GR A PEV INE THE
FEB/MARCH 2017 EditiOn 302
Lewknor, posted in 1905.
nEws FROM tHE PARisH A belated Happy New Year to one and all! Lewknor Primary School have had a fantastically busy beginning of the year starting with the whole school upping sticks and visiting Oxfordshire County Music
Service Schools’ Concert at the Sheldonian Theatre. There’s a report of the visit and other events at the school on page 5.
Krakatoa would like to say thank you to everyone who came and supported the Winter Wonderland disco on Saturday. All money raised is for Krakatoa Pre-School which goes straight to the children for resources and equipment and is hugely appreciated.
The next event on Krakatoa’s calendar is the Spring Treasure Trail easter egg Hunt on Saturday 1st April at 11am. Looking forward to seeing you all there! DAtes FOR the DIARy Lent lunches (see page 2) 1st April spring treasure trail, Jubilee hall 28th April may Day celebrations (see page 5) 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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ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH INVITES YOU TO OUR LENT LUNCHES RUNNING ON SATURDAYS 11TH AND 18TH MARCH 1ST AND 8TH APRIL 12-2PM AT TOWN FARM HIGH STREET LUNCH WILL BE SOUP BREAD AND WATER BY DONATION NO NEED TO BOOK JUST COME ALONG 2
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ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH INVITES YOU TO A service of Holy Communion Thursday 13th APRIL 6.30pm everyone welcome to join us
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BOOK CLUB at lewknoR
warning that the democracy and freedom we enjoy in the West is unavailable to many people around the world and which we should be very careful to protect.
The preface of the book provides a helpful list of the Iranian names of the key protagonists and Sahar Delijani their relationships to each other. This is very necessary because often it is difficult to guess The Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar from a name whether the character is male or Delijani was a book that needed to come with female. Hence the reason that I have not included a warning that there were passages in it that any in this review! would disturb and shock based as it is on stories of Iranians living in Iran and as ex-patriates Our book for February is Burnt Paper Sky elsewhere in Europe and the USA, The opening by Gilly Macmillan. If you are interested in scene in particular describes a woman in labour joining the bookclub, we meet on Wednesday being driven in a prison van to give birth to a evenings monthly and I can be contacted on the daughter whom she is allowed to keep with her number below. in prison for only a few short weeks before she is taken to live with her grandmother in Tehran. All are welcome! This is the fate of all those children whose patents are incarcerated in prison by the Revolutionary Elan Pr eston-W hy te 01844 350 382 Regime, which has succeeded the deposing of the Shah of Persia in the 1980s, hence the title JACK GORDON DECORATING as the jacaranda tree is a common feature in the all types of decorating courtyards of Iranian houses where the children undertaken play under its shade. the CHILDREN OF THE JACARANDA TREE
The novel follows the fate of the young people, who have fallen foul of the authorities for simply distributing pamphlets or taking part in peaceful demonstrations, in a series of short stories often interconnected as the characters nearly all belong to the intelligentsia class with family connections. It travels forwards to 2011 when their children are grown up where some are living abroad but still feeling that Tehran is their natural home. We see them return as the beloved grandmother, who held their lives together in the absence of their parents, dies and this gives individuals the opportunity to meet and renew friendships from the past. The author is one of these ex-patriate children and the book is based on the experiences of her parents. The power of the book is obviously based on the strength of the emotion imbued in the stories which her parents have told her and it rings true in its impressive details of life under a fanatical religious regime. It is a
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THE GRAPEVINE FEB/MARCH 2017
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Lewknor C of E Primary School
Community Newsletter
thANK yOu FoLs FOR OuR musIC RABBI ZVI VIsIts sChOOL sChOOL tRIP As part of our diversity and Re programmes Recently we shut up school and took all our children at school, we invited Rabbi Zvi, from Reading by coach to the Oxfordshire County Music Service synagogue to visit the children so that they could Schools’ Concert at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. learn about aspects of Jewish life and religion. LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL LEWKNOR OXFORDSHIRE OX49 and is a very The children had the chance to listen to a HIGH full STREET Rabbi Zvi has a great sense of humour 5TH orchestra (of young musicians) play a range ofHeadteacher: classical good story teller. He kept the children amused Mrs D Cole Telephone: 01844 351542 office.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: The children learned and popular music that included: Star E-mail: Wars— and interested all afternoon. www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk Main Theme by John Williams, Romeo and Juliet all about various Jewish symbols such as The Star Fantasy Overture by Tchaikovsky, Frozen medley by of david and the Menorah (the seven-branched Robert Lopez, Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky and candelabrum, which is the oldest symbol of the the Redetzky March by Strauss. The children also Jewish people). Rowan (top right) is pictured learned about the different instruments that make wearing a yarmulke (cap) and tallit (tasseled up an orchestra. One Year 6 child commented: ‘‘That shawl), as worn by Jewish men. The picture above was brilliant. I could listen to that every day!’’ right shows the Rabbi blowing the shofar (ram’s horn). This is blown in synagogue services on thANK yOu FOLs FOR PROVIDING Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. It is like an the FuNDs tO mAKe thIs VeRy alarm that makes us think we should correct our sPeCIAL tRIP POssIBLe. wrong deeds.
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SCIENCE OPEN EVENING Our science open evening proved to be a hit with parents and children. Parents were invited to come and look at a range of experiments the children had been conducting in class. In Lower Juniors the children had been studying the digestive system. They were able to show how food breaks down in the stomach. They squished up bits of banana, carrot and bread then added some ‘stomach’ acid (vinegar and cola) to show how the food is broken down into one gooey gloop. The children also explained how food passes through the oesophagus and were able to demonstrate this using some bread and a pair of tights! One of the best experiments, according to one year 4 child, was seeing how biscuits dissolved in your mouth and feeling it with your tongue—yummy! The Reception and Infant classes joined forces to show a range of fun experiments to do with the five senses. Children made lava lamps using vegetable oil, water, food colouring and seltzer tablets. This was part of a sight experiment. The children were able to observe what happens to the solution when you use different size containers. There was a smell test where participants were invited to smell the mystery smell inside eight different boxes and write down what they
thought it was. The answers were: perfume, coffee, curry, mint, orange, vinegar, cheesy crisps and washing powder. Some children made telephones (hearing test) using paper cups and a piece of string. The taste test involved being blindfolded, tasting a wine gum while holding your nose and trying to tell which flavour it was. Apparently, it’s impossible to say because you can only tell the flavour if you can smell it. There was also a feel test where children had to guess what object they were feeling inside the super dark den. Information was provided to show what children in each year group and key stage learn. For example, younger children need to be able to ask simple questions such as ‘what would happen if….’ They need to use observation skills and gather and record data. In Upper Juniors, the children had been studying Properties of Materials. The demonstrations were varied, tasty, interesting and a little messy in places! Some children demonstrated how to separate magnetic and non-magnetic materials. Other children showed how to separate sand and water using filtering techniques.
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Two children discovered that when you add water to Skittles sweets, the solution produces the most amazing coloured designs. The children were also learning that some changes are reversible, while others are irreversible. For example, when you mix vinegar and sodium bicarbonate, carbon dioxide is produced (irreversible change). The children were able to inf late balloons using the gas. Parents were also shown what happens when you shake cream—it becomes butter! This was a reversible change because you can get the cream back if the butter was remixed with buttermilk—in theory! Children also made bread at school and learned about the raising effect produced by yeast (an irreversible change). They then used their butter on the bread for a snack. Other children were testing materials for electrical conductivity—did the light come on or the buzzer sound when they put different materials in the circuit? And the children were able to demonstrate all the changes of state for water when they filled a bowl with hot water, placed cling film over the top of the bowl and placed pieces of ice on top of the cling film. They could see the ice melting on top of the cling film; hot water evaporated as steam (water
vapour); the water vapour condensed when it hit the cold ice and condensation could be seen beneath the cling film. Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year!) Children in the Reception and Infant classes celebrated Chinese new year (the Year of the Rooster) with two visiting authors. Su Yen Hu and Lihui Wang read some of their stories—The New Year’s Beast and The Big Red Rooster—aloud to the children. These explained the legends behind the Chinese new year and why it is celebrated. The children also took turns to do some dragon dancing and even made their own dragon. They had their names written in Chinese and learned some Mandarin. Su Yen Hu and Lihui Wang presented the children with a Chinese red envelope called an Ang Pow, a small traditional new year gift given to children by their families. Lihui Wang said: ‘‘We really enjoy visiting schools and reading to children because it is a good way to develop cultural understanding. We visited Lewknor last year and hope to be back in 2018.’’ The books are available through snowflakebooks.co.uk
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
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Great British Spring Clean 3-5 March 2017 Do you think councils in Oxfordshire should change? Oxfordshire County Council thinks it's time for a fresh start for local government in Oxfordshire - time to replace all six councils with one new council for the whole county.
One new council would save over£100m in the first five years. That's £20m each year - enough to fix over 300,000 potholes or provide 1 million hours of home care.
We believe one council for Oxfordshire would be simpler, better for services, more local and cost less to run.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district council are backing a new nationwide campaign to get half a million people out and about cleaning up their local communities in March 2017. The Great British Spring Clean aims to help bring people together to clear up the litter that blights their local streets and parks. Litter remains a huge problem across the country, causing harm to the environment and wildlife, with councils in England having to spend over £700 million on street cleaning services every year. To take part in the campaign and for information on how to set up your clean-up event visit www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk.
We have published a proposal and want to hear from residents about what you think. Do you think local government should change? Do you think one council for Oxfordshire would be the best option?
Read the draft proposal and have your say
http://www.oneoxfordshire.org/our-vision
We will be encouraging and supporting groups and individuals who want to help by offering equipment free of charge. If you require litter pickers, sacks, gloves and high visibility jackets please contact Eleanor Bunn by email on eleanor.bunn@ southandvale.gov.uk or call 01235 422146. Please book in your equipment requests as soon as possible as there is limited availability.
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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/S3497/FUL 9 shirburn road, lewknor Variation on application P16/S2498/FUL: amended of house design approved ii) p16/s3162/hh mill house, south weston Alteration/extension to existing private dwelling approved iii) p16/S3900/ful & P16/S3904/LB PRIMARY SCHOOL & PLAYGROUP, lewknor Demolition of single timber-clad building & concrete shed & erection of new single storey building to provide additional teaching accommodation decision awaited iv) p16/S3915/hh 15 weston road, lewknor Two storey extension to side and single storey extion to rear. New brick face to all elevations approved v) p16/S4139/par moorcourt barn, lewknor Change of use from barn to dwelling decision awaited vi) p16/S2404/ful the manor, lewknor The construction of an ancillary annex within the curtilage of The Manor appeal dismissed vii) p17/S0012/ag BEEchgrove farm, thame road, postcombe Erection of a steel portal framed building to store grain and equipment decision awaited viii) p17/S0072/lb the hall barn, church lane, lewknor To improve the thermal performance of the building decision awaited
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Friday mornings 9.30-11.30am Chinnor Village Hall
Volunteer required!
TiddlyPeeps is a friendly social group for mums to be, parents, grandparents, nannies, childminders, carers, 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 suppor=ve, friendly and enthusias=c commi>ee (all of whom can be recognised by their commi>ee badges!)
TiddlyPeeps in Chinnor is looking for a friendly face to help serve tea and coffee to visitors at our social group on a Friday morning at Chinnor Village Hall (9.30-11.30am).
As well as the usual selec=on of baby, toddler and pre-school toys, we regularly put out play dough and arts 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 sit down and the children have a drink and a biscuit (both provided) - this is followed by singing, which is usually led by a commi>ee member. We charge £1.50 per family to cover our running costs. Tea/coffees for adults are served by dedicated local volunteers, whose support we are most grateful for.
Every week we welcome in excess of 30 families where parents, grandparents, nannies and childminders get to meet up and children get to socialise and have fun with If you would like to get in touch or would like more details, please feel free to contact us. other pre-school aged children. www.#ddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk e-mail@#ddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk
For many years two lovely or dedicated local ladies have ask to join our facebook page - TiddlyPeeps supported our social group by being a friendly face and serving drinks each week. Sadly they have retired from this voluntary role and although we have a grandparent helping us, it would be lovely to recruit another volunteer to help us out and keep her company. If you or someone you know would like to help out, please e-mail email@tiddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk To find out more about TiddlyPeeps, please visit our website www.tiddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk TiddlyPeeps Committee
LEWKNOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CO-OPTED GOVERNOR WANTED We currently have a vacancy for a co-opted governor at Lewknor C of E Primary School. The role of the governors is to establish the strategic direction for the school, ensure good progress and performance and secure financial probity. We are looking for anyone who feels that they have the aptitude and are able to dedicate a little time to this valuable and rewarding community service. In particular we would be glad to hear from someone with financial or accounting skills. If you are interested in being considered as a coopted governor, please contact the school. Also if you first wish to discuss this further, then please speak to either the headteacher, Mrs Cole or the Chairman of the Governors, Mr David Pickard who can be contacted via the school.
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thumper
Thumper came to Lewknor as his owners could no longer look after him. They also had to rehome another one of their rabbits called Bambi but she was rehomed quickly to live with another male rabbit. Thumper is looking for a female to be bonded with; he’d love his very own Blossom Bunny to have as company. Thumper’s approximately 10 months old. He’s a lovely Lionhead that really enjoys his food and likes to sit on your lap. lewknor blue cross London Road (A40), Lewknor, OX49 5RY 0300 777 1500
ry
WATLINGTON GARDENING CLUB Why not join our Gardening Club or come as a visitor to see if you enjoy our talks? The next meeting will be on Wednesday 1st March 2017. The talk will be by Caroline Jackson-Houlston from Brookes University on the “Wild Flowers of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire”. April’s meeting is on the 5th April by Christie Leary on “My Organic Garden – Gardening without Chemicals”. 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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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
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
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LEwKnOR PARisH diARY FEBRUARY 2017 12TH FeBRUARY YOUNg PUZZLeRS 10.30AM ST. MARgAReT’S 19TH FeBRUARY HOLY COMMUNION 9.00AM ST. MARgAReT’S 19TH FeBRUARY FAMILY SeRVICe 10.30AM
ST. LAWReNCe
MARCH 2017 5TH MARCH HOLY COMMUNION 9.00AM
ST. LAWReNCe
6TH MARCH PARISH COUNCIL MeeTINg 7.30PM JUBILee HALL 19TH MARCH 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
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