|
The Grapevine Magazine March 2000 Issue No 147
|
|
|
|
To: Grapevine From: Watlington Hospital League of Friends Sadly, Watlington Hospital looks set to close finally on February 25th. We have all fought a hard battle to save the hospital, and I have not met anyone who feels that this is anything other than a great mistake made by the Health Authority. One of the great joys to the patients over many years has been the help given by the community through the many volunteers who have willingly given their time and energy (and money) towards the work of the hospital. I am therefore writing to thank them all, on behalf of the League of Friends, for everything that has been done. Whether it has been driving patients to and from the hospital, providing teas (and such delicious ones too), running the reception desk, helping in the Monday Club, wheeling the book and sweet trolley, arranging flowers or entertaining and supporting the patients in many other ways, the volunteers have helped to make our hospital a happy and very special place. Maybe there will be a new role to be played by the League to help within the community. Possibly we will be asking for more drivers, for example, to help patients to reach their treatments in other hospitals. We wait and see. Meanwhile, once again thank you so very much to everyone who has given willing help during the past years. Ursula Clissold, Chairman, The League of Friends of Watlington & District Community Hospital Speed Restrictions - Postcombe Postcombe is to become something of a guinea pig in that OCC are planning to use the village to assess the effectiveness of some alternative means of encouraging drivers to reduce their speed. In the not too distant future we can expect to see some minor rearrangement of signs at the north western end of the village; the red strips on the road surface at each end of the village being refreshed; two more such strips being provided in the built-up area; and 30 mph roundels being added to the two original strips. Springclean 2000 SODC has proposed that 1st April should be a 'Springclean' week. The idea being for the public to make a positive effort clean-up their local area. While the Parish Council does not intend that we should participate in the effort on a formal basis, it would be helpful if people out for a stroll could take a bin bag with them and pick up small pieces of rubbish from verges and open areas. SOHA Representative South Oxfordshire Housing Association's Tenant Participation Officer Dominique le Prevost is attempting to recruit a network of residents to assist in the running of the association and the dissemination of information. Anyone with an interest in volunteering is invited to call Ms le Prevost on 01235 515987. Oxford/London Bus Service There has been some publicity in the local press recently about government funding being awarded to Oxfordshire County Council for a scheme to provide a minibus service to link with the bus stops at M40 junction 6. The new minibuses are intended to serve all potential passengers including people with disabilities. At first glance this seems to be a good idea but, unfortunately, the County has not done its homework properly and has not fully planned how the scheme might work. The parish council has the idea that the County did not expect to get the funding and only suggested the scheme as a long shot. The problems, as always with these bus stops, are concerned with safety. There simply have been no proposals which can make the stops safe to use. Even the use of minibus link services would not overcome the risks. For example, where would passengers returning from London or Oxford who want to return to Watlington be able to catch the minibus back? Presumably the stops would have to be on the opposite side of the road. Would wheelchair users really be expected to cross the B4009 near motorway access roads? How safe would it be for people to cross the road and wait at these new stops and how safe would it be for the minibuses to stop on the B4009 especially at busy periods in the morning and evening? There is already a record of serious accidents at the London facing slip road. The parish council supports the proposal to locate a properly established park and ride facility at junction 5 at Stokenchurch. This proposal is promoted both by Oxfordshire County Council and SODC. So far discussions with Wycombe District Council have made little progress but Oxfordshire is pressing Buckinghamshire to agree. A proper park and ride facility would provide safe access, good parking and reasonable facilities for passengers. Lewknor people who currently risk their lives to reach the stops at junction 6 would either have a short car journey up the hill or have access to a minibus feeder service. The County Council accepts that the existing stops at junction 6 are far from satisfactory and are unsuitable in the long term. It is ridiculous to spend nearly £230,000 on them when a permanent scheme at an alternative location is under discussion. Not only would it be a complete waste of public money but the expenditure would not make the stops safer to use. Local experience proves that there have been a number of 'near misses' between pedestrians using the stops and vehicles travelling along the B4009. It is the Parish Council's view that there is a fatal accident just waiting to happen. The message to everyone walking or driving in the vicinity of junction 6 is to be extremely careful. We completed the theme of 'Our World' at half-term celebrating with each child making their own flag, with much paint and waving! With these flags we waved goodbye to four very grown-up boys, Elliot Bayliss, David Black, Hugo Dormer and Jonathon Murray, who are all starting in Miss Stoker's class after half term. They are very familiar with the school having been through the playgroup and seem to have plenty of friends already. We will miss them and wish them well in their school careers. The theme for the next half term is the Senses. Young children rely more strongly on some senses than others and we will have particular fun with some very tactile activities. My particular favourite is 'whipped fabric conditioner" which has to be felt to be believed but sandpaper letters, worst smells ever, cooking, music etc, all stimulate awareness of senses for the children. We hope that Elisabeth Gowens, newly moved to the village, Matthew Murray, George Graham and Edward Collins all find these fun activities as they start at Krakatoa. We are particularly excited to be opening an outside play area for the children. There is a purpose built area between the new classroom and the school which we will use as an extension of our classroom with sand, water play, see-saws etc. encouraging children to play in the beautiful spring sunshine. (Watch it rain..) We have another cake stall in Thame on Tuesday 28th March between 10-12am. We will be outside the NatWest Bank so please come and support your local playgroup or if you have any produce for our stall Lucy P-T (354533) would be grateful for it. We are very grateful to the Friends of Lewknor School for allowing us to share their Jumble Sale on Saturday March 4th and hope to see many of you there. For further information about the Playgroup please contact Lucy P-T (354533) or Christine Smith (353283). By Natalie O'Donovan On the 23rd January 2000 I took part in the performance of the Oxfordshire 'Our Town Story' at the Millennium Dome. It was great - all the getting up early on Saturday mornings was definitely worth it. On the Sunday morning by 7.00 am we were on the bus on the way to the Dome. You could tell everyone was excited because we were all shouting. When we were near the Dome we saw the Big Wheel, The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, which made me more excited because I'd never been there before. When we reached the Dome we were taken straight to a dressing room with a toilet and Mini Cafe. We were put into groups and told which chaperone we were with. I was with Miss Wood and my friends Emily and Elly. We were told what times the rehearsals were and the actual 3 performances. We were given a necklace with a key and badge on. We were asked what we wanted from Macdonalds, as we were promised one for lunch. The first thing we did was we were taken to the theatre to practise. We had to wear jumpers saying Macdonalds 'Our Town Story' when we weren't performing. Our performance was about Alice in Wonderland going through the history of Oxfordshire. I was the Queen of Hearts' maid in waiting, a student, the Ashmoleum museum, a reader and a car. It was fantastic because the scenery was white boards hooked on to people like a rucksack. So the part when Alice fell down a well instead of the rabbit hole it was the boards turning round. The rest of the props were white books and white horses. We looked around a few Zones and I had my picture taken with E.T. and we saw the big show. The performers from the big show watched our first performance and said how good it was. The whole day was fabulous and I will always remember it.
|
|
|