The Grapevine Magazine
December 2001 Issue No 165
You may remember that soon after we launched the Lewknor Website we had an enquiry from a lady in Australia who was trying to trace her ancestors - we were able to help her and also put her in touch with other Australians also looking for the same ancestors!
Just recently we had another enquiry from Australia, via the website, from Tony Porter who had traced his mother's line back to the Dittons and Hobbs families of Aston Rowant and Lewknor in the 18th century. He was due to visit England and asked if we could help. We did ! - with the result that when he visited last week (he spent an hour with us) we were able to get him a copy of Aston Rowant's Millenium book 'At the Foot of the Chilterns' by Di Eaton and Jan Gooders and also to get a print out of parish records concerning Dittons (64 mentions!) and Hobbs (3 entries). He was delighted.
Looking at the book of the History of Aston Rowant, Kingston Blount and Crowell made me think that it would be very good if we had a similar one for Lewknor.
As the year ends may I thank again Lucy, Caroline and Alison for their help in getting the copy together for Grapevine - keep your articles etc. coming, but please let me have them by the 20th of the month. Thank you too to all who trudge around the villages delivering Grapevines - I'm sure it is much appreciated.
May I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year and we'll see you next at the beginning of February.
Miss Anne Spalding celebrated her 90th birthday last weekend. There was a party given for her by the Wednesday Morning Coffee ladies who provided a wonderful tea including a spectacular birthday cake made by Mrs Elkins in the shape of 90. It had charming pink sugar roses all over it and crystallized violets and was most delicious.
Mr Ken Witney provided music for the party with familiar songs and tunes. Mr Ian Orr-Ewing gave a toast to 'Miss Anne Spalding' and we all raised our glasses to a kind, interesting, funny and most splendid woman who has been part of Lewknor life for many, many years and we look forward to her remaining so for a long time to come.
Christmas Services - at St Margaret's Church, Lewknor
FRIDAY 14th DEC 9.00am Christingle
SUNDAY 16th DEC 6.30pm Nine Lessons and Carols
MONDAY 24th DEC 5.00pm Crib Service
MONDAY 24th DEC 11.30pm Midnight Communion Service
LETTER To: Everyone in Lewknor
From: Anne Spalding St John's Home St Mary's Road, Oxford
Thank you for the utterly lovely party you made for me. Thank you, too, for beautiful cards and presents. Being 90 and having two parties I have got the weeist bit muddled about who gave me what, but I am just as full of thanks.
2p UPDATE - WE HAVE DONE IT HURRAY!
Christmas has come early this year for the children of Belaunde School and Lewknor School. Thanks to the many people who supported this appeal and in particular to a special customer of the Postcombe garage who left a bucket full of change for us - we have reached our target and have raised over a kilometre worth of 2p's - £806 (that is 1007.5 metres).
As you know £403 will go to Belaunde School in Peru and £403 to Lewknor School. We already sent £285 to Peru with Anna Pelly-Fry who sent me an e-mail last week to confirm she had met with Alejandro Mesco, the Pastor in charge of building the school and had given him the money.
The rest of the money will be sent through the SAMS organisation. On behalf of Belaunde School and Lewknor School I would like to thank everyone who has helped us along the way. A special thank you goes to the Postcombe garage, all its customers and in particular to Chris.
On the evening of Saturday 17th November 'The Heart of England Jazz Band' filled St Margaret's church with a programme of traditional and Dixieland Jazz. The talent these six men from Birmingham had was amazing, not only could they produce wonderful sounds from their instruments but they could use their vocal chords as well!!
You didn't need to ask the audience whether they enjoyed the performance because going by all the toe tapping, finger tapping and some dancing, they enjoyed themselves just as much as the Band did performing to us. Hopefully, these talented men will be returning to play for us again next year - if you missed them this time be sure not to next!!
Fundraising for Watlington Hospital Charitable Trust in South Weston
Nearly forty people all packed in to Saint Lawrence Church, South Weston to watch Sue Bailey-West who had generously agreed to demonstrate her unique approach to the use of flowers and foliage for the Christmas Season. She is a highly trained professional flower arranger in constant demand at weddings and prestigious events. After training in Scotland and a course with Constance Spry she worked as a florist in the Savoy Hotel, London. She donated hours of her time and her skills absolutely free in the cause of Watlington Hospital Funds. Following the demonstration we watched her decorate the church font with stunning flowers from Covent Garden while glasses of delicious bucks Fizz were circulated - An elegant sit down lunch was served at Greenacres at five large tables. A great deal of hard work and weeks of organisation had gone in to this fund-raising event and the two hostesses Janie Garforth-Bles and Alison Maquire are greatly to be congratulated on such an enterprising idea and marvellously planned day. The home-cooked hot lunch was just scrumptious! The event raised the magnificent total of £905.
The children have had a very creative term, making parachutes (which really do work), some beautiful leaf-prints from leaves gathered on our recent walk to the recreation ground - on a glorious sunny morning, and some sparkling firework pictures. Now, with our term rapidly drawing to a close, we are turning our thoughts to Christmas and all the excitement that brings. Matthew Murray will be starting school in the New Year and we wish him a very happy time there. We had an informative visit from the 'Footsteps'' adviser and next term the children will be out and about increasing their traffic awareness skill. Following a well-attended AGM we now have a new committee - full of ideas for fund-raising and social events - many thanks to you all. Denise Carrington will be co-ordinating the waiting list and she can be contacted via the school or call in to a pre-school session. A new prospectus is being prepared which will be ready in the New Year.
THAME & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
Your local CAB is appealing for more volunteer advisers. Would you like to:
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Help your local community
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Become part of a dynamic team
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Meet new people
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Gain invaluable experience and skills
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Receive accredited training
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Build up your confidence
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Achieve satisfaction
If you are interested call the Training Officer for further information and an application pack on: 01844 217186 (THIS IS NOT AN ADVICE LINE)
If you do not wish to train as an adviser you could still help the CAB by volunteering to become a member of the Management Committee or by assisting with administration, eg reception, IT or clerical tasks.
Owing to the recent problems with all aspects of refuse collection SODC are engaging a new contractor. In the meantime the mobile skip service has been suspended until further notice.
REFUSE/RECYCLING COLLECTION DAYS CHRISTMAS 2001 AND NEW YEAR
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Normal Collection Day |
Day to be Collected |
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WEEK 1 |
17-21 December |
Normal collection |
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WEEK 2 |
Monday 24 December 01 |
Normal collection |
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Tuesday 25 Dec - no collection |
Saturday 29 Dec |
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Wed. 26 Dec - no collection |
Wednesday 2 Jan |
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Thursday 27 December |
Normal collection |
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Friday 28 December |
Normal collection |
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WEEK 3 |
Monday 31 December |
Normal collection |
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Tuesday 1 Jan. - no collection |
Tuesday January 8 |
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Wednesday 2 January |
Normal collection |
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Thursday 3 January |
Normal collection |
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Friday 4 January |
Normal collection |
All normal collections resume Monday 7 January
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR REFUSE OUT FOR COLLECTION ON DAYS OTHER THAN COLLECTION DAY
The civic amenity sites at Oakley Wood, Drayton, and Redbridge will be closed Christmas day, Boxing day and New Years day, but will be open as normal on all other days over the Christmas period. Visit this Councils website at www.southoxon.gov.uk for opening times and further information.
After an excellent Jumble Sale on Saturday 13th October which boosted our funds by over £450, we bought the School amongst other things two computer benches, specialist points and coach transport for several outings.
The Friends AGM took place last week followed by a welcome glass of wine. We discussed informally our ideas for 2002, and a date has been set for the weekend of 9th and 10th March for our Art Show. Please do contact me if you would like to exhibit, or know of anyone I could send a letter to. We will also repeat our live music and auction of promises evening in the Summer Term; so also get in touch if you have any ideas for auction bids, or can offer any ideas. Merry Christmas from all of us on the FOLS committee.
Caroline Hjorth
on
SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER
at
St Margaret's Church, Lewknor
Admission £3.50/ £2.00 (child)
Contact for tickets 01844 354533
This production uses acting, puppetry, magic lanterns and Victorian Juvenile Theatre techniques. With beautiful coloured costumes, music, dances and bright footlights our 'penny plain' can create the best Toy Theatre in London.
This show is suitable for children 5 years and above
Thank-you to everyone who has kept the churchyard under control during 2001. After the strenuous efforts last Autumn and the regular mowing this year, the church yard looks better than ever. I hope that you will be able to continue next year and if anyone else wishes to lend a hand, please give me a ring on 354237.
A very Happy Christmas to you all.
Robin Notley
The first meeting of the Thame Area Forum was held on 25 October 01. The main issue of the forum was the possible loss of the Magistrates' Court. Items suggested for future meetings:
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Affordable Housing
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Healthcare provision (Primary Care Trusts)
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Care for the Elderley (Meadowcroft)
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Transport (rail and bus services)
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Community and Arts facilities in Thame and the surrounding area
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Consultation on the District Council's budget proposals for 2002/03.
Venue for future meetings - it was agreed that the forum should meet in different locations throughout the area. Next meeting in January-look out for venue.