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The Grapevine Magazine March 2004 Issue No 188
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Maggie’s
Cancer Information Centre
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We would like to thank everybody who came to support our Auction of Promises last month. After a somewhat quiet start, our
auctioneer, former Lewknor resident Bill Dormer was glad of his microphone to
keep some kind of order in the rush to bid for ‘lots’. Many parents had made delicious canapés, which went down very well during
the evening, along with the refreshments!
As well as offers of babysitting, computer lessons and logs, there
were many items that couldn’t be bought anywhere else in the country. Local businesses’ gave us hundreds of
pounds worth of gifts, tickets and days out for the family. So you won’t be surprised to hear that we raised a grand total
of £3,300! Which is just fantastic,
and a record for us, until next time........ Please note for your diary the Annual Lewknor School Art Show is over
the weekend of the 26th and 27th
March. There have been many new
artists entering their original work this year, and along with prints, cards
and some lovely pottery from Jane Hanson and our regular potter Eddie Kent,
the show promises to be a big success.
Eddie Kent will be running a ‘hands on’ workshop during
Saturday morning/lunchtime. There will
be lots of homemade lunches and cakes on sale for those who just like to sit
and admire! The catalogues are on sale
for £1, so please come along and
support us, and spend a little time-out of your busy weekend. At the time of going to press there has been no decision by the
Village Shop tenants as to whether they wish to keep the shop on. Every effort has been made to meet with
them and discuss the situation. They are required by South Oxfordshire Housing Association to make a
decision early in March, when the Licence
application is due to be heard at Benson’s first ever 10k Road Race (The Hot Cross Bun Run) is to
be held on Sunday 11 April 2004, at 10.30am. The race will start and finish in Benson and
will take in Rokemarsh, Roke
and Berrick Salome.
So now is the time to send in your entry form and start training. Forms are available from Balfour News and
Gary Smith Butchers, High Street, Benson, andhttp://www.bensonbulletin.com. We also need help with marshalling, time
keeping, giving out drinks and medals etc.
So if you can spare a couple of hours please contact Les on 01491
838585. For further information contact: Mr Les
Bond, Race Organiser, 6 College Farm, Benson, Tel: 01491 838585 PLEASE NOTE: Tom Moore would like to thank the person who
returned his black ruck-sack during the snow. SOMETHING
UNUSUAL from WOODLAND RETREAT with a difference Almost every garden has a shady area which can present a real design
challenge. How do you make it
interesting all year? Spring is fairly
easy with favourites like snowdrops, narcissi, foxgloves, bluebells, cyclamen
and hellebores to call on. But how do
we maintain the interest? Well, with a
bit of imagination, not only can you maintain interest, you can create a
shady area which looks positively tropical all year! First of all, give your spot structure. Look for architectural evergreens with
striking leaf shapes and contrasting colours.
Try Ostrich Plume and Soft Shield ferns, or for real impact, try a
Tree Fern! Don’t forget though
to cover this up in the winter. If you
want a structural shade lover which looks tropical but is hardy, plant the
trusty Fatsia Japonica (Castor Oil plant) with its huge glossy hand-shaped
leaves. For a feathery contrast, put
it with shade loving bamboos. Elegant
Fargesias are a good choice. And for
drama, if your spot is damp and you have room, why not plant a fantastic
Gunnera (Giant Rhubarb)? Or if you don’t have space, try a hosta - and
go for the biggest you can. Hosta Sum
and Substance is ideal. So much for structure - what about colour? If you don’t want to rely on leaf
shapes and tone for interest, there are many plants which flower happily in
low light. These include structural
perennials like Acanthus mollis (Bear’s Breeches), Epimedium
(Bishop’s Mitre), Tricyrtis formosana (Toad Lily) and Iris Sibirica
(Siberian Iris). Be careful if your
spot is dry though because some shade lovers need damp conditions. Finally, for truly exotic colour, why not hang or plant orchids or
bromeliads in your trees? They make a
stunning feature and will really benefit from the fresh air - just remember
to take them inside for winter! My letter in last month’s Grapevine resulted in five people
contacting me and we have already had our first meeting. The book we have selected to discuss in
March is ‘Flaubert’s Parrot’ by Julian Barnes. Other possible books on our list in the
future include biographies, novels and autobiographies and we plan to meet
monthly at my house usually on a Tuesday evening. If anyone else - male or female - would like to join - it’s not
too late to contact me on 350382. Elan Preston-Whyte (Mrs) ‘Knysna’ off Lewknor There are three recent local government initiatives/ programmes that you may wish to know more about and/or express your
views on. They are: SODC’s comprehensive
Performance Assessment details of
which may be found on the website at http://www.southoxon.gov.uk
(click Help, then Search; enter ‘CPA’ then Submit; open the first
file offered). OCC’s Draft community Strategy
for the Oxfordshire Community Partnership details of which may be found on the website at http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk(click
on About Your Council, then Community Strategy). Suspense date for comments is 13 May 2004. SODC’s Draft Community Strategy
for South Oxfordshire details of which may be found on the website at http://www.southoxon.gov.uk(click
Help, then Search; enter ‘Draft Community Strategy’ then Submit;
open the first file offered). The
suspense date for comments (via an online questionnaire) is 12 March 2004. Maggie’s
Cancer Information Centre Maggie’s The centre has an extensive library of books, booklets, leaflets,
audio tapes and videos, as well as an internet resource, to provide accurate
up to date information for anyone affected by cancer. There is an information specialist in the
centre to be available to listen and give reliable guidance. In addition, Maggie’s offers
relaxation classes, support groups and eating for health workshops as well as
a telephone helpline. The centre needs ongoing funding to continue to provide its valuable services,
which over 4000 people a year access.
For more information about Maggie’s please contact Liz (Centre
Manager) or Jessica (Fundraising Coordinator) on 01865 225084, or email mailto:jessica.maggies.centre@ed.ac.uk. New Signs in the School Playground Sadly the school has suffered yet more vandalism to the school
building and fencing. This is costing
the school a lot of money during a time when the budget is tight and is a
waste of police time. You have probably noticed that Oxfordshire County Council have placed
two new signs by the entrances into the school. One is placed by the back gate and the
other has been set up by the main gate.
The signs are there to explain that although outside school hours
everybody may use the pathway from the main gate to the lych gate in order to
get to the church, no one has the right to come onto the playground, grass
area or walk through the side gate by the school when the school is closed. This is because
the land is owned by Oxfordshire County Council and so if you go onto the
site out of hours you are technically trespassing on private property. Oxfordshire County Council want to prevent
the enormous amount of vandalism that is continually caused by certain people
to the school fence and building out of hours and want to encourage other
members of the village to report these offenders and call the police if they
see anyone on school premises loitering by the school buildings in the
evenings. Having said all that, the governors of I think that everyone feels it is such a shame that Oxfordshire County
Council have had to resort to such measures.
It only takes a few people to spoil things for everyone. Sadly, I think if the vandalism does not
improve then we will not be able to allow anyone on to our site outside
school hours. The governors sincerely
hope that the situation improves and does not deteriorate further. School Auction A huge thank you to everyone who came and contributed to our auction
of promises. We managed to raise
approximately £3,300 which was an amazing achievement. School Art Show I hope that many of you will be able to come and see our
children’s art as well as that of local artists during our Art Show
weekend. Please see the advert in the
Grapevine from our Friends of Lewknor School. School Residential Trips Our Years 3 & 4 are going to visit the Kingswood Activity Centre
in Cromer, Our Years 5 & 6 are off to Kilvrough Manor in So it’ll be an exciting end to the term!
Claire Hague Earlier this term Claire and I
had the opportunity to visit one of our Comenius partnership schools
in The Comenius project gives schools the opportunity to form
partnerships with other schools in and around Louise Williams, Head of Key Stage 2
Learning Spanish at This term, we have been learning about By Jordan Boyd & Adam Harrington Year 6 Flamenco dancing On Friday 13 February 04 Lewknor school went up to the village hall to
watch some Flamenco dancing. When we arrived and sat down Laura and Natasha came in. Natasha was wearing a traditional Spanish
dress, which was black and purple, she had her hair up with a rose clip in,
and had special shoes on. When they
had set up, Natasha did three different dances: they were called the
Zapetiado which involves footwork, the Seveanus which involves a man and a
woman (but sadly Natasha didn’t have a man to dance with) and the
Veultus which involves flamenco turns.
After Natasha had shown us the dances she chose some children to have
a go with the castanets, then they performed a routine. Then we all got into pairs and Natasha and
Laura showed us a small part of a dance and we all had a go. After that it was time to go back to
school, so we all said thank you and left the hall. By Laura Nunn Year 5 This term we have been learning about By Jack McIntosh Our Topic This term our topic is The From Dancing is very popular and an occasion for wearing traditional costume. By Kate Tremlin Year 6 This term we have been learning about By James Stone Year 6 It is hard to believe that we are already into the second half of the
term. The first half passed in a
flurry of activity with the children making a wide range of vehicles in a
variety of materials as well as cooking some delicious traffic light biscuits
most of which didn’t make it home as they were judged to be very
scrummy! A walk to school to look at road signs, shapes and traffic was
accomplished on a dry day and allowed the children to have a play at
‘big school’. Convinced that Spring is just around the corner this half-term we will
be focusing on growth - of bulbs, flowers and animals. We will also be planting seeds ready for
our new garden area. With Easter in mind the children will be making some cakes and cards
and will continue their exploration of shapes - eggs taking priority! Charlotte Rose and Lisa Cumming are running a ½ marathon on Sunday 7
March and are accepting sponsorship for this.
The money they raise will go towards outdoor play equipment for
Krakatoa. If you would like to sponsor
them please give them a call on 353743 or 350290. For enquiries - waiting list or general please phone Penny McCulloch -
01844 353 727.
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