRASS AND FLOWERS Ellie Maughan
SING OUT!
The Carol Service this year will be on Thursday 20`'' December at 6.30 pm. Please
come and join us on this annual celebration. Mince pies and mulled
wine will be served after the service. Ellie Maughan
THEATRE TIME
Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company present `The Delicious Revenge of Princess
Ruby Slippers' on Friday 14"' December at 7.30pm in the Morris Memorial Hall.
This show is suitable for anyone six years old and above, so bring the whole family
and enjoy a lovely evening of pre-Christmas live entertainment. Tickets are £8.50 for
Adults, £5 for Children/Concessions and £24 for a Family, available from either Jake
Nelson on 01367 252607 or me on 01367 253103.
Laura Roberts
CHRISTMAS CAPER
Our annual Christmas celebration will take place at the Morris Memorial Hall on
Friday 21st December from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Mulled wine and minced pies for the
grown ups and a visit by Father Christmas, at 6.30pm, for children aged 0 to 8 years.
Please phone/email me if your child would like to meet Father Christmas: 01367
252908 / janeQkelmscottmanor.co.uk
Jane Milne
RING IN THE NEW
We will also be staging a New Year's party at the Morris Memorial Hall, on Monday
31" December, from 8.00pm until 1.00am. Please bring a bottle (or two!) to toast in
the New Year, some celebratory eats and a selection of your favourite cd's. Want to
know what food to bring? Please phone/email me (again): 01367 252908 /
jane@kelmscottmanro.co.uk
Jane Milne
KENCOT
St George's
CHURCH FLOWERS
24`'' December
Christmas decorating: all welcome to help. 29`h December &
January Marjorie Barstow
RIDE AND STRIDE
Our thanks to the three riders, who together raised £357 on 8th September and to their
sponsors. Also I would like to thank those who booked in riders at the Church.
Bill Gasson
ARRIVALS
We welcome Beryl Shickle to Little Malthouse and hope that she will have a long and
happy stay with us.
John Barstow
CAROL SINGING
For those new to the villages, it has been our custom for more than 50 years for carol
singers to tour the villages and collect for Cancer Research. It's fun (if you wrap up
warm), it's for a good cause and we don't want our old custom to die. Fixing dates has
not been easy this year, but we hope singers old and new and all ages will be able to
join us on...
Wednesday 19"' December for Kencot: meet at the bridge at 7.00pm. Friday 215t
December for Broadwell: meet by the Church at 7.00pm.
At Kencot we end at the Village Hall for refreshments and a further sing. Do join us
there if you can't manage the walking.
Helen Squire
CAROL SERVICE
It is Broadwell's turn to hold the Carol Service this year, at 6.00pm on Sunday 23"'
December. The singing will be led by the Benefice Choir. Do go along and join in.
John Barstow
CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE
This is at 10.30am at St. George's Church. The service will be conducted by the Rev
Andrew McMullon, Chaplain at RAF Brize Norton. The collection will go to
Barnardos.
Helen Squire
ALLOTMENT
If anyone is interested in sharing part of an allotment, could they please contact me
(the secretary of the Village Hall.)
David Portergill
THE VILLAGE HALL
Residents may have noticed that the Village Hall is being re-roofed. This also
includes infestation treatment for the timbers and roof insulation. In addition there
will be new heating in the kitchen.
GRASS CUTTING
Our thanks to all those who have mown the churchyard, the village green and grass
verges around the village during the summer and have contributed so much to the
appearance of the village.
John Barstow
LANGFORD
St Matthew's
CHURCH FLOWERS
December 2°d Advent, no flowers
December 24`''
Christmas Festival decoration
RIDE & STRIDE
8`' September was a beautiful day for a cycle ride when 61 cyclists visited St.
Matthew's Church. Many thanks to all those that sponsored or sat in the church and to
our cyclists who raised £279, of which St. Matthew's receives £139.50.
DIAMOND GEEZER
On 15th September Raymond Sandcroft Baker gave us a very interesting talk on `The
Diamond' from the mine to the finger. Raymond showed us some excellent slides and
produced some fascinating samples. The evening raised £280 for the church-roof
fund. Thank you to all who supported the event.
CAROL SINGING
We will be carol singing on 18`h December starting at 6.30pm at the Elms. Then on
19th December starting at 6.30pm at Leys View. All proceeds will go to St.
Matthew's. Everybody is welcome to join us, whether their voices are good or not to
sing all our best loved carols, under the watchful eye of our much-respected Choir
leader, Mrs. Christine Apperley.
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Our Christmas Bazaar will be held in the Village Hall on Sunday 2"a December. The
doors open at 2.00pm. It will be a joint effort_by St. Matthew's Church and Langford
Village Hall.
The Committees are asking for prizes for the Raffle, gifts (especially with Christmas
in mind) for the Gift stalls, cakes and produce for the Produce stall and bottles etc. for
the Tombola. If you have any items or can help in any way please contact me on
01367 860091.
Jenny Pitkin
LANGFORD LADIES
We welcomed Mrs. Pam Slater in October. Pam is an aromatherapist and works with
the Perfumery at Bourton-on-the-Water; they distribute their perfume to Harrods and
in America. We were taken through the processes. Did you know it costs £12,000 for
a litre of pure jasmine oil? The meeting
ended up very smelly as everyone tried on all the examples of perfume that were
brought along for us to try. To bring out the true smell, you should leave it on your
skin for at least 15 minutes to allow developing time.
For our November meeting Sue Maddox brought along her many antique quilts, she
explained their history. Did you know a lot of the American quilts were made from
feed sacks, and that you should not give a quilt with the pattern called `wandering
feet' as a wedding present? I will leave you to guess as to why not.
December is our Christmas meal month, which will be held at the Bell Inn on 6`"
December. (Merry Christmas, everyone.)
January is the start of our year, the membership fee is a very good price at £10 for the
year, and you do not need to live in the village to join as we have members from the
villages around the parishes. We meet on Thursday 10"' January at 7.30pm in the
village hall, when we will be welcoming in the New Year with nibbles, drinks etc. So
please do come and join us. We meet every 2n`' Thursday in the month, if you would
like to know more please call me on 01367 860514.
Chrissy Tinson
WHIST
Join us for an evening of Christmas Whist at the village hall on Tuesday 4`''
December. We start at 7.30pm: however if you would like some tuition please arrive a
little earlier than this. The entrance fee of £1 includes tea and mince pies at half time.
Our January whist will be on at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8`'' January in the village hall.
Please note this is the 2°d Tuesday (a change to our regular day because of Bank
Holiday Monday.) Profits to go the village hall. We play for fun with small prizes. If
you require more information ring me on 01993 852378.
Jo Hutchins
LITTLE FARINGDON
St Margaret's
MEMORABLE BONFIRE PARTY
The village Bonfire Party on 2°`` November was a first-class success, and the
proceeds will greatly benefit St Margaret's Church and the village. Martin Fenton's
fantastic fireworks lit up the sky, and a wonderful time was had by all. A huge `thank
you' goes to Jamie and Emma Abdy Collins for again
hosting this annual event at Langford House. Much appreciation is also extended to
everyone who helped in the front line serving food and drink, to all those toiling
behind the scenes and, not least, to those of you who attended.
CANDLELIGHT CAROL SERVICE ON 16TH DECEMBER
The village Carol Service will take place at 6.00pm on Sunday 16`'' December at St
Margaret's Church. Set in the candlelit beauty of our much-loved church, this service
will bring together the entire village with a celebration of Christmas readings and
music. The more the merrier, so please contact me on 01367 252772 if you would like
to read, sing or play a musical instrument at the Carol Service.
Barbara Browne
2008 BENEFICE CALENDAR
Available for a donation of only £4, th e 2008 Benefice Calendar features the Little
Faringdon fireworks display as the November photograph. Contact Barbara Browne
(01367 252772) or me (01367 252205) or to obtain copies.
Jeremy Taylor
CHURCH FLOWERS
December
Advent: no flowers Christmas Day Everyone please help!
SHILTON
Holy Rood
RUB-A-DUB, SCRUB
A big thank you to the small group of hardy volunteers who braved the elements to
help with the maintenance day at the hall on 28th October. Despite the rain we
managed to give the old place a good overhaul. We stripped tons of ivy off the walls
and trees - and thanks to David Roberts and his flame gun we even managed to burn
it!
The inside of the Old School was also treated to a good cleaning before we all
enjoyed a well earned bowl of soup. The Old School Committee is very appreciative
of the help received.
Shirley Cuthbertson
COFFEE MORNING REPORT
For the last three years I have held the annual joint Baptist Chapel and Parish Church
coffee morning in my home on the first Saturday in November, and on each occasion
we have had a beautiful sunny morning. Last Saturday (3Ia November) was no
exception and I am sure the weather encouraged people to come and join us.
All the helpers were kept busy looking after the visitors (and taking money from
them!) We raised £268 and this will be divided between chapel and church. I do hope
that everyone enjoyed the morning and my heartfelt thanks go to all the helpers,
contributors and, of course, the shoppers. Thank you all very much.
Jean Roberts
CAROL SERVICE
Our Carol Service at the Parish Church this year will be on Sunday 16"' December at
6.00pm. A pre-Christmas lunch will also be served in the Old School on the same day
so I reckon we can look forward to an enjoyable day in the village. Do please try and
support one event if not both of them as it would be lovely to have the Old School full
for the lunch and the church full so that we can `raise the roof with carols at this
special service.
Jean Roberts
2007 PARISH COUNCIL DATES
The final meeting will be held on 5"' December in Shilton at 7.30pm
Katherine Robertson
KEEP FIT FALTERS
Everyone in the village must be fit because numbers for the Thursday evening classes
have dwindled to such an extent that it is no longer worth Sandie holding them.
She has therefore decided to call a halt to her session here until after Christmas but
with luck, and maybe a few more customers wanting to counteract the effects of
festive season overindulgence, she will start classes again in January.
HISTORY GROUP
Our December meeting, on Friday 14`'', will be our traditional Christmas party, with
seasonal refreshments, some apposite readings, and carol singing. Members may
bring guests. In January (Friday 11"') we will give members an opportunity to study
and discuss our extensive archive collection. Visitors are of course welcome as
always
Fred Robertson
BRADWELL VILLAGE
(part of Shilton Parish)
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
The hall is open to all residents on Friday evenings between 7.30 and 9.30pm. Short
mat bowls are available, card and board games, or come along for a sing-a-long and a
chat. Bring your own drinks and nibbles.
As this is the last edition of Parish Pump for 2007, the Residents Association would
like to wish peace and goodwill to everyone throughout the parish.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
The Christmas party has proved very popular in past years so please don't be
disappointed this year... Put the date in your diaries now: Saturday 8th December.
Entertainment will be part of the evening, as will good food and a raffle.
Can anyone play a musical instrument? Please contact Stephen (01993 823638) who
would like to hear from you!
NEW YEARS EVE
Would you be interested in a`bring-a-bottle-and-plate-to-share' party, with perhaps
some fun things to do (or not!)... Just an ad hoc celebration? If yes, please let us know
on 01993 823567, and we will arrange something if there are sufficient numbers.
Stephen C-Jane
VILLAGE COFFEE SHOP
The Coffee Shop is open on Friday in term time from 10.30am until 12.30pm in the
Village Hall selling hot and cold drinks and home-made cakes and savouries.
This is a splendid social focus for anyone with an hour or so to spare. For further
details telephone me on 01993 824801 (more volunteers are always required.)
Sharon Howat
VILLAGE STITCHERS
The next meeting is on Tuesday 11' December from 10.00am until 2.30pm. Visitors
are most welcome, at £2 for the day. The half-annual subscription is £10. Please bring
along your latest project to work on.
Drinks and biscuits are provided, but please bring a packed lunch. Telephone me on
01993 824475
Marion Ellis
THE GREASEPAINT ROARS AGAIN
The Oxford Touring Company presents `The Delicious Revenge of Princess Ruby
Slippers' on 4`" January 2008 at 7.00pm
WESTWELL
St Mary's
CAROL SERVICE
Our Carol service will be on Sunday 23`d December at 6.00pm, do come along and
get in the Christmas Spirit.
A ROTATING HOUSE
The village and the District Council have received a planning application for a very
large new House, which is planned to be built on a turntable so that it can always be
facing the sun. Interestingly this is proposed under newish legislation that might allow
innovative houses of architectural merit to be built almost anywhere in the UK. The
innovations proposed for this house are:
1 That it can turn through a full circle every 24 hours.
2 That it is planned to produce as much energy as it uses.
It would appear that the glass front of this house will let in lots of the sun's energy,
and somewhere there must also be arrays of Solar Cells, which must rival those on the
satellites and space stations; by facing the sun all day long, these solar cells will be at
their most efficient. It is said that the electric motor to turn the house will use no more
energy than a single element of an electric fire. A problem is that in order to achieve
adequate (and it must be said classy) living space, the house has to be quite tall, so six
stories are proposed, if you include the roof terrace. This will make the house fairly
conspicuous, even if there is a wood behind it.
The roof of this house is to be of copper, so this will soon take on a green sheen; some
of the facings would be of oak boards, which could end up grey or be treated with a
colour stain, so this is a question not yet answered.
The Parish Meeting have passed their opinion to the District Council, and by the time
this Pump is published, we shall know the decision (`yes', `no', or `defer') of the
District Council planners. Watch this space for an update.
All in our eleven benefice parishes should realise that this sort of application could be
made in any of our villages: including yours. Do we wish to or even could we lift the
drawbridge now? In point of fact most of these decisions are taken by the Department
of the Environment, so local input is no doubt considered but often limited.
Chris Fox
DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS
My colleague, Derek Cotterill has written a very informative article in this issue (page
30) on how the District Council has responded to the flooding, and I am well aware
from our experiences in
Kelmscott that the issue of how
to prevent water entering an area,
or finding the quickest method
for it to leave is far from
straightforward. What should be
apparent is that the District
Council are really trying to
understand what happened and
how to best prepare for similar
extremes of weather in the future.
After months and years of
negotiation West Oxfordshire
District Council has something to
celebrate and local shopping is
likely to be transformed after
Marks and Spencer recently
signed a deal to become a major
anchor tenant on a new development starting in January 2008 at Marriotts Close, the
former Witney Town Football Club on Welch Way, which is owned by West
Oxfordshire District Council.
In bringing forward development plans the Council are seeking to strengthen the retail
offering in Witney for the entire District. With Debenhams already committed to the
site, M&S, Starbucks, Cineworld, Frankie and Benny's, Cafe Rouge, 190 new homes,
a multi
storey car park, public open spaces and play areas, shopping in Witney is
likely to be transformed and we are no longer going to have to travel to
Oxford or Swindon to the cinema. I believe this scheme will transform
shopping in Witney and give the area a much needed economic boost. It
should be ready for Christmas shopping in 2009.
After an eventful year in the Broadshires I am looking forward to reporting back on
my first year as your district councillor at parish meetings in the Spring.
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. David McFarlane
AFTER THE DELUGE
Following the floods in July, and Rachel Leveson Gower's letter in last month's Parish
Pump, Councillor Derek Cotterill writes with news of West Oxfordshire District
Council's role in the prevention of future flooding.
Correspondence in the November Parish Pump called for WODC to identify resources
and prevent flooding similar to that experienced in July. While everyone sympathises
with those who were flooded, and wishes them a speedy recovery, preventing a
similar disaster will be difficult but work is in hand.
Many readers might already have attended Parish Council meetings in the Benefice
and been made aware that all the authorities responsible for rivers, roads and drainage
are studying what happened in July, surveying and clearing road drains, etc., and
discussing with landowners the means to keep ditches and culverts cleared. WODC is
very much involved and leading this process but is not the authority with the major
responsibility.
Flood Forum meetings have been held by Cotswold District Council and West
Oxfordshire District Council with the Environment Agency, Thames Water,
Oxfordshire and Gloucester County Councils.
The prime responsibility for land drainage rests with the Environment Agency and
riparian landowners. The Environment Agency has responsibility for 2,500kms of
river from London to the sources of the Thames, Evenlode and Windrush.
Unfortunately they have enough staff and funds to maintain
main rivers only, which equates to 660k ms. Flood defences are also designed
for 1 in 15 year events which means 50 to 75 cms of rain in 24hrs. The
Environment Agency rainfall maps for 20`" July showed the heaviest fall of
150+ cms in 6 hours over an area extending from north of Moreton-in-Marsh,
to west of Bourton-on-the-Water and south to Burford -mainly in the
catchment area for the Evenlode and Windrush rivers. For the Benefice
125cms was recorded by the various Environment Agency remote sensors. Any
flood defences would have been overwhelmed.
Riparian landowners are responsible for clearing rivers, streams and ditches adjoining
and running across their land but the difficulty is finding these landowners. No maps
or records exist and the Environment Agency suggests that local knowledge and peer
pressure is the most effective way of keeping these drainage channels cleared.
District Councils are adopting a stance that individual householder protection also
needs to be addressed and several "Flood Protection Product Fairs" are being held
locally in association with the Environment Agency and National Flood Forum - one
was held on Friday 16"' November in the Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney.
The Environment Agency also has a draft `Local Flood Plan for xxx' which can be
downloaded from the Environment Agency's website: www.environmentagency.gov.uk.
The WODC website also contains a wealth of valuable information and advice so visit
www.westoxon.gov.uk and go to Flood Information.
Derek Cotterill
MUSIC JUST DOWN THE ROAD
The Lenthall Concert on Wednesday 5`'' December at 7.30pm at Burford School
involves Michael Bochmann (violin) and Michael Blackmore (piano) in a varied
programme ranging from Beethoven and Bazzini to Bloch and Poldini. Tickets are
£10 at the door.
Jan Campbell
TWO FACED RUSSIA
0 n Wednesday 12`h December at 10.45 am (doors open at 10.15 am) in Bradwell
Village Hall, The Cotswold Antiques Study Group will host its Christmas lecture
entitled the Two Faces of Russia: Moscow and St Petersburg, exploring the art and
architecture of these two great cities, and their different characters and ways of life.
This will be followed by mince pies and a glass of wine.
The speaker will be Rosamund Bartlett, Reader in Russian and Associate Reader in
Music at the University of Durham, and Fellow of the European Humanities Research
Centre at the University of Oxford.
Guests are welcome (suggested donation £10). The Study Group meets regularly and
anyone interested in future programmes or in joining should contact the Membership
Secretary on 01869 345332.
Ray Murray
Faces (24th November to 21st December)
A West Ox Arts members show on the theme of Faces in conjunction with the county
arts project `Faces of Oxfordshire' celebrating a thousand years of Oxfordshire in
2007 and the closing event in a year of artistic festivities. A varied show of paintings,
sculpture, masks and also a section of the Spoon Race; a collective work of art created
in workshops around the county. Each wooden spoon face represents a year in
Oxfordshire's history.
FILKINS VILLAGE SHOP
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
3.00 to 5.00pm
10.00am to 12noon & 3.00 to 5.00pm
Closed
10.00am to 12.00 noon & 2.00 to 5.00
2.00 to 5.00pm
9.00am to 1.00pm & 3.00 to 5.00
3.00 to 5.00pm
POTTERING IN THE POTTING SHED
This month Anne tells the tale of those two lively lasses always up for a Christmas
party,- Holly and Ivy...
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) was significant even before the Christian era. The Celts saw
holly as a winter companion, which provided strength to resist the spirits of the dead.
To the Romans, Holly was sacred to Saturn and was used in his December festival as
a symbol of health and happiness. Holly is traditionally associated with Christmas,
probably because
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several species are evergreen plants, and in just about every European winter
celebration, evergreen plants became important.
They didn't die as the days got shorter and colder and were therefore a sign, in a dead
winter landscape, that life would return. Holly in particular was associated with
Dionysus in the Greek tradition, as well as some Pagan sun gods. As all these old
winter traditions gathered around Christmas in the Middle Ages, Holly become
associated with the holiday. Holly bark is full of minerals and natural metals. It can
often be found grazed by animals because of those metals. If it weren't for the
prickles, the leaves would be devoured in no time. In the past, before lightning
conductors had been invented, Holly trees were planted beside people's homes. This
was because they were more likely to be hit by lightning, as a result of the metals
within them, than the houses. This may be one of the reasons for the ancient tradition
of sprigs of Holly, preferably with berries, being hung around houses at this time of
year. Holly sprigs are also thought to ward off evil spirits. Today they are hung as a
colourful decoration to adorn our doorways.
In the Middle Ages, there was a tradition of presenting King Holly (seen as a male
plant) with Queen Ivy (a female plant) in midwinter customs. Ivy has been popular as
a decoration over the centuries and was once thought to possess powers of protection
against house goblins, which were at their most malicious in winter! It was used to
decorate the exterior of domestic buildings, never the inside. Ironically perhaps,
despite being the symbol of Bacchus, God of wine and merriment, ivy did manage to
find its way into church buildings.
We also associate the Norway Spruce (Picea abies) or the Christmas Tree with this
time of year. Most of us will buy a Norway Spruce or another similar looking
evergreen tree this coming festive season.The Norway Spruce has been taken into our
lives as if it has always been part of our Christmas. However, although it has long
been associated with Christmas on the continent, it has only relatively recently
become a part of our
Christmas decorations. Prince Albert brought the first one to this country
(since the last Ice Age) as a gift for his wife Queen Victoria. Every Christmas
in Austria and Switzerland a Norway Spruce is weighted down at its base,
rowed out into the middle of all the lakes, and then thrown overboard. This is
in remembrance of those who have drowned there, so that the deceased spirits
of departed family members or friends can celebrate Christmas too.
Anne Greenwood
SOUTHROP COMMUNITY SHOP
Services in small villages are always under pressure, and none more so than village
shops. Out of the ashes of the closure of the last shop in Filkins has, as we all know,
risen a thriving community shop which serves several of our benefice villages.
Just over the county border is another community enterprise in Southrop. At a time
when Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire villages are getting ready for the eonsultation'
process on rural Post Office closures next Spring, we all need to learn from each
other, and so here is Southrop's story...
Lie in most villages, the local shop/PO (along with the church, school and the pub) is
one of the hubs of the community. The shop not only provides some of the necessities
of life but is a meeting place for local people and acts as a place for information
exchange.
Sadly, our original shop found it increasingly difficult to survive commercially, and
eventually closed. This left a significant number (at that time) of older villagers with a
problem. The bus service was not good and many of them did not have private
transport. A group of forward-thinking people decided that the only way to overcome
the problem was to open a community shop. Staffed by volunteers and with a`non
profit making' ethos this would enable the village to retain a shop without worrying
about commercial viability. A committee was set up, and volunteers enlisted. Funding
was obtained from various sources necessitating vast amounts of letter writing, phone
calls, lobbying and researching. Necessary permissions had to be obtained. It was a
steep learning curve as a project such as ours was, at that time, an unusual venture.
The permission to hold a half day Post Office proved to be a`tough nut to crack' but
eventually all was in place and Southrop Community Shop opened in the Village Hall
in January 1982
The Post Office was initially manned by the post mistress from Eastleach who came
to Southrop to do business for one morning a week. Products were
obtained by a band of helpers who set off in a fleet of cars to a local
supermarket, stacked the trolleys high and then occupied a check-out for
about half an hour! These products were then taken back to the village stored
in someone's spare bedroom and then placed on mobile racks which were
wheeled into the hall on shopping day.
Over the years we became more organized. Supermarkets delivered to us, a shop
extension was built with a secure PO. When the original postmistress `stood down' we
were able to find one of our own and so the shop continued.
After twenty-five years of Wednesday morning openings, which suited most of the
retired members of the community, it was decided to extend the shops reach by
opening one Saturday morning per month to enable working members of our village
the chance to use their local shop. To make this more attractive and to keep in line
with the current trend of' Buy British, Buy Local', we invited producers to join us and
now we have a regular core of traders selling meats, vegetables, bread, eggs all
produced within a 15 mile radius of Southrop and also non edible products such as
bespoke cards and picture framing.
We now open every Wednesday morning from 8.30am to 11.30am and on the third
Saturday morning each month from 9.30am to 12.00 noon.
So far our PO has survived but for how long is not predictable. One thing is certain,
however, we will use all the powers possible to ensure that our shop / PO will trade
for as long as is possible as we know that its demise will damage our community life.
Anne Williamson
NATURE NOTES
As early October saw the departure of some of the last of our summer migrants, so
later in the month we welcome some of our winter visitors. On an autumn visit to the
Lake District on 13`h October it was good to hear the chattering of groups of field
fares passing over on my early morning dog walking up on the fells. These were
accompanied by redwings as they made their way south on their journey from
Northern Europe. Sometimes they will travel at night and their characteristic chatter
gives them away passing overhead in the dark.
One morning I was alerted by a large number of honking calls gradually coming
closer and then overhead in a clearing in the trees and flying strongly and high in the
sky came V formation after V formation standing out against a blue sky, of geese,
possibly pink footed geese, but difficult to tell, there must have been several hundred
and then they were gone making their way south, probably on their way down from
Iceland.
The autumn colours this year were quite spectacular and a visit to Holker Hall Estate
in Cumbria was quite memorable. A particular tree was the Great Holker Lime (left),
one of the finest and largest of the common limes in Britain (Tillia Europaea). This
was a natural hybrid a formed hundreds of years ago when the small leaved and the
large leaved limes, both natives to
Britain hybridised. This mighty specimen measures 26 feet in girth and stands
in a cavern formed by overhanging branches. Probably planted in the early
17th century as part of the formal garden. Lime trees are notoriously whiskery
from the sprouts or suckers (epicormic growth) issuing profusely from the
base of the trunk making it look untidy. This particular specimen is kept
neatly clipped to a height of ten feet and then the trunk which is
extraordinarily fluted disappears in a tangle of whiskers, emerging as a dozen
separate trunks to a height of some seventy two feet.
Planted very popularly in Victorian Britain. Many towns boasted avenues of limes
and some of these remain to cover any cars parked beneath in summer in a rain of
sugary secretion or "greenfly effluent". On a summers day when in flower the smell is
quite exquisite and the flowers in turn attract large numbers of bees and other flying
insects. From underneath the drone of insects on a hot day is quite noticeable. Lime
flower honey is quite a speciality. Another plus is the mass of sprouty growth which is
good nesting habitat for birds. The best I have seen is a specimen in Pencarrow House
garden, Cornwall, where the huge base was just a riot of twigs which had not been
trimmed or cut at all and must have been the home to all sorts of things. Finally, it is a
very good host for
mistletoe in its upper
branches. The Holker
specimen has the
distinction of being
one of Britain's 50
Great Trees in honour
of her Majesty's
Golden Jubilee.
Back at home along
the Stonelands road
this morning ( 29`''
October) a flock of
field fares (left) flew
off the berry laden
hedges as I
approached and one
of the best autumn sights in Shilton is the huge vicarage copper beech showing off its
full
autumn glory against a blue sky on a carpet of coppery crisp leaves.
David Roberts
CHRISTMAS FOR ME
As an antidote to Edmund Gosse's,fatber's repudiation of Christmas, here are a couple
of more comforting views. First the Reverend Dr Opimian ruminates, and then Robert
Herrick roisters...
J myself think much of Christmas and all its associations. I always dine at home on
Christmas Day, and measure the steps of my children's heads on the wall, and see how
much higher each of them has risen since the same time last year, in the scale of
physical life.
There are many poetical charms in the heraldings of Christmas. The halcyon builds its
nest on the tranquil sea. `The bird of dawning singeth all night long.' I have never
verified either of these poetical facts. I am willing to take them for granted. I like the
idea of the Yule-log, the enormous block of wood carefully selected long before, and
preserved where it would be thoroughly dry, which burned on the old-fashioned
hearth. It would not suit the stoves of our modem saloons. We could not burn it in our
kitchens, where a small fire in the midst of a mats of black iron, roasts, and bakes, and
boils, and steams, and broils, and fries, by a complicated apparatus which, whatever
may be its other virtues, leaves no space for a Christmas fire.
I like the festoons of holly on the walls and windows; the dance under the mistletoe;
the gigantic sausage; the baron of beef; the vast globe of plumpudding, the true image
of the earth, flattened at the poles; the tapping of the old October; the inexhaustible
bowl of punch; the life and joy of the old hall, when the squire and his household and
his neighbourhood were as one.
I like the idea of what has gone, and I can still enjoy the reality of what remains.
From Gryll Grange (1860) by Thomas Love Peacock
Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas Log to the firing;
While my good Dame, she
Bids ye all be free;
And drink to your heart's desiring.
With the last year's brand
Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending,
On your Psaltries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-tinding.
Drink now the strong beer,
Cut the white loaf here,
The while the meat is a-shredding;
For the rare mince-pie
And the plums stand by
To fill the paste that's a-kneading.
From ceremonies for Christmas (1648) by Robert Herrick