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The Grapevine Magazine September 2002 Issue No 173
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Thanks to the efforts of many people (parents, committee, staff and you !), Krakatoa is all set for an explosive start to the new term. From 10th September, the Pre-School will be held at the Jubilee hall, which is a very exciting prospect for us all. Due to some magnificent fund-raising and grant funding, we are able to provide the children with some wonderful new items including a climbing-frame and other gym equipment, percussion instruments and a brand new book corner too. We would like to thank Peter Totoni and Vodafone for donating a mobile phone for pre-school use. The safety and security of the children and staff are very important and this is one way of ensuing easy contact. We have a lot of new children starting Krakatoa this term and we would like to wish them and their families a very happy time with us. KRAKATOA PRE-SCHOOL - at the Jubilee Hall Tuesday - Friday 0900 - 1200 Leader: Jenny Moyle Chairperson: Penny McCulloch (01844 353727) Waiting list Co-ordinator: Denise Harrington (01844 281367). If you would like further information please contact Denise or Penny. We also need a supervisor for 2-3 mornings a week. A willingness to undergo some training is all that's required - so please phone Penny for further details.
10th - 19th May 2003 Some of you may already know that Steve Tappin, our postman, is planning a challenge of a lifetime next year. The trek is the famous Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu in the South American Andes. With 40 other adventurers Steve will acclimatise in Cusco for 2 days, the capital city of the Inca's. Then attempt the 4 day trek across rugged landscapes, camping out in the mountains. It will be freezing at night, and the only water is from streams. Steve's chosen charity is 'Action Research', and over the next few months he will be doing serious fundraising, and of course training. He has put the first £250 himself and intends to raise £2,500 for this leading medical research charity. If you would like to sponsor Steve do stop and talk to him, every little helps. Or you can contact him on 01491 614638. He has said that he will keep us informed of his progress in Lewknor. For those households in South Weston and Postcombe, if you would like to know more, Steve says that he will be happy to leave some literature at Lewknor School.
In the New Village Hall, Lewknor We need local support for a 10 week trial of Short Mat Bowls. This will commence on the 26 September starting 7.15pm for 7.30pm prompt start. ALL ARE WELCOME TO THIS FRIENDLY SPORT - £2 a session - Tuition will be given. Equipment will be provided but please wear flat soled shoes, trainers are acceptable. For further information ring Jill or David Beechey KB 351451. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.
St. Margaret's Church, Lewknor FESTIVAL WEEKEND 14 -15 July 2002 The P.C.C. Would like to express their grateful thanks to all those who provided flower arrangements for the Jubilee Festival Weekend, particularly to Joanna Gordon and her daughter, Lucy. What a marvellous show it was! Our thanks are also due to Paula Dormer and Adrian and Janet Black (for providing the barbecue and games for the children), Barbara Mullins, Joan Baxter and Ernestine (for serving the cream teas) and also to Keith Cullup and Margaret Scruby (for providing music in the church). The combined efforts of all the above made the weekend an outstandingly successful festival. Ian Orr-Ewing, Churchwarden and Chairman P.C.C.
"You may not see me as unique, but I've never died before" OXFORDSHIRE BEFRIENDING NETWORK Volunteers visiting people with life threatening illness at home The Oxfordshire Befriending Network welcomes sensitive, trustworthy and friendly volunteer befrienders to join this lively, rapidly developing local organisation. Excellent free training and support provided. Please contact Catherine Gundry, Regional Manager, on 01865 316200
ST MARGARET'S HARVEST SUPPER on Friday 27 September at 7.30pm in church after supper Colin, Bishop of Dorchester will speak on Does the Village Church have a future? SUPPER FREE - BRING YOUR OWN WINE/DRINKS R.S.V.P.: Paula Dormer 352622 Ian Orr-Ewing 353900
WE NEED MORE HELP WITH GRAPEVINE, COLLECTING NEWS AND ARTICLES, DELIVERING etc For many, many years Alison Ellerton has worked hard on your behalf helping to produce and deliver Grapevine. A very big thank you to Alison before she leaves the village Also a big thank you to Lucy P.T, before she too leaves the village, for her help over the last few years WE NEED YOUR HELP - ring Kay H 353783
Explore the Meaning of Life.... Christianity - Boring, Untrue, Irrelevant? An introduction to the Christian Faith Justin Walk, Professor of Physics, Oxford University will give the introductory talk to our Alpha Course, on Saturday 14 September The course is in the comfort of a home in the Village. Each week a video on a particular aspect of Christianity - history, the Holy Spirit, healing etc, is followed by a discussion- usually a lively one! - and then supper. The course is free. For further details phone: 352622
The Lambert Arms Hotel. The owners of the hotel have submitted a new planning application for development. Although there is current planning permission to extend the hotel by about 40 new bedrooms the owners say that they have been advised that this scheme is not commercially viable. They have been working with a hotel management consultant who set up the Copthorne Group and have submitted a plan to build a three storey block providing 60 new rooms. The bar and restaurant will be improved and a conference room provided. The proposal to hold regular events in a marquee has been abandoned. The parish council has several areas of concern about this new application but decided not to make objections to it. The parish council accepts that the site is unsuitable for the kind of country hotel originally envisaged. It is too close to the M40 and the location is not secluded enough. It is inevitable that the new accommodation will be closely linked to users of the M40 whatever size of hotel is finally approved. Residents in the vicinity of the Lambert Arms are understandably worried about the impact of a large, busy hotel on their doorstep. The S.O.L.E. Group (South Oxfordshire's Local Environment) which is an independent group of residents in our area, has taken an interest in development proposals at the Lambert Arms over several years. The group has strong concerns about the current plans and intends to make objections to S.O.D.C. Their objections are based on the large size of the development, the increased traffic movements and overspill parking. There are also supporters for the plans including Thame Town Council and the Tourist Board. Telecommunications mast at Beacon View. Local residents will be pleased to hear that the proposals to increase the height of the mast have been withdrawn. It is expected, however, that a further application will be made to SODC for the development of the mast to provide a service for the new generation of mobile phones. The parish council has been making strong objections to any further developments of masts in the parish. There are already too many and we are well aware that people have concerns about the impact of the masts on their health. Unfortunately, there is no firm evidence yet to link masts with ill health and SODC cannot take health concerns into account when they determine planning applications. The Ridgeway National Trail/Icknield Way An audit of the surface condition of the trail has been completed and the findings are that 61% of the trail from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon does not meet the agreed set of surface standards. It is no surprise to us because the stretch between Watlington and Lewknor has been badly damaged by 4X4 recreational vehicles and is deeply rutted. Draft proposals for improving the surface are expected to be available for public consultation from October to January next year. The Ridgeway Explorer bus service runs until 27 October. It operates on Sundays and serves the Ridgeway between Swindon - Wantage - Reading. The bus enables people to walk as far as they want and then catch a bus back to their starting point, or take the bus first and then walk. Timetables are available in local libraries, from Weavaway Travel tel: 01635 820028 and from the national Trails Office at Holton on 01865 810224.
LEWKNOR VILLAGE SHOP LEASEHOLDER NEEDED The conversion of the barn at Town Farm, High Street, Lewknor is making progress and it is hoped that the shop will be ready to hand over before the end of the year. The shop will be a major business opportunity and we need people to run it who will be able to meet the needs of our community and see the potential for developing the business over time. The main ingredients for success will be a commitment to providing a good service and a well thought out business plan. It would be very good to find an individual or group from the local villages to run the shop. There are several options possible from one or two people running the business themselves to a properly constituted community group. If you have some retail experience or just lots of enthusiasm there is plenty of help and support available. Helen Datson, the Village Shops Development Worker at Oxfordshire Rural Community Council can provide a full range of advice, information, support and training including:
Helen is very happy to talk to anyone who is interested in becoming the leaseholder of the Lewknor shop. She can be contacted on 01608 810098 or email: helen@onechurchlane.clara.co.uk The village shop project is being managed by the South Oxfordshire Housing Association. Soha will own the freehold of the shop premises and will appoint the leaseholder. Lewknor Parish Council has been working closely with Soha to move the project forward. A local steering group will be set up to maintain links with Soha. The parish council and the steering group will not have any role or responsibility for the management of the shop. They will just provide a local source of information for Soha about how the shop is doing. Soha is involved because they think the shop is an important community resource and they have an interest in the parish through ownership of their housing stock. Lewknor will be the first village shop they have owned and they are very keen that the project succeeds. The shop will be leased for a period of seven years on a low rent. This may be in the region of £3,000/4,000 but has yet to be finalised. The leaseholder will have the benefit of being able to let for rent the upstairs area of the shop premises for use by another local business, for example a hairdressers etc. and this will provide a useful, guaranteed income. At this time there is no opportunity to provide post office facilities on site. Soha is preparing a suitable lease and anyone interested is welcome to discuss this, or any other aspect of the shop, with Michelle Briggs at Soha on 01235 515900. Soha is currently applying for grants to provide good facilities at the shop. Further grants could well be available for fitting out the shop with shelving and equipment. It need not be a major financial investment for the new leaseholder/leaseholders although some financial commitment will obviously be required. We are looking for people who would love to run their own business or to set up a community enterprise. People who want to provide a good service and have the imagination to develop a really successful village shop.
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