The Grapevine MagazineOctober 2007 Issue No 225 |
Obituary |
After 21 glorious years, Kay is now hanging up her editor’s mouse and is retiring as “Editor-in-Chief” from the Grapevine team.
On Friday 14th September a small celebration was held to acknowledge the contribution Kay and her husband Derek have made to the community of Lewknor over the years. As a thank you Kay was presented with a framed “special edition” of Grapevine, a lovely bouquet and also some artist’s materials for her to enjoy in her “retirement”.
We would especially like to thank Penny McCulloch for hosting the afternoon tea party and providing some wonderful cakes. Thanks also goes to Gill Bindoff and Elan Preston-Whyte for their delicious contributions. We were particularly pleased that Alison Ellerton was also able to join in the occasion, as Alison herself was a major contributor to Grapevine for fourteen years.
I’m sure that all the people of Lewknor, Postcombe and South Weston would like to thank Kay for considerable dedication to village life. Kay has been involved in Grapevine since 1986 and has produced and distributed over 220 editions. A testimony to her commitment is when she was so very poorly four years ago, she would not rest until Grapevine was produced, which is how I became a member of the team. (Past service suggests I’ve got at least ten more years to go!)
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Derek for all the help and assistance that he has given to Grapevine over the years. Not only putting up with the endless phone calls, emails and editorial meetings that go on, but also in proof reading Grapevine for twenty one years.
Whilst we are reflecting on Grapevine, thanks and appreciation should also go to the team who deliver and distribute Grapevine – we have a great network of volunteers that make sure you all get your copy every month.
Grapevine carries important information about village life, school news, church services and helps publicise all the different activities that go on in and around Lewknor. It has also become a useful vehicle for local businesses and people to advertise their products and services. So please do continue to support the Grapevine and get in touch if there is anything that you would like to see featuring or let us know about any news that you would like to share with the local community.
Following Kay’s retirement please send all contributions and enquiries about advertising to either Beatrice Ellis or myself – our details can be found on the back cover.
I’m very pleased that Beatrice has joined the Grapevine editorial team and we will be working together on producing each edition going forward. However, if there are any other readers who would like to get involved in any part of Grapevine please do get in touch…
So a very BIG thank you goes to Kay, we wish her all the very best in her “retirement”. And in the future we look forward to receiving her “letters to the Editor” and can only hope they are not letters of complaint that standards have slipped!
Louise Boitoult
TopHis life was, by modern standards, uneventful and uncomplicated. He was born in Bennett End, near Radnage in 1915, the second of two sons born to Eliza Stone and John Ashby. Harold and his late brother Edward, or Ted, were at least the third generation of Ashbys to be born into the small rural community with his mother’s family also deeply embedded into the surrounding area. John Ashby, like his father before him, was initially a chair leg turner, one of many men in the area who made their living by buying the rights to the wood on a parcel of local land annually, that he would then turn, by hand, into dozens and dozens of spindle chair legs that were sold by the gross to the High Wycombe chairmakers. It was a skilled but poorly paid living that has since died out and made the area famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Harold’s family were very involved in the trade and he often talked with some pride about the skills that were involved.
Harold was born during the First World War, in 1915. His father served in the army and received shrapnel injuries but he returned home to his family, unlike many. Within weeks the family faced unexpected tragedy when Eliza, Harold’s mother, died in the influenza epidemic that swept the country in 1918. The three year old Harold was sent, without any explanation, to stay with his mother’s family. He joined a strict household where children were seen and not heard and everyone had to pull their weight in a practical way. Harold was no exception and eventually started work at a very young age. He spoke about those years with a hint of sadness at the loss of his mother, recalling her funeral quite clearly, and the change in his circumstances.
Fortunately, Harold found happiness when he met Christina Quarterman. Harold courted Christina on motorbike, travelling to and from Cuddesdon where she lived and where they married in September 1938. The marriage was a long and successful partnership that produced four children: Ann, Brian, Ronald and Richard. The couple moved to Hill Farm here in Lewknor at the start of their marriage and continued to farm for 43 years until they retired in 1981.
Sadly, Christina died in 1999 but they had shared a long and happy marriage for more than sixty years. When Harold died he was 92. He was born in this area and he died here. Unlike his children, Harold never travelled abroad. When the second World War broke out Harold did his bit for the country by joining ‘Dad’s Army’ while continuing to farm for the war effort.
Unlike his grandchildren, his education was sparse and his opportunities few but he was content with what he had. Born a countryman, he died a countryman. But let us consider the changes and events that Harold had witnessed during his 92 years:
There were four monarchs and 18 prime ministers during his lifetime
He saw women get the vote, gain equal rights and become priests;
Through the invention of the television, he was able to witness space exploration and man walking on the moon;
He watched the launch of Concord and supersonic flight achieved;
He learned about the discovery of DNA;
And the birth of the first test tube baby;
He saw the opening of the motorway network and watched as the M40 cut through his own farm in the early 1970s;
He witnessed the Festival of Britain;
He watched the country violently reject the poll tax but agree to join the EEC;
He was probably puzzled by the advent of rock ‘n’ roll, punk and the arrival of ‘the teenager’;
And he witnessed the arrival of the new century.
Harold’s death has broken a link to the past and we have lost a wealth of knowledge about rural living that no longer exists. During his lifetime there were many developments – some good, some not so good – in farming and agriculture. His life provided a bridge between the old ways and modern life. It may be fair to say that the old ways that we may be forgiven for thinking of as romantic, were what made Harold the man he was: hardworking, practical, pragmatic & determined. But that is in the past and we should remember that he has left behind one precious legacy for the future: that of family – four children, seven grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.
TopThe annual show was held on Sunday, 9th September. As usual it was in the lovely setting of the barn and garden at Knapp Farm by the kind permission of Mrs Susan Watt. We were blessed with a warm and sunny day and there seemed to be lots of people enjoying their afternoon. There are always so many people to thank for their help in making the show a success but the great thing about the show is that it involves so many people and is such a good community event. It is one of the few occasions during the year when we all have a chance to get together. Entries of vegetables,fruit, flowers, cakes etc were up on last year and we hardly had enough room for the children’sentries there were so many. The judges found it difficult to decide on winners in some classes because the entries were so good – especially in the dahlia classes. The stalls and games all did good business and at the end of the day we had raised about £1,300 to be divided betweenLewknor School, Krakatoa Pre-School and the Jubilee Hall.
See you all again next year!
Epi Hodgson judged the gardens again for us this year. She says she had a great time walking around Lewknor, South Weston and Postcombe, seeing how gardens were looking this year and remembering what they were like in 2006. Everyone’s garden is judged from what can be seen from the front and some gardens are looked from the back as well, but only if the judge is invited to look and only if the garden owners are at home at the time of the judge’s visit. There certainly were some lovely things to see and Epi says: ‘This year the gardens are of a really high standard. Well done to all the residents of the parish both ‘newcomers’ and ‘old hands’ – please keep up your great enthusiasm for gardening’.
Alabaster Cup for the best garden overall: Pam Ritchie, High Street, Lewknor. Very thoughtfully planned with herbaceous plants and shrubs happily complementing each other. Good colour in the borders and also through the terrace pots.
Trotman Cup for the runner up: Trish Smith, Weston Road, Lewknor. Lovely plantings and a pleasing design making use of every bit of space with flowers, greenery and interesting pots and containers.
Highly Commended: John and Rachel Denham, Watlington Rd Lewknor
Commended: Cotswold Villa Lower Rd Postcombe and Well House, Salt Lane, Postcombe
Rose Bowl for the most outstanding tubs and containers: Barbara Coe, Box Tree Lane, Postcombe. A great flair in container planting whether it be with flowers, greenery or vegetables – lovely!
Joint runner up: 26 High St Lewknor and 23 Weston Rd Lewknor. Both these gardens have beautiful containers, each very individual with plants of great quality
Highly Commended: Blenheim Farm, Postcombe
Desborough Cup for the best kitchen garden/allotment: Ken Witney, Beacon View, Lewknor. Much hard and dedicated work in producing such a large area of high quality vegetables.
Runner-up: Sue and Geoff Denham, Beacon View, Lewknor. A very productive kitchen garden with some good soft fruit. Very neat and tidy.
Highly Commended: 20 Weston Rd Lewknor. An unbelievable make-over of rough land with some very healthy vegetables and fruit.
GB
TopIn August, we read ‘The State of The Union’ by Douglas Kennedy recommended by one of the group who had read it previously. This was a long book set in New England firstly in the 1960’s (the time of the Vietnam War) and later in the 1990’s when earlier events come back to haunt the main protagonist, Hannah.
Despite its length we all found the novel interesting with superb dialogue both funny and thought provoking. As the author was relatively unknown to us I was encouraged to look him up on the web and discovered, despite his American roots, he now lives in London and has recently been made a Chevalier of Honour for Literature in France but cannot find a publisher in the States. Very strange! What was fascinating on his web-site was that he addresses the question about male authors writing with a female voice (see the Book Club entry in the September Grapevine) and how he doesn’t try to imagine himself as a woman but uses his imagination and observation of women he knows well to write his story. Common sense really.
For something very different for October we have Philip Pullman’s ‘Northern Lights’ and in November, Terry Pratchett’s ‘ Good Omens”, both set in fantasy worlds or parallel universes. “Crow Lake” by Mary Lawson a Canadian novel is on our reading list for later.
Which reminds me, a book we read earlier this year, “Stardust”, is now a film with a fairy tale theme about a star that falls to earth, with a very starry cast which includes Robert de Niro, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer and our very own Ian McKellan and Ricky Gervais, and will arrive in cinemas in October.
Elan Preston-Whyte
TopTest your brain power and general knowledge against the best of Lewknor… and meet parents and villagers too – all welcome!
Please join the Friends of Lewknor School for a lively and sociable quiz evening in aid of Lewknor Primary School on Friday 9th November starting at 7.00pm at Lewknor School.
Tickets are £8 per person to include a hot supper and entry into the quiz. (Please let us know if you would like a vegetarian meal when you book your ticket). Bring your own wine and drinks.
Tickets available from Lewknor School Office (01844 351342).
Entry is for teams of up to 8 people – please submit team names to Lyndsey Davies in the School Office. If you would like to take part, but are not part of an organised team please let Lindsay know when booking and teams will be put together on the night.
TopFresh fruit from the garden - what could be better for you and your family?
Beat food miles and packaging for a few weeks at least by growing your own apples and pears. Designate a space in your garden and buy a tree or two - it really is that easy. Get them in the ground and watch them blossom!
Planting trees is also great fun, a brilliant way to mark a special occasion and brings so much extra value to the garden. Fruit trees are especially effective at connecting you with the seasons because spring, summer or autumn they offer something wonderful to appreciate.
Apple (Malus) is a vast family with edible and ornamental varieties to choose from. All offer blossom in spring, many are attractive simply as garden trees. Nothing gives quite such a powerful sense of homeliness as branches laden with quietly ripening fruit. Pear (Pyrus) offers similar benefits as well as being a more individual choice.
In both cases, there are varieties which, owing to their growth habit or compact size, are ideally suited to smaller gardens. The great opportunity with home-grown is to produce fruit that really suits your own palette.
'Sunset' and 'Fiesta', for example are great eaters that you probably won't find on the shelves but if you want to go for Cox's, Braeburn's or Bramley's, they'll work in the garden too.
If you are not interested in actually eating the fruit, then choose an ornamental variety. Malus 'Evereste' is an outstanding small tree, ideally suited to garden applications.
Its wide pyramidal crown, blossom ranging from light purple to pinkish-white and orange /red ornamental fruits all have major appeal. 'Golden Hornet' is another winner, with light purple/white flowers and yellow fruits.
For pears, the range is more limited but again, there are small trees suitable for the garden which will produce either edible or ornamental fruit.
Now is a great time for planting fruit trees because growth is slowing but the soil is still warm. This keeps stress on the plant to a minimum and helps to ensure strong establishment, (although container grown trees can be planted at any time other than drought or frost if properly fed and watered after planting). Plant fruit trees in fertile soil in the case of pear and moderately fertile soil in the case of apple. A full sun position is preferable although apple will tolerate some shade. Plant away from underground features like pipes, drains and prune to remove untidy or excess shoots in late winter or early spring.
So grab your spade and get into home grown top fruits this autumn!
TopFree electric blanket testing is being offered again this year as part of the countywide initiative supported by the five Oxfordshire councils, Trading Standards and The Fire Service. If you have an electric blanket, you can get it tested free at Henley-on-Thames on 25 October. Just ring 01865 815600 to book your place.
TopEntries in the LPC (Lewknor Parish Council) Comment column will normally be confined to one of three options: ‘Approve’, ‘Object’ or ‘NSV’ (No Strong Views), the latter being the most usual. Entries in the SODC Status column will be ‘Current’, ‘Appeal’, ‘Withdrawn’, ‘Granted’ or ‘Refused’; all of which are self-explanatory. Further details of individual Planning Applications are available on-line, as follows. Open SODC’s Home Page at www.southoxon.gov.uk. At the top – click on ‘On-Line Services’. On the window that opens, scroll down to and click on ‘Use online planning services’. Then click on ‘View planning applications via the Planning Register’ and follow the instructions to find the specific application that you seek.
| Ref No | Remarks | LPC Comment | SODC Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| P06/E1231/RET Appeal | Beech Farm, Salt Lane – siting of ISO Containers. | N/A | N/A |
| P07/E0445 | Jubilee Hall – storage extension. | Approval | Current |
| P07/E0919 | 6 The Glebe, Lewknor – extension. | Object | Current |
| P07/E1065 | (Highfield) Lower Rd, Postcombe – erect new 2-storey house. | Refusal | Current |
| P07/E1168 | Field Farm, Lewknor – barn conversion and erect new barn | ? | ? |
An exhibition about convicts transported to Australia has gone on display at the Oxfordshire Record Office, Cowley, which is run by Oxfordshire County Council.
Between 1787 and 1867 more than 1500 Oxfordshire men, women and children were sentenced to transportation for crimes such as theft, poaching, forgery and bigamy. Most of them were sent to Australia and neighbouring islands, and the exhibition, ‘Banished Beyond the Seas’, tells some of their stories.
The inspiration for the exhibition is based on the researches of Oxfordshire-based Carol Richmond, who wrote six booklets, published this week, entitled ‘Banished! Sentences of Transportation from Oxfordshire Courts, 1787-1867.’ These give information on the crime, sentence and ultimate destination of the convict, as well as additional biographical details.
Carol used Oxfordshire Record Office sources for her researches and the exhibition put together by Oxfordshire Record Office staff also draws on documents from the National Archives in Kew, and the Archives Office of Tasmania.
The exhibition also includes photographs and other memorabilia provided by private individuals, many of whom are descendants of convicts featured in the exhibition.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Senior Archivist Mark Priddey said: “As has been well publicised 2007 marks two centuries since the ending of the Slave Trade and also 1000 years of Oxfordshire history. Less well-known is that it also marks 140 years since the last convicts were transported from England to Australia. This is a fascinating exhibition that looks at what happened to some Oxfordshire people - men, women and children - who were sent halfConvicts exhibition at Oxfordshire Record Office An exhibition about convicts transported to Australia has gone on display at the Oxfordshire Record Office, Cowley, which is run by Oxfordshire County Council.
Between 1787 and 1867 more than 1500 Oxfordshire men, women and children were sentenced to transportation for crimes such as theft, poaching, forgery and bigamy. Most of them were sent to Australia and neighbouring islands, and the exhibition, ‘Banished Beyond the Seas’, tells some of their stories.
The inspiration for the exhibition is based on the researches of Oxfordshire-based Carol Richmond, who wrote six booklets, published this week, entitled ‘Banished! Sentences of Transportation from Oxfordshire Courts, 1787-1867.’ These give information on the crime, sentence and ultimate destination of the convict, as well as additional biographical details.
Carol used Oxfordshire Record Office sources for her researches and the exhibition put together by Oxfordshire Record Office staff also draws on documents from the National Archives in Kew, and the Archives Office of Tasmania.
The exhibition also includes photographs and other memorabilia provided by private individuals, many of whom are descendants of convicts featured in the exhibition.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Senior Archivist Mark Priddey said: “As has been well publicised 2007 marks two centuries since the ending of the Slave Trade and also 1000 years of Oxfordshire history. Less well-known is that it also marks 140 years since the last convicts were transported from England to Australia. This is a fascinating exhibition that looks at what happened to some Oxfordshire people - men, women and children - who were sent half way round the world, sometimes for quite minor crimes.”
The exhibition at the Record Office in St Luke’s Church, Temple road, Cowley, runs until 10 November. Record Office opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Tel. 01865 398200 e-mail: archives@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Please call Media Officer Barbara McSweeney on 01865 810190 to arrange.
TopThere was in item in last month’s Grapevine, announcing that a Planning Application was being prepared that, if approved, would see the agricultural business currently conducted from Church Farm (behind St Margaret’s Church in Lewknor) relocated to another site and the present farmyard redeveloped to provide additional dwellings. The site plans and drawings were publicly displayed in the Jubilee Hall on 20 August and the formal application was submitted to SODC shortly afterwards. Because SODC raised a number of technical issues, registration of the application has been delayed, but the Parish Council is likely to be invited to comment at or about the time that you are reading this. As advised last month, if you are interested in this proposal, watch the notice boards for an announcement of the date of the Parish Council Meeting, at which it is intended to remount (from 6pm) the display seen on 20 August. Unfortunately, depending upon the time that you receive this and the timeframe within which the Parish Council is obliged to operate, it is quite possible that this meeting may already have taken place. If that is the case, you can, of course still examine the plans either at the SODC offices or, by arrangement, via the Clerk to the Parish Council (Jeff Jefford – call 01844 281449).
TopThere is often some uncertainty as to exactly what can and cannot be put in the recycling bin for collection. You may find this aide memoir useful.
SODC DOES NOT COLLECT:
IT DOES COLLECT:
If you are not sure whether a material can be collected or not you can find out by calling SODC on: 01491 823416 or email recycling@southoxon.gov.uk
Keen recyclers in Oxfordshire are now able to dispose of unwanted electrical items from their homes in an environmentally friendly way - thanks to changes introduced by Oxfordshire County Council.
Items such as unwanted toasters, stereos and irons can now be taken to five of Oxfordshire County Council's eight waste recycling centres for the first time. These are at:
The council's other three waste recycling centres at Ardley and Alkerton. Dix Pit near Stanton Harcourt will be able to take the electrical items soon.
Why has this change happened?The changes have been made following the introduction of new national regulations this year to cover the disposal of electrical items from domestic premises.
The introduction of the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Regulations, known as WEEE for short, means that unwanted items of electrical equipment should be taken to a registered site from where they will be taken back for refurbishment or recycling at the cost of the producer.
Further information can be obtained from Oxfordshire County Council on: 0845 050 4550.
TopFire chiefs at Oxfordshire County Council are on the lookout for part-time 'retained' firefighters at many locations in the county. In common with many parts of the country, Oxfordshire is always in need of extra numbers of retained fire-fighters - usually in more rural locations.
This new campaign is looking at attracting new members to the following county council fire stations to cover recent retirements and staff due to retire in the near future.
Being a fire-fighter offers so much more to people's lives and is open to both men and women. Most people are unaware that they actually get paid for this most rewarding of jobs. The average wage is around £6,000 per year! Anyone between the 18- 55 who is reasonably fit, and who lives or works close within five minutes to the station are welcome to apply.
Tony Whiting, who is responsible for recruitment of retained fire-fighters for the fire and rescue service, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for people around these stations to put something back into the community, earn an extra income and at the same time do something extra ordinary and feel part of a real team ethos."
For a full information pack on joining the fire service and to find out on how you could make a difference to the community please call 0800 5870870 or contact Tony Whiting 07796 941341
TopNature Club has now restarted for the Autumn term. In our first session on September 17th, we learnt more about composting and the children made bottle composters so that we can watch the process at work!
We have a wealth of activities planned for the rest of the term, including learning more about butterflies, a visit from some local reptiles, exploring fungi up at the reserve, and learning about renewable energy. We have a number of local wildlife experts coming to talk to the children, so we all look forward to learning something new.
An update on the start of the Ecoschools Silver award will be in November’s Grapevine.
Contact Simon Brignall 01844 281 2827simon.brignall@arocha.org Jane Pendlenton jane.pendlenton@arocha.org
Top“To all the ‘Grapevine Team’ and especially to Louise….. I must say a very big ‘thank you’ for my retirement party. I was quite overwhelmed and almost speechless! The ‘Front Page’ (a framed copy of the front page of October’s edition) was a great idea and it is now hanging in the ‘study’ – which will become more of a ‘studio’ in the near future, when I can make full use of my sketch book and brushes.
The flowers were lovely. Another big thank you to all the ‘cooks’ who produced such a super tea – Derek certainly enjoyed the meringues! He would also like to say thank you for the wine.
Over the years, despite my moans at times, I have enjoyed doing the Grapevine. I hope the new team will get the satisfaction from producing it that I have.
Best wishes Love Kay”
TopIf your child was born between 1st September 2003 and 31st August 2004, you must apply for them to begin school in September 2008. ‘Starting School’ booklets are now available from school. Applications must be submitted by 23rd November and can be made on line at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions or through the school. Applications to join in any other year group can be made through the school office at any time.
The school in Lewknor was built in 1836 and it continues to play a central role in the life of the community. The children use the church a number of times a week and use the village hall and sports field throughout the year. The school plays host to the parish council and Friends of Lewknor School (FOLS) events are attended by people from a variety of people from around the village who are keen to show their support. Most of the pupils come to school from the village of Lewknor and its surrounding villages and a few come from further a field.
Although much of the school is Pre-Victorian (just), the day-to-experiences of the children are anything but. The school has worked hard to update and improve its facilities, in the buildings and in outside spaces and fundraising by FOLS has been instrumental in helping to make things happen. The newly refurbished library and ICT room, together with banks of computers in each classroom mean that pupils’ learning experiences are right up to date.
At present there are 75 pupils on roll, divided into 3 main classes, with the head teacher teaching a fourth group (Year 6) for Literacy and Numeracy in the mornings. This enables the school to have an average class size of 19 for Literacy and Numeracy lessons. Each class teacher is supported by at least one full-time teaching assistant and by our Special Needs Advisory Teacher.
The children have already really settled into the new school year and they have begun their work in earnest. In addition to on-going work in literacy and Numeracy this term, the main topic is all about Teeth and Healthy Living and is entitled ‘Open Wide!’ After the October break our focus will be ‘Go with the Flow’ – a study of rivers, how they evolve and change and the impact they have had on our lives throughout the generations.
If you are interested in a place at the school this year or for a child starting school in September 2008, please contact the school for more information, to meet the staff or for a ‘Starting School’ booklet. LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL 01844 351542 www.lewknor.oxon.sch.uk
TopWinston Churchill, Roger Bannister and Rosamund the Fair are just a few of the famous faces appearing in an exhibition to celebrate a thousand years of Oxfordshire history. Oxfordshire County Council's museum stores have been raided to uncover portraits from the county's past, appearing on knives, spoons, biscuit tins, matchboxes as well as more conventional backgrounds. The exhibition, called Who is Who? A Thousand Years of Oxfordshire Faces, will be on show at the county council's Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, from 22 September to 18 November.
What's on display? Images on display range from popular fairground clowns and legendary characters to exquisitely painted female portraits of local families in velvet lined golden lockets. A beautifully painted cricket bat used to advertise St. Giles brickworks, sits alongside a brass pipe-stopper in the form of a jockey's bust, and some1930s hat stands from Capes Department store in St. Ebbes.
What activities are there? The exhibition includes interactive activities for children and there will be a special programme of events for children during half-term, as well as talks and workshops for adults.
An interactive timeline will provide historical context and a touch screen will reveal how widespread portrait images were before the late 20th century media revolution.
Oxfordshire County Council curator Cherry Gray said: "The exhibition is a wonderful mix of art and artefacts, all of which have a strong link with Oxfordshire and reflect its past in terms of home life, work and play. There's something in it for all the family.
"Many objects have a story to tell, like the uniform of Nurse Cornish who worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital during the First World War.
Museum opening hours: Tues-Sat10am to 5pm; Sun 2-5pm; closed Mondays. Free admission. Telephone: 01993 814104
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