Grapevine Christmas 2017 by sara-jane morley

GR A PEV INE THE

december 2017 edItIon 307

aston rowant nature reserve

newS from the parISh It’s not officially Christmas yet. In fact it’s not even December when I’m writing this, but I fear the countdown has begun! Only a couple of days before the yearly argument over how much chocolate is acceptable at breakfast...and to be consumed before or after toast?

Christine and Tony Smith have written a really interesting piece about the graveyard of St. margaret’s starting on page 2.

There is a lot to read this edition on both the Neighbourhood Plan and how you can comment on the planning application for 40 houses on Watlington Road. Whatever your views, it’s important to get them across. There is a cross section of objections to the development starting on page 8.

Merry ChriStMAS AnD hAPPy neW yeAr All. Sara-Jane

Town Farm will be hosting their annual carol get together with The Festival Choir on the 22nd December.

Th at’s it for another year. Don’t forget to hang out your stockings and hope for more than an orange and a piece of coal.

DAteS for the DiAry 14th Dec. Cut oﬀ for Planning Application Comments (page 7) 15th Dec. 9 lessons And Carol Service (page 6) 22nd Dec. town farm Carols (page 9) 23rd Dec. Carols By Candlelight (page11)

your neIghbourhood pLan needS you!!! See page 5. 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. 1

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Lewknor Churchyard A Survey of Interesting Gravestones

Anyone famous? -- We couldn’t find any famous names in the churchyard, no lords or ladies, no celebrities. The closest to fame was Charles Davis of Wyckham House, who was the son of Richard Davis of Lewknor, a famous surveyor and mapmaker in the early 1800s. He has a grave surrounded by railings to the right of the main path. Also David Watt, who lived at Knapp Farm, Lewknor, was a well-known writer, journalist and Fellow of All Souls College in Oxford. He died in a tragic accident in a storm in 1987 and is buried not far from the evergreen oak on the west side of the churchyard.

We have been trying to make a plan of all the graves in the churchyard, not for any particular reason, only that we have found it very interesting. We hope to draw up a map, so that people will be able to locate graves – we haven’t managed that yet, but in the meantime would like to share some of our findings with you. At least half of you will have stopped reading this by now, convinced that nothing could be more boring or irrelevant! But we hope that some of you will persevere,especially if you are interested Most interesting name? – We think that must in local history. belong to Heritage Lenten of Nethercote, who Some of the graves are so old that any died in 1799. Just imagine his loving parents, inscriptions have long since been worn away presented with a new baby, their first-born by centuries of weather. There is no record son, saying “Let’s call him Heritage!” He has of who these ancient graves belonged to. But a fine tomb to the left of the church porch. We many more are just still legible, especially also liked the name Esther Dodd; she died with the help of a torch and a wire brush, and in 1853. Her grave is on the east side of the we hope to record their names before they church, near to the path. We imagine her as a too disappear. very strict and forbidding Victorian woman, The oldest grave? – The oldest grave we dressed always in black and disapproving of could decipher was that of Robert Scoles, everyone and everything! (We are probably who died in 1676. He is buried to the left of completely wrong there) the main path and has a carved skull on his Sweetest epitaph? - This must belong to stone, a common motif at that time. There Mabel Beatrice Kendall, died 28th June 195-. are many inscriptions in the Jodrell Chapel She is buried at the back of the churchyard, to the Rolles family, the earliest being underneath a large, spreading fir tree, which John Rolles, died 1536,but they had their we suspect was planted as a dwarf conifer in own family vault inside the church rather remembrance. The inscription is very faded, but says “ She was gentle, she was kind, and than graves outside.

JACK GORDON DECORATING all types of decorating undertaken interior or exterior Large or small Ring or email for a free quote: jackgordon44@aol.com 07590 517 444 www.jackgordondecorating.co.uk

Stefanie O’Bryen Family Solicitor Divorce • Conveyancing • Probate • Wills Contact your local solicitor for a friendly and efficient service Telephone: 01491 614 700 20 Shirburn Street Watlington, OX49 5BT Email: SOBfamlaw@hotmail.com Home appointments by arrangement

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saw beauty in all things” Every grave has a story to tell, and many of the stories are very sad, especially those of lost children: – Evelyn King, 2 years old, died in 1882; 3 babies - Thomas Hart lived for just one week in 1990, Andrew Allan for 6 months in 1983 and Elizabeth Amor died in 1933 aged 4 months; Joanne Collins, 4 years old, died in 1965 having caught measles, which turned into septicaemia; the 2 Howlett boys - Jack died in 1929 aged 10 and Francis in 1938 aged 11. They were both killed in accidents on Aston Hill, one struck by a car, the other struck by lightning; they are buried together near the evergreen oak; and of course the 2 boys from Nethercote House, who died in the fire which destroyed their house in 1871. They are buried together not far from the gate to Church Farm. (All pupils and former pupils of Lewknor school will know the story of Milly Mopsy, the maid who was looking after the boys when the fire broke out and was stricken with guilt at being unable to save them. Her ghost is said to haunt Nethercote lane, searching endlessly for her lost boys. Her grave is supposedly near the school fence in the corner of the churchyard, but we couldn’t find it); Edward Shrimpton, aged 17, died in 1932 from meningitis.

Southern Italy, but we found out that it was a devastating quake followed by a tsunami,which killed approx 80 thousand people and almost totally destroyed the city. We wondered why a Lewknor girl was in that part of Italy just at that time, before the days of easy travelling. And the memorial to the two sons of John and Mary Bowler, named Ted and Tom, both killed in action in 1916, sited near the north east corner of the churchyard - Imagine losing two sons in the First World war – one loss would have been difficult to bear. There are more stories of course - we have picked out a few of particular resonance, but if anyone would like to share information or family stories we would be very pleased to hear from you. We don’t pretend to be experts or to have more knowledge than other residents, so do write to Grapevine if you know more - your story could be printed in a future issue. Written by Tony and Christine Smith

There may be others, whose details we could not find . More inscriptions worthy of note - Near the church door a fine gravestone with 3 falling cricket stumps, the name Thomas Smith, the date 1885, the stone erected by the friends of his youth. We asked many villagers if they knew the story behind this inscription. Nobody seemed to have any idea, until we contacted our vicar, Peter Waterson. He had spoken to visitors to the church, who lived in Australia and were related to Thomas. They said that Thomas was an ace cricketer, revered for his bowling. But he was a farm labourer from a poor family and when he died they, like many village families, could not afford a headstone. So his cricketing friends clubbed together to pay for his memorial. In the north-east side of the churchyard there is a half hidden memorial to Maude Barrett, who with her baby son George perished in the great earthquake at Messina on 28th December 1908. We had never heard of an earthquake at Messina,

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BOOK CLUB at lewknoR neither here nor there Bill Bryson Bill Bryson’s book Neither Here nor There was our September read which we were looking forward to read as his previous travel books, particularly Notes from a Small Island written in 1995 about a journey around the UK was delightful and insightful, Not so Neither Here nor There, however ,which had been published in 1991 and reprised a trip that Bill had taken as a college student with a mate some twenty years earlier around the countries of Europe. It starts in winter in Sweden when he travels to the far north of the country in order to see the Northern Lights. After days of complete boredom he manages to see the spectacle, is impressed but immediately turns his attention to the warmer climes of the continent. To his utmost surprise he finds it rains quite frequently in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and he only manages to warm up both physically and mentally when he reaches Sorrento and Capri on Italy. Elsewhere his journey can be characterised, as the group’s presenter that evening put it, - Bill jumps on a train, arrives at the main station of a city and books in to the nearest boring but expensive hotel where the wattage of his beside lamp and the presence or absence of toiletries is recorded in meticulous detail. He then walks to nearest boring restaurant, insults the waiter or waitress for not understanding his impeccable American English (he speaks NO foreign language) drinks too much and gets lost on the way back to the hotel. He manages a few descriptive passages about the place he is in whether city or village but usually punctuates these with snide remarks about the inhabitants. The blurb on the cover promises the book is ‘very funny’ and there are a few paragraphs where the antics he and his chum Katz got up to on their earlier travels are genuinely humorous but this saga of a 40 year old following in the footsteps of his younger self is poorly written, misogynist and philistine. Why the publisher decided to reissue it in 2015 can only be because, since he wrote it, Bryson has produced some far better books and the publisher is riding on this later reputation. Madeleine Thien’s novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing was a tour de force. At 464 pages long and with a confusing set of Chinese names to work with and changing time frames at the beginning it was a struggle to come to terms with. However, for those who got past these difficulties it proved to be a rewarding read which illustrated the dramatic recent history of China from the Second World War, through the Cultural Revolution to the student protests, which led to the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in which the ordinary workers joined to challenge the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party with disastrous results. The main protagonists are members of two families in which the friendship of two men both talented musicians forms the centrepiece. Sparrow (we never learn his true name) is a composer and professor at the Conservatory in Shanghai,

whose family has been very well off, and his student and close friend, Jiang Kai, a pianist, who was adopted when he came to Shanghai as the only member of his family who survived the famine after the War. Of equal importance to the two men is Zhuli, Sparrow’s 14 year old cousin., who is a promising violinist. All three are entranced particularly by Bach’s Goldberg variations played by Glenn Gould and Western music is in the background throughout the novel particularly during the Cultural Revolution when the only music which it was permissible to play is a simplified form with words in praise of Chairman Mao and the Party. The sobering thought our discussion brought was how would we react if the only way to save ourselves but most importantly our children was by denouncing our friends and other relatives. This has been the choice faced by many at various times in regimes such as China, Russia and Nazi Germany. If the Madeleine Thein book was challenging then Ali Smith’s novel How to be Both proved to be also but in a different way. The conceit of the book is that it is in two parts, one based in modern day Cambridge and the other in 15th century Italy with a fresco on the walls of the Palazzo Schifonoia in Ferrara being the focus for both or, more particularly, it is the painter of the fresco, Francesco del Cossa who is common to both. The book was published so that some copies were issued with the 21st century part first and vice versa. Some of our group read one version, some the other to see which was the more successful in novelistic terms. The discussion we had was a lively one and difficult to distil in a few paragraphs, It centred very much on the complex themes of gender (Francesco is actually Francesca whose father has decided she will be more successful as an artist if ‘she’ is a ‘he’, whilst Georgia, in modern day England, has chosen to be called George and dresses androgenously so can be mistaken for a boy) and also on artistic worth and the requirements of fresco painting and the effect of bereavement on children. For those who read the Italian half first, it opens with the spirit of Francesco wandering the world in purgatory and finds George watching a woman who is looking at one of Francesco’s painting in the National Gallery and follows George interweaving the story of her own life with that of George as she comes to terms with her mother’s death. Meanwhile, in the modern day version we first meet George and her 8year old brother being driven by their mother to Ferrara to see the fresco and the man in the ragged white clothes painted within it, the latter we meet again in ‘real life’ in 15th century Italy. Interestingly, both the Italian and the English mothers are given a key role in expanding the intellectual horizons of their respective daughters. The group scored the book highly although some disliked the difficulty of different time frames which interrupted the reading flow but we all admired the ideas the author explores which challenge the reader from the very first page. If you are interested in joining the bookclub, we meet on Wednesday evenings monthly and I can be contacted on the number below. All are welcome! Elan Preston-Whyte, 01844 350382.

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Lewknor parISh neIghbourhood pLan

Welcome to the first Grapevine update from the new Lewknor Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. Lewknor Parish Neighbourhood Plan

We are volunteers from the Lewknor Parish (comprising the three villages of Lewknor, Postcombe and South Weston) who are working to create a Neighbourhood Plan for Lewknor Parish.

We neeD you! Welcome to the ﬁrst Grapevine update from the new Lewknor Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Th is is your plan, and we need as many voices as possible to be heard within the Parish. There will be lots Group. We are volunteers from the Lewknor Parish (comprising the three villages of Lewknor, of ways for you to get involved, to tell us what you think about living in the Parish today and to share your Postcombe and South Weston) who are working to create a Neighbourhood Plan for Lewknor Parish. thoughts about how we can guide the development of the Parish so that it continues to be a place where people want to live and work. We need you!  This is your plan, and we need as many voices as possible to be heard within the Parish. There will be WhAt hAPPenS neXt? lots of ways for you to get involved, to tell us what you think about living in the Parish today and to In January you will receive a first consultation questionnaire, and your feedback will tell us what’s important share your thoughts about how we can guide the development of the Parish so that it conEnues to to you and focus our work after that on the issues that really matter. Please look out for it! be a place where people want to live and work. hoW Will i KnoW WhAt’S going on? If you want to get an update, ask a question, get involved or have your say, the Neighbourhood Plan email address is below. There will also will be a website where you will be able to follow the development of the What happens next? Plan. Each month there will be an update in Grapevine, and there is also a Facebook group for those in the Parish where you can join in discussions, ask questions and post your point of view. In January you will receive a ﬁrst consultaEon quesEonnaire, and your feedback will tell us what’s important to you and focus our work aJer that on the issues that really maKer. Please look out for it! eMAil ADDreSS: info@LewknorParishNP.org WeBSite ADDreSS: www.LewknorParishNP.org (website currently under construction) How will I know what’s going on? fACeBooK grouP: search for lewknor Parish neighbourhood Plan in Groups on Facebook If you want to get an update, ask a quesEon, get involved or have your say, the Neighbourhood Plan email address is below. There will also will be a website where you will be able to follow the If you have any questions, or you would like to be involved with shaping the future of our neighbourhood development of the Plan. Each month there will be an update in Grapevine, and there is also a please email us at info@LewknorParishNP.org.uk Facebook group for those in the Parish where you can join in discussions, ask quesEons and post hAPPy ChriStMAS! your point of view. The Lewknor Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group wishes all 705 residents of the Parish and their families a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Email address: info@LewknorParishNP.org WhAt iS neighBourhooD PlAnning? Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood Website address: www.LewknorParishNP.org (website currently under construcEon) and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what Facebook Group: search for Lewknor Parish Neighbourhood Plan in Groups on Facebook infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see If you have any quesEons, or you would like to be involved with shaping the future of our go ahead. Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community where the ambition of the neighbourhood is aligned neighbourhood please email us at info@LewknorParishNP.org.uk with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area.

Happy Christmas!

for More inforMAtion viSit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/neighbourhood-planning--2

The Lewknor Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group wishes all 705 residents of the Parish and their families a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

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St Margaretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church invite you to join us for a Service of 9 lessons and carols on Friday 15th December at 7pm Followed by Mulled wine and mince pies

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Town Farm Carols

Friday 22 December 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 nd

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LEWKNOR village planning group All residents of Lewknor and many of surrounding villages will be aware that there is currently a planning application for 40 houses on the field on the north west side of the junction of Watlington Road and the B4009. If you have any views on this development that you wish to communicate to the planners, it is vital that you do so as soon as possible, and in any case by December 14th. The more letters that are received, the more likely it is that they will make a difference. You can do so on line at: registration@southandvale.gov.uk or by writing to the appointed planning officer: Katherine Canavan, South Oxfordshire District Council, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton OX14 4SB. In either case you should quote “Planning reference P17/S3711/O Land at Watlington Road”. Below are a selection of concerns that were presented, by letter, to Adrian Duffield (Head of Planning - SODC) • The site comprises 2.12 ha (5.24 acres) and carries a 5-10m drop from the main road down into the village. • This hillside site lying in the foothills of the Chilterns has been used since records began for farming in line with Lewknor’s historic background as a small farming community. • On 10 July, at a meeting with Rainier and Savills planning, the residents of Lewknor village were presented a development of 50 houses on the site for which a planning permission was to be sought. We believe that this number corresponds to policy CSH2 of the current Local Plan, which stipulates: “On sites where housing development is acceptable in principle, a minimum of 25 dwellings per hectare (net) will be required unless this would have an adverse effect on the character of the area”. This proposal was met with universal opposition from the 70-80 people who attended by a show of hands. A further representation was made on 6 September where it appeared that none of the concerns of the residents had been addressed save a token reduction to 45 units. We now have an application for 40 units. • In brief, the local community strongly believes that such a development will have an adverse effect on the character of the area and a firm majority is opposed to the proposed development. We are writing on their behalf with the sanction and support of Lewknor Parish Council. This opposition was demonstrated at the meeting on 10 July and has been confirmed since via a formal parish survey, which highlighted that out of 100 residents who responded to the poll conducted, 88 were opposed to the development (169 surveys were distributed). We would be happy to provide these names if so required. • While the residents of Lewknor are not opposed to development, where it is sensitive to the form and function of the village and is in line with Council guidelines, the proposed development breaches all three of these tests. Specifically, we believe that the proposed development should be disregarded for consideration by SODC based on the following: • The number of dwellings proposed. • The proposed development represents an increase in the number of dwellings of 24% (currently c.170) dwellings and an increase in the developed area of the village of 18% (currently 11.5%). • Lewknor is a “small” village (as defined by the Emerging plan) and is not marked for strategic allocation/ significant development (restricted to larger settlements). • The proposed scheme neither respects the scale of the existing settlement nor caters for residents’ needs (Objective 2 of the Adopted Plan). It is inconsistent with the overall strategy of Policy CSS1 of the Adopted Plan of (iv) supporting other villages in the rest of the district by allowing for limited amounts of housing. A 24% increase is clearly not limited.Both the Adopted plan and Emerging plan (Policy H10) highlight that 450-500 units are expected to be delivered (as part of SODC’s housing targets) by small villages through an increase of 5-10% in size of the respective villages highlighted. This means an even spread of infill development, not housing estates built on the edge of small communities. The

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proposed scheme represents 10% of this quota allocated to one village! This is clearly not in keeping with the meaning of this policy. Furthermore, since 2011, 6 units have been delivered with another 9 consented representing 9% increase already. A scheme of 40 units would represent an additional 22% taking a total increase of 32% on the existing number of dwellings. Lewknor is already in line with housing targets for the Emerging plan for the period 2017/22 and any further significant development (let alone an additional 40 dwellings) is wholly inappropriate set against this background. • On behalf of the majority of residents in Lewknor, we struggle to understand how such a scheme could even be considered when it disregards SODC’s adopted and emerging plans in respect of what is appropriate development for a smaller village. • Impact on the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Policy CSR1 Housing in villages in the Adopted Plan states all development should conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB. We do not believe that a scheme of 40 houses in a small village on the border of the Chiltern Hills AONB is appropriate in terms of its visual impact to and from the AONB. As a community, we not believe that the Developer has considered the significant impact the development will have on the Chilterns AONB. • Building on agricultural land. The proposed development will build on a piece of agricultural hillside that has been used for agricultural purposes for over 500 years, is used by the community as such and carries huge environmental and ecological value supporting a host of bird species as well as other animals and plants. We believe that the proposed development contravenes both policy H18 and ENV1 in respect of the lands contribution to the rural environment, both immediate and in terms of the Chilterns AONB. As a rural community, we are appalled that this land should be considered appropriate for development based on its heritage and existing use. • Impact on the residents of Lewknor. The proposed development will have a significant detrimental impact on the village in respect of the following: • Traffic flow through Lewknor and South Weston, which is already considerable. • Pressure on the local sewage system, which is already failing. • Significant visual impact in an area of outstanding natural beauty. • Significant visual impact and privacy invasion on the residents of Watlington Road and Hill Road. • Significant impact on the amenity and nature of the village given the disproportionate increase of residents. • Suitability of the Land for development. You may not be aware, but the land has a significant gradient between the main Watlington Road to the south and the village to the North. The level change ranges from 5 metres at the west end to 10 metres at the east end. The significant impact on the residents of Watlington Road at the entrance to the village from 2 storey houses located at the south end (top) of the site (due to this significant incline) will be equivalent to that of a 4-5 storey building! This will significantly affect the privacy of these residents and the general privacy of the residents of Hill Road and Lewknor with a large development hulking over it. Furthermore, when it rains, due to this gradient, the bottom of the field is prone to significant flooding. As a village, Lewknor has a history of flooding and already struggles in terms of its sewage system.We have grave concerns over the suitability of this piece of land for development given its natural incline and the impact that this will have on the wider village in terms of water run-off and the general disturbance of an already overburdened and fragile irrigation and sewage system. We support South Oxford District Council’s ambition to make sure South Oxfordshire will remain a beautiful and prosperous place to live. We believe that it should be an attractive place for people to work and spend their leisure time. We support their Strategic Objectives, and feel particularly strongly about the vitality of our villages and the conservation of the “way of life” of rural communities. We do recognise the need to deliver high quality, sustainable and attractive places for people to live and work and deliver a range of housing options to cater for the needs of our community. And we support their objective to protect and enhance the natural environment and conserve and enhance our rich and varied historic assets and their settings. However, the development proposed by All Souls College, does not fulfil any community need and will significantly damage both the village and the wider countryside, not to mention the number of clear and sensible policies (both Adopted and Emerging) it blatantly contravenes. We believe it is wholly inappropriate and wrong to build a development of 40 houses on the edge of a small village on a piece of hillside farmland. The SODC adopted and emerging plans exist to direct

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developers to suitable areas for development. We believe that Rainier Developments and Savills Planning have disregarded completely both plans and have not fully appreciated the idiosyncrasies of the site itself in conceiving a scheme of 40 houses across 5-acre hillside agricultural site with flooding issues at the base of the Chilterns AONB in a small village, which has already fulfilled its quota of development. BeloW Are linKS on the South oXon WeBSite WhiCh Are relevent to leWKnor AnD DeveloPMent of rurAl villAgeS linK to: [South oXforDShire loCAl PlAn 2011 (2.9 MB) PDf] http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/planning-policy/local-plan linK to: [South oXforDShire Core StrAtegy (2.6 MB) PDf] http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/planning-policy/core-strategy/ adopted-core-strategy the folloWing PoliCieS Are PArtiCulAry relevent • Policies CSR1 and CSS1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy set out the areas of the district which wouldn’t support new housing, essentially starting at the larger towns and villages, and discouraging new dwellings in isolated, rural locations. (Lewknor is classed as a ‘smaller village’ in the policy) • Policy CSEN1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy – the site is not in the AONB, but sits very closely alongside it. Impact of the development on the setting of the AONB and its sensitive landscape character will be a large factor in whether development on the site is appropriate. • NB. The Chilterns AONB management Plan will give you some information on the types of things that are important in relation to development in or near the AONB: http://www.chilternsaonb.org/ conservation-board/management-plan.htmlp71-p79 • Policy H4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan – sets out the key things to consider in relation to new housing, focusing on the detail, eg. Design, height, scale, amenity, environment, highways and ecology. • Policies T1 and T2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan – sets out the highway safety and transport requirements of a development • Finally, the council’s Design Guide provide developers with information of effective design and layout of schemes, ensuring the development integrates with the surrounding community and character of the area. http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/conservationand-design/design/design-guide This is a typical selection of policies considered for housing development proposals, along with the policies on landscape features, drainage, impact on neighbours, design, layout etc. The key ones above will however be important in understanding whether the principle of development is acceptable.

St. Mary Magdalen Church, Stoke Talmage

Carols by Candlelight Saturday, 23rd December at 7.30 p.m. p.m.p.m. EVERYONE WELCOME Wreaths for sale in the Church porch from 1st December

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Lewknor C of E Primary School

Community Newsletter

PhoniCS WorKShoP very effective prints. We held a phonics workshop on Friday 24 th November The children in the Infants class had also been busy. for all parents who are thinking of sending their They had built their own trenches, which had ‘barbed child to Lewknor Church of England Primary wire’ on top made from branches and painted silver School in September 2018. The aim was to show and grey. The whole classroom had been turned into parents how they can best support their child at a warren of trenches. The children had worked on home once they have started school. Parents of some artwork, which included pictures of Red Baron children currently in the reception class were also planes. The children’s poppy make-do-and-mend invited. Head teacher mrs Cole and class teacher blanket was also displayed in the classroom. miss Harjette were available afterwards to meet The evening ended with the children singing a all prospective and new parents. Children and number of wartime songs in front of an audience of younger siblings were also invited and had the mums, dads, and grandparents. They sang Pack-up opportunity to play in our Infants class with the Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag, It’s A Long reception children. Way To Tipperary, and K-K-K-Katy. trAnSforMAtion evening There was a great turn-out for our Transformation Evening last week. This event showcases work completed in class by the children in Year 1 and upwards, and this year’s theme was the First and Second World Wars. Children and staff dressed up in period costume, which added to the great atmosphere. There were activities set up in each class. In mrs Wakefield’s class, the children were able to tell their parents and grandparents all about rationing. The children had been learning about foods that would have been rationed and foods that were not around during the Second World War. Children learned all about evacuees and there was a display of an evacuee’s Elliot with a newspaper cutting, showing him on suitcase showing its sparse contents. mrs Wakefield the beach at Arromanches in June, 2014—the 70th had also set up a morrison shelter, an indoor cage to anniversary of the D-Day landings. protect people from falling debris, in her classroom. When the siren rang Cout children scrambled LEWKNOR of E the PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXFORDSHIRE OX49 inside until they heard the all clear. The children had 5TH Headteacher: Mrs D Cole also made gas masks and poppies. Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: ofﬁce.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: Teachers miss Lawes and mrs Birch turned the www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk reflection room into ‘Flanders Fields’, complete with lighting and sound effects. There was a very moving film showing wartime images projected onto a screen. many parents commented on the poignant atmosphere. The children in the upper Juniors class had learned all about printing repeat images of poppies. They pressed their poppy image into a polystyrene tile, rolled printing ink onto the tile and burnished the paper with a spoon, to make Brothers Cameron and Ewan salute smartly and sharply.

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

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

Lewknor C of E Primary School

Community Newsletter

Holly with a week’s rations for one person during the Second World War

Above: Saffy, Freya, who is sitting behing zofia, and Erin keep safe in the morrison shelter.

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

We are Joe and Hannah from The Deli at No.5 on to offer we run a series of ticketed tasting events varying from Cheese and Wine, Gin and cheese, Beer and Charcuterie Buttermarket, Thame. tasting evenings. We can also bespokelyOX49 tailor a private tasting We love to champion independent producers from around LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXFORDSHIRE 5TH event for you and your friends either in the shop, your home or the nation, we think it is massively important to support these at venue of your choice. Headteacher: D Cole producers and show off the fantastic things they do. Although Mrs Telephone: 351542 we E-mail: Website: cheeses and 10-15 special guest we work with many from all around01844 the country, also ofﬁce.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk love We stock a range of 50 staple www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk cheeses each week, this allows us and you to create some amazing to find local producers as well. We originally formed the idea of opening a business together bespoke wedding cheese cakes for your special day. Come in after we became disillusioned with our previous careers.We store after hours for a glass of fizz and to try the cheese and decided upon a Great British Delicatessen so we could have build your very own “wedding cheesecake” We can also offer a chance of showing the public the amazing produce available a range of beautiful canapes to invigorate the taste buds for any private function or party. With Christmas coming it can right on their doorstep. be difficult to know what to buy people so we offer a range We have both always loved fine food and food festivals and of Christmas hampers put together ourselves including, Gin looking around little delis and food shops so we thought what lovers hamper, Cheese lovers, Beer lovers, Tea lovers and many better idea than to open a deli which celebrates British produce! more! Check out our website for a hamper list, or give us a ring Our strapline being ‘Celebrating Great British Produce with a to arrange a bespoke hamper. Great British Lifestyle’. The lifestyle bit comes in because we https://thedeliatno5.co.uk also love to champion producers of homeware, artisan pottery, hello@thedeliatno5.co.uk textiles and of course craft/artisan alcohol. For people who would like to come and experience and taste what we have 01844 214229

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

Lewknor C of E Primary School

Registered Charity No: 1045910

Community Newsletter

January 2018

LEWKNOR PRIMARY SCHOOL, FOLS (Friends of Lewknor School) & COMMUNITY CONCERT

Dear Parents LEWKNOR

PRImARY SCHOOL, FOLS (Friends of Lewknor School) & COmmuNITY CONCERT

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a community concert in St Margaret’s Church on th Thursday Dear All 8 February 2018 at 7pm, which will help raise funds for the school. We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a community concert in St margaret’s Church on Th ursday 8th will February 2018informal at 7pm, which will help fundsand for the The concert be fairly and should lastraise an hour theschool. entertainment will be provided by the joint communities Lewknor Primary Schoollast andanLewknor There are lots Th e concert will be of fairly informal and should hour andvillage. the entertainment willofbetalented providedand by budding the joint performers (adults and Primary children)School aboutand whom we already know, and who as have kept their communities of Lewknor Lewknor village. Th ere are lotssome of talented andyet budding performers (adults and children) about we already andand somecontribute who as yetto have their of talent hidden. So we’d like talent hidden. So we’d likewhom you now to stepknow, forward ourkept evening entertainment! you now to step forward and contribute to our evening of entertainment!

Do you you have havea agroup groupofof family friends could perform a song or poem together? Would like toa Do family or or friends whowho could perform a song or poem together? Would you like you to present present piece to aaudience? supportive audience? Perhaps youa could dance We or piece Wea solo pieceatosolo a supportive Perhaps you could perform dance perform or piece ofa music? expectoftomusic? have quite few contributions, so wea are that each spotare should last no longer than spot threeshould minutes. expect to have quite fewsuggesting contributions, so we suggesting that each last no longer than three minutes. This invitation is for all: pupils, teachers, parents, families and friends from the wider Lewknor community. This invitation is for all:a pupils, teachers, families from theyou wider Lewknor Please be bold and have go! Once we knowparents, who would like toand takefriends part and what would like to community. perform then we will let know Please beyou bold andfurther have adetails. go! Once we know who would like to take part and what you would like to perform then we will let you know further details. Please return this slip to the School Office by Friday 12th January. Pleasesincerely return this slip to the School Office by Friday 12th January. Yours miss YoursLawes sincerely

Miss Lawes LEWKNOR PRIMARY SCHOOL, FOLS (Friends of Lewknor School) & COMMUNITY CONCERT Thursday 8th February 2018 at 7pm Performer/group leader name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………… LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXFORDSHIRE OX49

5TH Related to (Child’s Name): ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Headteacher: Mrs D Cole

Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: ofﬁce.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk

Website:

Title/name of spot piece: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk Who will be taking part in your spot? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What equipment will you bring with you? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. What equipment might you need from the school / church? (We will have access to a PA, school keyboard etc.) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXFORDSHIRE OX49 5TH Head teacher: Mrs D Cole LEWKNOR C of351542 E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET Website: LEWKNOR OXON OX49 5TH Telephone: 01844 E-mail: office.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk

Headteacher: Mrs D Cole Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: ofﬁce.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

9.45 Friday mornings 9.30-11.30am Chinnor Village Hall 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!) 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 9.45 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 £2.00 per family to cover our running costs. Tea/coffees for adults are served by dedicated local volunteers, whose support we are most grateful for.

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

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 4th January 2018.

On 6th December the Club has its very popular Christmas Social 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.

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

lEWKNOR pARIsH COuNCIl www.lewknor-pc.org.uk

recent LocaL pLannIng appLIcatIonS BeloW Are the PlAnning APPliCAtionS thAt hAve Been ConSiDereD By the CounCil AnD their Current StAtuS: i) P17/S1089/Rm ereCtion of 9 houSeS on lAnD At WeSton roAD, leWKnor Ammendment: parking and landscaping APPROVED ii) P17/S1884/O lAnD WeSt of ChAlforD roAD, PoStCoMBe Erection of 9 detached and semi-detached dwellings with access, parking, amenity space and landscaping. DECISION AWAITED iii) P17/S2527/FuL BeeCh fArM, SAlt lAne, PoStCoMBe Eight semi-detached dwellings (4 pairs) DECISION AWAITED iv) P17/S3147/SCR KnAPPS WooD fArM, leWKnor Proposals for the erection of 2 cattle buildings, a straw shed, a covered silage clamp, hardstanding area and temporary workers dwelling on agricultural land of SE of Lewknor DECISION AWAITED v) P17/S3138/PDH roBinSWooD, BoX tree lAne, PoStCoMBe Single storey kitchen extension. Depth: 5.5m Height: 4m Height to eaves: 2.5m APPROVED vi) P17/S3711/O lAnD At WAtlington roAD, leWKnor Erection of up to 40 homes, associated open space, local area of play and other infrasctructure, with all matters reserved save for access Lewknor bLue croSS APPROVED London road (a40), Lewknor, oX49 5ry 0300 777 1500

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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

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

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!

Lee Beckett

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

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

THE GRAPEVINE december 2017

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 2017 1st december christingle 9.00am st. margaret’s 3rd december holy communion 9.00am st. lawrence 10th december young puzzlers 10.30am st. margaret’s 11th december parish council meeting 7.30pm jubilee hall 15th december 9 lessons and carols 6.30PM st. margaret’s 17th december holy communion 9.00am st. margaret’s 17th december christmas worship 10.30am st. lawrence 24th december crib service 4.00pm st. margaret’s

january 2018 7th january holy communion 9.00am st. lawrence 8th january parish council meeting 7.30pm jubilee hall 14th january young puzzlers 10.30am 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:

FA B R I C F I E L D S h A n D m A D E C u RtA I n S, S o F t F u R n I S h I n g S & u p h o L S t E Ry 018 4 4 35 0 35 0

High Street Lewknor Oxfordshire OX49 5TN 01844 350 350 info@fabricfields.co.uk Tues-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm Sat 9.30am-1.30pm