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december 2016 editiOn 301
Lewknor Primary School dress in Victorian costume for the 180th anniversary of the school.
news frOm the Parish here we are already at the last issue of 2016 and thank you to everyone that has read and hopefully even enjoyed the grapevine over the last year. as usual i get time off for good behaviour so there will not now be another edition until the end of january. so, what have we to look forward to in december, apart from the obvious? There will be carols at st. Margaret’s on 4th december at 5pm and jean senior will be hosting the annual carol concert at town farm on 22nd of december at 7pm. There have been many exciting events at Lewknor school over the last term, including the whole school dressing as victorians (pictured above), a full report starts on page 6.
That’s about it for this year. The entire staff of The grapevine (me), wish you a wonderful and joyful christmas and a hale and hearty new year! don’t forget to hang your stockings but remember to take them off first. dates for the diary 2nd december at 9am: christingle service at st margaret’s 4th december at 5pm: carols at st margaret’s 22nd december at 7pm: carols at town farm The grapevine can be viewed online and in glorious technicolor here: https://issuu.com/grapevinezine/docs
frOm the editOr
If you have any suggestions, or would like to write a regular column, submit a piece to be included in the next edition or have a local photograph new or old, please contact Sara-Jane on the new Grapevine email address: grapevinemagazine@hotmail.com.
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Town Farm Carols Thursday 22nd December at 7 pm
Sung by our lovely Festival Choir
Everyone welcome to Join us for a sing along, Mulled wine and mince pies and to meet old and new friends
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St. Margaret’s Church
Will host a service of 9 LESSONS AND CAROLS on Sunday 4th December at 5 p.m. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served after the service All welcome 3
THE GRAPEVINE december 2016
BOOK CLUB at lewknoR
of life with home-grown food, simple meals and religious rituals with reverence to an allseeing God.
The plot of the book involves a wide cast of characters with the action following the the year of the flood key protagonists as they struggle to survive Margaret Attwell in a rapidly disintegrating world with food The Year of the Flood by Margaret Attwell running low, feral gangs and threatened by was a hefty read not only in the number strange, genetically- engineered animals of pages but its content. This is a novel which have escaped from captivity and are of a future dystopic world in which the now running wild. population has been decimated by the ‘dry’ f lood of the title, a plague of an unspecified It is a well written novel but deeply unpleasant kind. Two survivors of the illness are women to read. However, it does involve the reader to Toby and Ren, who unknown to each other read on to discover its end which is reached at the beginning of the novel find their lives after 516 pages. We are going to have to read the sequel sometime to find out what will be inextricably linked. the final solution. Toby was rescued some fifteen years earlier from the depraved clutches of Blanco, the The non-fiction book by Horatio Clare, Down manager of the Secret Burger restaurant to the Sea in Ships, was our next read, which (which serves food manufactured from was a description by the author of the year he disgusting sources but so f lavoured that it spent on two very different container ships as tasted delicious) by a religious sect known as writer in residence. He played no part in the the Gardeners led by Adam. She is renamed running of the ship but observed the various Eve and under the tutelage of an older woman seamen, their characters, their relationships Petra becomes skilled in the knowledge of with each other and their respective roles. The first voyage he took was on the very the growing and use of medicinal plants. large Dutch ship, the Maersk Gert, joining Ren on the other hand is much younger it at Felixstowe and travelling with it to Los woman who ran away from home after Angeles via the Suez Canal, Vietnam and college and initially joined Adam’s sect Japan. He had to disembark at Suez and where she meets Eve. However, resenting rejoin the ship in Singapore as the company the restrictions placed on her life by the was not prepared to run the risk of the ship requirements of the sect she leaves and ends being hijacked by Somalian pirates with him up recruited as a dancer in an upmarket sex as a potential British hostage on board. club. She has escaped the f lood because she has been isolated and locked in a special part Clare describes the weather and the sea of the club after a suspected contamination which he encounters during the voyage incident during a fight in the club in which and which form the major components of his story. Somehow he manages to find a Blanco was involved. multitude of words for the different types of The novel brilliantly describes how the f lood waves he encounters to convey the violence has been caused which has resulted in the and unpredictability of Nature’s combination collapse of civilised society. It suggests that its of wind and water. We are given vignettes precursors were reckless commercialisation, of the crew on board and his main concern financial corruption and ignoring the is the iniquity of the treatment of the consequences of climate change. Only the Asian crew, mainly Philippinos, who are Gardeners have preserved a ‘natural’ order paid considerably less than their European
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THE GRAPEVINE december 2016 counterparts but who are desperate for the but just as well-off individual who is able to jobs offered. give her what she seemingly wants. Clare’s second journey was a ship in far less good condition than the Maersk. He describes it as a rusting hulk transporting cargo obtained from around the world from Antwerp to Montreal via the North Atlantic along the route that the convoys in World War II would have taken, then with the added threat of submarines en route.
Meanwhile, Lena continues at school doing progressively well but at the same time feeling that all her scholastic achievements cannot compare with the glamorous life of Lila, with her adoring fiancé, their sports car and apartment in a new neighbourhood. The novel ends on an ambiguous note but with three more novels to follow, the reader anticipates that any loose ends left in the Throughout his account, Clare includes story will be picked up and explored in these. extracts from his extensive reading of seafaring books which add to the pleasure Our book for December is Children of the of the book and, despite all our group being Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani. If you are female and while the enjoyment factor varied interested in joining the bookclub, we meet between us, we all recognised the quality on Wednesday evenings monthly and I can be and beauty of the writing and agreed we had contacted on the number below. all vicariously experienced the pains and El a n Pr eston-W hy te 01844 350 382 pleasures of a long sea voyages. Our next book was by the enigmatic Italian author who writes under the pen name of Elena Ferrante. My Brilliant Friend is the first book of her quartet of novels based in Naples, and describes the intertwined lives of two young girls, Lila Cerullo and Elena Groce, who grow up in their artisan community of suburban Naples in the 1950s and 60s. While it is Lila who labels Elena ‘My brilliant friend’ towards the end of the book, until then the reader has been led to believes that it is Lila who is the ‘brilliant friend’. We see Lila through Lena the narrator’s eyes and she is portrayed initially as an easy rival to Lena in her scholastic ability and her courageous character in which she tests herself in difficult and dangerous situations whilst in their neighbourhood but is less sure of herself when outside it. The novel introduces us to the members of the other families who interact with the two girls as they grow up and it is Lila who develops at the age of 15 into a stunningly beautiful, if unusual young woman, who attracts the attention of all the eligible men around her. She rejects the advances of one wealthy suitor choosing instead a less showy
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men and even one or two spies.
olunteered to talk to the children about their jobs and we had very interes7ng talks from son (both nurses), Mrs Durston (a photographer), Mrs Seston (a police officer for Thames THE GRAPEVINE december 2016 Pearce (a Bri7sh Airways pilot), and Mr Weston (a volunteer Scout leader).
ow the children that there is a wide variety of jobs and careers out there and to tell them nything they want to be, though it oLen requires hard work to achieve their dreams.
Lewknor C of E
raised cash for Ac7on Aid. Thank you to Mrs Wakefield, our Lower Juniors’ teacher, for nt—it really was fascina7ng and fun! Primary School
Community Newsletter
Big me day of Lewknor primary 180 years ago. The recently children came to school dressed children learned all about victorian school on! up in clothes they would wear for the career days, such as the strict discipline, how boys back in 7me when they dressed as Victorians to mark the opening of Lewknor Primary they would like to choose once they leave and girls had to sit separately, how teaching education. we had astronauts, doctors, nurses, was by repetition (for example, whole class tv presenters, chefs, vets, beauty therapists, a reciting the times tables), how ‘naughty’ jockey, fashion designers, a builder, an artist, children had to stand in the corner wearing a fairground worker, soldiers (sas), raf a dunce hat, and how the class was expected servicemen, fishermen and even one or two to stand when an adult came into the room spies. several parents, volunteered to talk to and could only sit down when they were told the children about their jobs and we had very to do so. interesting talks from Mr and Mrs nicholson (both nurses), Mrs durston (a photographer), Mrs seston (a police officer for Thames valley traffic), Mr pearce (a british airways pilot), LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXFORDSHIRE OX49 and Mr weston (a volunteer scout leader).The5TH Headteacher: Mrs D Cole idea was to show the children that there is a Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: office.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk wide variety of jobs and careers out there and to tell them that they can be anything they want to be, though it often requires hard work ed all about Victorian schooldays such as the strict discipline, how boys and girls had to to achieve their dreams. The mufti day also w teaching was by repe77on (for example, whole reci7ng 7mes tables), how Lewknor resident raised cash for action aid. Thank youclass to Mrs Ththe e photograph shows had to stand in the corner wearing a dunce hat, and how the class was expected to stand wakefield, our Lower juniors’ teacher, for barbara scott, who attended the school from me into the room and could only sit down when they were told to do so. organising the event—it really was fascinating the mid-Thirties to the early forties, spoke to and fun! the children about her memories and answered 180 year celeBration! their many questions. she recalled how it was children stepped back in time when they very cold in the classrooms because the only dressed as victorians to mark the opening heat came from the small fireplaces and how
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the teachers would stand in front of them and their acting was superb. preventing the heat from getting out. we have some old log books and diaries kept by previous head teachers and their comments are extremely interesting and often amusing. Mrs scott, who still lives in the house she grew up in, was joined by some other old boys and girls (sarah smith, alan ashby and Karen avery), who currently have their own children at Lewknor.
highWay man children in upper juniors have been studying the poem The highwayman by alfred noyes and enjoyed it so much that they performed it at a recent friday celebration assembly. The children had learned the poem off by heart
marvelous marimBa music upper juniors took part in a marimba workshop in st Margaret’s church. the workshop was led by jan Merrow smith, who has lived in botswana for eight years. Marimbas are a bit like big xylophones and the children played on baritone and tenor marim. The children learned a little of what life is like in botswana, including how children play sport in bare feet, about the wild animals, and how Mrs Merrow smith would buy dried Morphane worms for her children to eat in their packed lunches. at the end of the day, they gave a performance to the school, which sounded wonderful in the church.
LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXON OX49 5TH Headteacher: Mrs D Cole Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: office.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk
fiXmystreet.cOm as some of you may be aware, there have been several incidents of flytipping in the area. hosehold waste was dumped on salt Lane, whilst garden waste and tyres were left on hill road near the ridgeway. several people reprted it to fixmystreet.com and it was dealt with quickly. The service is really easy to use and you can report anything you see that needs fixing in the local area by visitng: fixmystreet.com and filling out a simple online form.
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news frOm KraKatOa
for any updates, you will fi nd us on facebook and of course our website. Many thanks jeanette, denise and julie
eXtra sUPPOrt dUring a POwer cUt
we have had a fantastic autumn so far. The children have enjoyed singing lots of autumn songs. They have also enjoyed walking around the field to collect conkers and watch the leaves change colour. however, the best news is that we now have a new playground!! Th is was completed at the beginning of november and the children have enjoyed playing on a new, safer surface. we have an alphabet snake and a hopscotch for the children to follow as well as different shapes for the children to learn. The children also have a tree bench to sit and read books! Th is has been possible through lots of fundraising, generous donations and assistance from oxfordshire county council. everyone at Krakatoa thanks everybody who has helped to make this happen.
Extra support for you during a power cut Join our Priority Services Register
scottish and southern electricity (sse) is offering extra help to people who would be particularly affected if there was a power cut, such as the elderly or infirm. This service is free and registration can be done online, one the phone or on a form which can be returned by freepost. Once you’re on the register, if there is a sustained power cut, SSE’s Emergency Service Centre will call you during the outage, checking you are ok and giving you updates on the estimated time of power restoration. in addition, sse say they would come out and ensure you are looked after, such we recently had an autumn lunch where the as offering hot meals, drinks and reassurance. It’s children sang and performed autumn songs for a free service and any information provided is their parents and guests. Th is was followed by strictly confidential. our lunch where everyone enjoyed tucking into jacket potatoes! call 0800 294 3259 If you are calling from a mobile call christmas is fast approaching and the children 0345 072 1900 or 0800 316 5457 for text will attend christingle at the church, joining phone Lewknor primary school and of course practicing their christmas play! ssepd.co.uk/PriorityServicesRegister
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christmas cooking for children
until a skewer poked into the centre comes out clean, with just cake crumbs stuck to it, not wet batter. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin on a wire rack. 3. Remove the cake from the tin and use a serrated knife to cut it into 8 wedges. Turn each one so that the round, outside edge is facing you, and push a lollipop or cake pop stick through the middle of the outside edge. Remember to leave enough of the stick poking out for you to hold. 4. Mix the food colouring and icing sugar with enough water to make an icing that is a bit runny, but still quite stiff. Try drizzling a bit on a spare piece of paper; you want it to stay in strips, not run all over the place.
CHRISTMAS TREE POPS Ingredients 100g butter at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 100g golden caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 medium eggs 100g self-raising flour 3 tbsp cocoa powder 3 tbsp milk 300g icing sugar, sifted green food colouring sprinkles, for decorating (we used sugar snowflakes and mini Smarties) 8 lollipop or cake pop sticks, to serve
5. Spoon some icing over each cake wedge (you can cover it completely or drizzle lines across them in a tree shape). Decorate with sugar snowflakes and mini Smarties, then lift onto a wire rack and leave to set completely (this will take a few hours). Iced cakes will keep in the tin for up to 2 days. The uniced cake can be frozen for up to 6 months. Defrost completely before cutting and decorating. Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2014
Method 1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20cm round cake tin and line the base with a circle of baking parchment. 2. Put the butter in a big mixing bowl with the sugar and vanilla extract, and mix until it looks creamy. Crack in the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each one. Sift the flour and cocoa together, add to the bowl with the milk and stir everything together until smooth. Spoon into the cake tin and use the back of a wooden spoon to spread the top to make it as flat as you can. Bake for 20 mins
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...not even a mouse
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!
Friday mornings 9.30-11.30am Chinnor Village Hall TiddlyPeeps is a friendly social group for mums to be, parents, grandparents, nannies, childminders, babies and toddlers. TiddlyPeeps is a friendly social group for mums parents, grandparents, nannies, childminders, TiddlyPeeps is a non-profit making organisation, run byto abe, committee of volunteers, first started in July carers, 2007.
babies and toddlers. TiddlyPeeps is a non-profit making organisa=on, run by a commi>ee of volunteers, first started in July 2007. We pride ourselves on being a very friendly and welcoming group and are very fortunate to have have a supportive,
friendly and enthusiastic committee.
We pride ourselves on being a very friendly and welcoming group and are very fortunate to have have a
suppor=ve, friendly and enthusias=c commi>ee (all of whom can be recognised by their commi>ee badges!) As well as the usual selection of baby, toddler and pre-school toys, we regularly put out play dough and arts and crafts (seasonal when appropriate). We have home-made cakes once a month, story week and messy play week as well as As well as the usual selec=on of baby, toddler and pre-school toys, we regularly put out play dough and arts other visitors in between. Please see our website for dates. and craJs (seasonal when appropriate). We also have home-made cakes one Friday a month, messy play and
occasional visitors. We generally run every Friday morning from 9.30-11.30am in Chinnor Village Hall. We stop play at approximately 10.30am to allow the children to have a drink and a biscuit (provided), followed by singing, usually led by a committee member. We £2.00 family tomorning cover our running costs. in Chinnor Village Hall. We stop play at We charge generally run per every Friday from 9.30-11.30am approximately 10.30am to sit down and the children have a drink and a biscuit (both provided) - this is
We are always looking for new members to join our committee… we can make the occasional meeting and toy cleaning followed by singing, which is usually led by a commi>ee member. We charge £1.50 per family to cover our session quite a fun time! If you are in joining our committee, please whose speak support to Vickywe Ashby, a committee running costs. Tea/coffees for interested adults are served by dedicated local volunteers, are most member atgrateful for. TiddlyPeeps or e-mail the committee (address below). We look forward to meeting you! If you would like to get in touch or would like more details, please feel free to contact us.
www.#ddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk e-mail@#ddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk or ask to join our facebook page - TiddlyPeeps
LEWKNOR PARISH COUNCIL www.lewknor-pc.org.uk
Below are the planning applications that have been considered by the Council and their current status: i) p16/P2404/hh the manor, lewknor The construction of an ancillary annex within the curtilage of The Manor refused ii) p16/S2498/FUL 9 shirburn road, lewknor Demolition of existing 2 cottages and erection of 2 dwellings with garages approved iii) p16/S2905/hh 10 high street, lewknor Additional single storey side extension to previously approved application P15/S0382/HH approved v) p16/s3088/ful telecommunication base station wood 2 hill road, lewknor Replacement of existing 8m high pole with proposed 10m high pole, installation of 1 no. proposed equipment cabinet; plus ancillary apparatus approved v1) p16/s3162/hh mill house, south weston Alteration/extension to existing private dwelling decision awaited vii) p16/s3497/ful 9 shirburn road, lewknor Variation on application p16/s2498/ful: ammendment of house design decision awaited
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!
Your friendly local plumbing and hea5ng engineers. We provide a professional approach to all your plumbing and hea5ng needs: Gas and Oil boiler changes, repairs and servicing Unvented hot water systems servicing Underfloor hea5ng servicing and repairs Landlord gas safety cer5ficates Minor plumbing repairs and replacements Hea5ng system power flushing All other related services Contact us today for a free quota0on
01844 281910 service@andershea0ng.co.uk
St. Mary Magdalen Church, Stoke Talmage
Carols by Candlelight
Friday, 23rd December at 7.30 p.m.
Christmas Day Holy Communion 9.00 a.m. EVERYONE IS WELCOME
Christmas wreaths are for sale in the Church porch from 1st December
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DAISY
Hello, my name is daisy, and i am a very prett y 10 year old, grey and white, shorthaired cat. the team here at Blue cross, lewknor, are helping my current owner to find me a loving, new home. as you can see, i am a gorgeous girl, but looks are not everything so i would like to tell you a little more about myself… i would describe myself as being a lovable, laid back lap cat. i really enjoy the company of humans, especially if they give me food and some TlC. i am a chatt y lady and will talk to you if you talk to me; i also love fuss, in particular being brushed and chin rubs! i like my home comforts and i will happily amuse myself by eating, playing, sleeping or scratching one of my scratching posts. i am used to having access to the outside world and like to have a potter around but don’t worry, i don’t go too far and i have been used to coming home at night time. all in all i think that i am a lovely little cat and have a lot to offer the right person, couple or family – could this be you!?
LewKnOr bLUe crOss LOndOn rOad (a40), LewKnOr, OX49 5ry 0300 777 1500
i am really looking forward to starting my new adventure so please contact the centre if you are interested in offering me a new home, you could be the one who helps me begin my fresh start and i could be the one to be your new best friend!
Watlington gardening cluB watLington gardening cLub is hoLding its very popuLar christMas Quiz and sociaL on wednesday 7 th deceMber. why not join our gardening club or come as a visitor to see if you enjoy our talks? The first meeting after christmas will be on wednesday 4th january 2017. The talk will be by terry cann entitled “reflections of great gardeners (West green house, east lambrook manor and great dixter). The meetings are held in watlington town hall at 7.45pm, with coffee, tea and biscuits afterwards. everyone is welcome and guests pay £2.50. contact caelia pereira on 01491 612368 for details of time and venue. we have a programme of speakers throughout the year and garden visits in the summer including a coach trip further afield. for further information please contact caelia pereira, chairman, 01491 612368 or email: caeliaperiera@aol.co.uk
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INTERIOR
AND EXTERIOR DECORATOR
Providing exceptional customer service since 1974
MOTs : TYRES : SERVICES : REPAIRS LOAN CARS : LIFTS & COLLECTIONS
01844 278177 Camp Industrial , Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Oxon, OX9 2NP
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Books to borrow or buy through donation now available in St.Margaret’s. There is a good range of children’s and adult’s books, fiction and non-fiction. Please feel free to swap books, borrow or buy. Any proceeds will go directly to the upkeep of the church. Please pop in and take a look!
Wool appeal! Everyone has an unfinished knitting project at the back of their cupboards! Heather Weston’s mum would gratefully accept donations of wool in any colour or amount for recycling into blankets for homeless and international charities. Please call Heather on 07968 280 856
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Lee Beckett
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The Home Care Specialists
Do you need a Helping Hand? Our local care team has been providing award winning quality homecare since 1989. A family run company we offer you a one-to-one full time Live-in Care service that enables you or your loved one to remain at home with compassion and dignity by assisting with: personal care, companionship, errands and housekeeping. So if you are looking for an alternative to residential care or as a short term answer whilst recovering from illness or operation then we’re here to help.
If so, check if you’re eligible for a FREE boiler! The Oxfordshireshire Affordable Warmth Network is pleased to be accessing ECO grants in partnership with British Gas to offer free replacement boilers to homeowners and private renting tenants whose boilers are rated D or below and are in receipt of certain benefits. An easy way to check your eligibility and to discover how else we can assist you is via our freephone helpline:
0800 107 0044 Or email us:
awn@nef.org.uk
Funding is only available for a limited time, so please don’t delay. Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
To find out how we can help you, call: 0808 180 1016 or visit: www.helpinghands.co.uk
tUesday night YOGA At 7-8.30 PM cONtAct VIckI ON 07947 149 675 0R 10844 347 162
wednesday night DOG OBeDIeNce At 6-8 PM
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LEWKNOR PARISH DIARY december 2016 4th december holy communion 9.00am st. lawrence 4th december carol service 5.00pm st. margaret’s 11th december young puzzlers 10.30am st. margaret’s 1 12Th december parish council meeting 7.30pm jubilee hall 18th december holy communion 9.00am st. margaret’s 18th december christmas worship 10.30am
st. lawrence
24th december crib service 4.00pm st. margaret’s
january 2017 8th january young puzzlers 10.30am st. margaret’s 9th january parish council meeting 7.30pm jubilee hall 15th january holy communion 9.00am st. margaret’s If you would like to include any events or meetings in the diary, please let the editor know via the grapevine email address: grapevinemagazine@hotmail.com
FA B R I C F I E L D S Christmas Open Day Saturday 3rd December 1pm - 6pm Join us for a glass of mulled wine and enjoy 20% off Christmas giftware.
High Street Lewknor Oxfordshire OX49 5TN 01844 350 350 fabricfields@aol.com Tues-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm Sat 9.30am-1.30pm
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