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The Baldons and
Nuneham Courtenay Newsletter
BALDONS ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT BALDONS ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT BALDONS ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT BALDONS ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT
ART IN THE GARDEN ART IN THE GARDEN ART IN THE GARDEN ART IN THE GARDEN (see page (see page (see page (see page 11111111))))
May 2013
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TALKING POINT BY CANON SUE BOOYS (RECTOR OF DORCHESTER)
There has been much in the news recently to get me thinking about the Welfare State. I
grew up with health and education provision made for me as a matter of course; I
remember vividly attending child health clinics and coming home with a beverage we
called clinicorange (definitely all one word to a five year old!). Like Mrs Thatcher I
benefitted from State Education at a Grammar School and a University Education which
(though means tested) was heavily subsidised, so I acknowledge myself a child of the
welfare state and know that I am inclined to celebrate rather than challenge it.
Popular images in recent months have offered two contradictory ideas; on the one hand
the needs of women in the East End portrayed in Call the Midwife are a clear testament
to the importance of health and welfare provision, especially for the poorest in our
society, whilst the much publicised Benefits - funded, bullying lifestyle of Mick Corrigan
has called aspects of our welfare system into question.
I wonder how much of the truth we really know? Do we question the pictures that the
media present? Do we hide behind stereotypes of poverty and indigence like our
Victorian predecessors? Are we so tied up with our own concerns that we don't have real
time for the grinding poverty of our neighbours? In a recent television report I was
stopped in my tracks by young parents, both out of work, describing how, in order to feed
their baby, they lived on supermarket 'Basics' batter mix. They were not out of work
through choice and I imagined what it must be like to shop in a supermarket for food
when you could not afford to eat.
A recently published report called 'The Lies we tell ourselves: ending comfortable Myths
about poverty' looks at the way in which the comfortable half of our society understands
the poor so that we allow ourselves not to pay attention. I'm proud that it was a report
published by a group of Christian churches working together to highlight poverty in our
country and sad and ashamed that those sponsoring the report did not include the Church
of England. Here are some of those myths: They -
• Are lazy and don't want to work
• Are addicted to drink and drugs
• Are not really poor -they just don't manage their money properly
• Are on the fiddle
• Have an easy life on benefit
• caused the deficit.
The carefully researched report cites evidence and tells stories about real people in our
towns and cities who do not deserve to have these lies told about them. You can read it
on the internet http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Truth-
And-Lies-Report-smaller.pdf
Of course this is Christians involving itself in politics and when Church of England
Bishops raise such issues in public and particularly in the House of Lords they are
frequently castigated for 'interfering'. But politics and religion DO need to be spoken
about in the same breath. How else do we put into practice the great commandment to
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love others as we love ourselves? When we allow ourselves and others in the world to
believe these myths we are in danger of becoming less than human and both faith and
humanity require of us that we ask hard questions and do our best to live up to the
answers. The Welfare State as it was envisioned was, in its time, a response to doing just
that.
In the years since I enjoyed my 'clinicorange' our society has become increasingly
individualistic and this is not only the fault of politicians and government but all of us
who have fallen into the trap of saying "It's not my fault" and therefore "It's not my
responsibility". It is. The report ends "Collectively we have come to believe things about
poverty in the UK which are not grounded in fact. We need to ... understand ... the depth
and breadth of UK poverty ... and ... we need to match the language of public debate with
the reality of people’s lives.
CHURCH IN THE BALDONS
We thank everyone who is helping during the interregnum. Advertisements, interviews
etc are taking place shortly, so that we should know who is to be the new team vicar for
the Baldons and Nuneham Courtenay, shared with Drayton St Leonard and Berinsfield
by the summer.
Saturday 13th April saw the first of a number of weddings planned in the two churches,
with congratulations to Emily and Iain. We were pleased to see everyone at the
Mothering Sunday service and over Easter, which kept the children busy, making
Mother’s Day posies, arranging the Easter garden and enjoying the Easter egg hunt –
they even had us all making paper chains, even if this is not usual at this time of year!
Finally, please come to the concert on Sunday May 19 – it will be fun, and as we have
just had a survey of St. Peter’s carried out so that we can keep the Church in good repair,
it is all in a good cause. My contact details are 341323/07860 160900, Ian Gillespie is
on 341398, and both our thanks go to Jennifer Morton, Verger, (343302) who is
coordinating services, wedding funerals etc.
Debbie Dance - Churchwarden
ITEMS FOR THE NEWSLETTER
Items for June 2013 newsletter
by 16th
May please
Any villager is welcome to send items for publication in the newsletter - this can be
anything from articles, poems or pictures, to publicising your event. In addition, if you
have an image you would like us to consider for the cover, do send it in!
If you would like to receive a reminder e-mail each month for newsletter contributions
please let me know.
Natasha Eliot: [email protected]. Alternatively I can be contacted on
340562 or at The Barn House, Baldon House East, Marsh Baldon.
For advertising queries, please contact Sheila Harris on: [email protected] or
on 340403.
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COME AND JOIN US FOR THE SUMMER TERM OF TODDLER GROUP!
We are a friendly group of parents and toddlers who meet every week during term time in
Marsh Baldon village hall. We welcome newcomers (and old faces) with children from
any age from newborns to pre-school. Sessions are casual, children can play with craft
gear or our extensive hoard of toys including many ride-ons, or run around outside and
explore. We also serve snacks and drinks.
Sessions run from 9.30 till 11.30 every Thursday, and cost £3 per family. Note that
Toddlers will be closed on 2nd May (election day) and 30th May (half term). For any
queries, call Lucy on 07810 490024.
BALDONS VILLAGE HALL
As regular users of the hall will have seen, we are part way through the upgrade of the
village hall, with new lighting installed and redecoration having taken place. Works to
the floor will be undertaken shortly, and again we hope to achieve this without disrupting
our regular users.
To book the hall, please contact Ali or Darren on: 01865 340264 or [email protected]
Christian Aid Week 12 – 18 May Your gift will help people living in poverty
out of poverty, for good. I would also like to ask for assistance from the village in collecting the envelopes
during the week. This should not amount to any more than one hour's work for any individual. If you are out when the collector calls and would like to give to Christian Aid, could you please leave your envelope with Matt at the Seven Stars and I will collect it from there.
Ian Gillespie – Churchwarden - 341398
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BALDONS PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
Village Green
As we approach spring (a bit late arriving) and hope to see the village green growing and
in bloom again for us all to enjoy it is worth reminding villagers of the rules that govern
the village green and also mentioning a few things relating to the care and the
management of the green in which you can be helpful.
The Rules of the Green are set out in The Law and Property Act of 1925 and are
displayed on the notice board overlooking the green near the cricket pavilion. The green
is formally owned by Queens College, farmers have rights over it, and the Parish Council
is responsible for maintenance.
The Law that covers all common land and village greens and incorporates the 1925 act is
the Commons Act 2006. The village green is there for all to enjoy as a public amenity
with rights of access, and the size and beauty of our green is well known. However the
rules do prohibit certain activities including amongst others:
• Driving and parking
• Dumping of rubbish and refuse
• General injury or disfigurement the land or interference with its use as a public
amenity.
Recognising the realities of modern life and dependence of villagers on cars for transport
the parish council has always tried to be tolerant of cars around the green but it is
important that villagers are aware that driving or parking on the green is not a right and in
fact can cause most of the damage. We need villagers to respect the green and help to
maintain and protect it.
During the last few very wet months there has been increasing erosion and damage to the
edges of the green from cars, 4WDs, and other vehicles particularly outside the school
and on road side verges throughout the village. Cars are an essential part of village life
but we do need everyone to respect the green and to drive and park with care. Some of
the damaged areas will recover naturally but need to be given time and rest from driving
and parking, but areas that have been significantly eroded may not fully recover or be
able to be repaired. The Parish Council will be discussing with the school the problems
adjacent where parents are parking.
Dog poo on the green is an on-going problem and although many dog walkers now pick
up and take it home there have been instances reported to the council where bags of poo
are being left on the green. This is just as unpleasant as leaving the poo where it lies and
results in complaints of the risk of infection for children. The council will periodically
review the need for dog poo collecting bins but are not convinced that dog walkers would
go out of their way to use them.
Garden rubbish and grass cuttings should also not be dumped on the green or in the
surrounding hedges and ditches. We make this plea to householders round the green
every year; farmers take the grass off the green in the summer for feed and are concerned
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that dumped garden cuttings etc. damage the underlying grass. Please use a garden
waste bin from SODC if you have no other way of disposing with your garden waste.
Village clear up
Thank you to everyone who turned out on Sunday 7th April to help clear the village of
rubbish. It was a sterling effort and there are particular thanks for those of you who
heaved tyres and other large pieces out of the ditches. As usual there were plenty of bags
left for SODC to collect the day after but as usual it wasn’t long before someone threw
something out of a car window!
Planning Applications
The council has been consulted on the application for housing development on the
Brewers site in Nuneham Courtenay. Whilst not directly affected by the development we
have indicated support in principle for housing on the site to SODC without commenting
in detail about the design considerations. Councillors have indicated concerns about the
adequacy of the sewage and waste water infrastructure to cope, and urged that should the
plans be approved by SODC measures are taken to avoid the development overloading
the existing sewage system and adding to the flooding problems that affect residents in
Baldon Lane.
Date of next meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Council is on Tuesday May 14th
at 7.30 pm in the
Village Hall.
FILM NIGHT AT
NUNEHAM COURTENAY
VILLAGE HALL
Yes my friends next film night is Les
Miserables (sorry Johnny!). This is a really
fine adaptation of the musical based on Victor
Hugo’s epic novel.
We have had a request to do Saturday
evenings so we are trying it for this event to
see how people feel.
So mark your calendar for Saturday the 18th
of May. Doors open at 7:30.
Tickets can be reserved by calling Jenny on
01865 343459 or by e-mailing
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NUNEHAM COURTENAY PARISH COUNCIL
Apologies for the cancellation of the Annual Parish Meeting on 9 April. The Chair was
unavailable for personal reasons. The meeting will have been held by the time this note
appears. The proposed meeting for May is also cancelled. The next formal meeting is to
be held on 9 July 2013 at 7 pm. However please feel free to contact us in the meantime.
Planning
Brewer’s Garage. Revised drawings for the Brewer’s Garage redevelopment were
submitted to SODC after the last newsletter article was written. Thanks to Jasminder
many attended the drop-in session on 8 April and their responses were delivered to
SODC. Our thanks also to parishioners who have continued to take an interest and
express their views. Obviously there is a wide range of views, but many are supportive
of the development. The Parish Council has considered its original response in the light
of these changes and comments from parishioners. We were not unanimous in our views,
but a majority agreed that, on balance, the benefits of the proposals outweigh the
potential ‘harm’, and that the Parish Council should not object to the proposals. We do
have reservations (which have been expressed previously and stopped us recommending
approval) but believe these can be controlled by condition.
Arboretum barn and composting toilets. The application has been approved by SODC.
Bird scarers.
Concerns about the noise and timing of the use of bird scarers was raised again recently.
We had the opportunity to talk to the farmer concerned. He acknowledged that one of his
‘gas guns’ was going off early and had adjusted it, but would check to try to ensure this
was not causing a nuisance. It should be noted that the farmer has been receptive to
comments, and we’d encourage you to let us know if there are problems – if we don’t
know the extent of concerns it is difficult to pass these on the sense of nuisance caused.
The farmer has indicated that he follows the NFU Code of Practice (which can be viewed
online). There are formal reporting arrangements via Environmental Health and we
know they are aware of concerns and have been in touch with the farmer directly.
However we feel it is preferable to deal with the matter by direct contact. We should
also be aware that this has been a difficult winter for farmers and that the slow rate of
growth of crops and the need to re-drill saturated land has meant that scarers have been in
use for a longer period than might normally be the case.
Community Governance Review
SODC has now issued the timetable and draft terms of review for its consultation on
parish councils in the district. The Parish Council has the opportunity to comment on
matters such as the size of the Parish Council, the boundaries, number of councillors, etc.
The letter and terms are available on the PC website or from councillors. In 2009
parishioners indicated that they wanted to keep a Council of local people that reflected
Nuneham Courtenay and various residents have put themselves forward since then to
keep the Council going. However this is an opportunity for you to let us have your
views. Comments have to be made by 28 June.
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Contact details:
Councillors: Frank Casey, Suzanne Deakin, Colin George, Jasminder Love,
Tara Love
Chair/acting Clerk: Colin George, 01865 343767 [email protected]
Parish e-mail: [email protected]
Parish website: www.nunehampc.webs.com
BaldonsBaldonsBaldonsBaldons Garden GroupGarden GroupGarden GroupGarden Group
SPRiNGSPRiNGSPRiNGSPRiNG
PLANT SWAPPLANT SWAPPLANT SWAPPLANT SWAP & SALE& SALE& SALE& SALE
Sunday 26Sunday 26Sunday 26Sunday 26thththth May, 10:30 May, 10:30 May, 10:30 May, 10:30 –––– 12.12.12.12.30303030
MARSH BALDON VILLAGE HALLMARSH BALDON VILLAGE HALLMARSH BALDON VILLAGE HALLMARSH BALDON VILLAGE HALL
Swap or buy veg plants, herbs, flowers, Swap or buy veg plants, herbs, flowers, Swap or buy veg plants, herbs, flowers, Swap or buy veg plants, herbs, flowers, perennials perennials perennials perennials and shrubs.and shrubs.and shrubs.and shrubs.
OR just come along and have some delicious drinks OR just come along and have some delicious drinks OR just come along and have some delicious drinks OR just come along and have some delicious drinks and homemade cakesand homemade cakesand homemade cakesand homemade cakes
All welcomeAll welcomeAll welcomeAll welcome
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‘Lunch on the Green’
15th
June 2013 A Chance for the Village to Get Together
Complimentary drink on arrival Lunch
Live music Children’s Entertainment
Bar
KEEP THE DATE FREE - TICKETS ON SALE SOON!
THE SEVEN STARS – A MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW LANDLORD
Hi All - And a HUGE welcome to the newly re-opened Seven Stars!
Firstly many thanks to all who helped paint, clean, shift furniture, cut grass and
sometimes just be there to make tea! Too many to name and you know who you are.
Thanks again.
So we opened and I didn’t really believe that we could get that many people in the pub!
Packed out to say the least and we have followed up the initial launch with a new Sunday
Roast menu, the ever popular Tuesday night Steak Night (launched on the 16th
April and
available every Tuesday) and a fortnightly Wednesday pub Quiz from 17th April.
Our bar menu is available every day 12-9 and Head Chef Alan Benge adds some
excellent Specials for the evening. We also run a Gluten free menu and excellent
vegetarian options. Ask many of our new customers and I believe they will say his
desserts are to die for!
Coming up we have the return of Aunt Sally to the garden, more quiz nights and watch
out for our new fresh fish menu.
I look forward to catching up over a glass and entertaining you all for lunch or dinner
soon.
All the best, Matt
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OXFORDSHIRE WOODFUEL PROGRAMME BULLETIN
As ash trees come into leaf, it will become apparent if they have chalara (ash die-back).
Signs include wilting leaves and browning of young stems. Forestry Commission advice
is not to fell ash trees unless they are ill. The felled wood can be used as firewood. See
www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara.
This is the time to buy firewood and store it for next autumn, and also to think about
installing a wood stove or boiler. See www.oxonwoodfuel.org.uk for advice.
There will be woodfuel themed study visits on 15 April, 1 June and 8 June. The first and
last of these will each involve a visit to a woodland, a wood processor and an interesting
wood boiler. The 1 June event is at a Ministry of Defence woodland, and involves
tasting wild rabbit and taking away firewood if you want. More information is at
www.oxonwoodfuel.org.uk/woodfuel-site-visits.
We have had five successful 'logs for labour' events this spring, and will run more next
autumn. If you are a woodland owner who could use some free help with woodland
management, or you would like to work outdoors in return for some firewood, please see
www.oxonwoodfuel.org.uk/logs-for-labour.
The Oxfordshire Woodfuel Programme is setting up a quality standard for firewood
called 'OxLogs'. OxLogs suppliers will clearly state the volume, type, length and
moisture content of their wood. Please ask your supplier if they provide OxLogs.
Riki Therivel, [email protected], 01865 243488
ARTWEEKS 2013ARTWEEKS 2013ARTWEEKS 2013ARTWEEKS 2013 ---- ART IN THE GARDENART IN THE GARDENART IN THE GARDENART IN THE GARDEN This year three artists from the Baldons are exhibiting together at Oxford Artweeks. Caddy Attewill, Lesley Schillinge. Caddy Attewill, Lesley Schillinge. Caddy Attewill, Lesley Schillinge. Caddy Attewill, Lesley Schillinger (Ladies who Lunch) and r (Ladies who Lunch) and r (Ladies who Lunch) and r (Ladies who Lunch) and Sarah MarchantSarah MarchantSarah MarchantSarah Marchant are exhibiting their paintings, jewellery and ceramics at 59 Abingdon Road, Dorchester59 Abingdon Road, Dorchester59 Abingdon Road, Dorchester59 Abingdon Road, Dorchester----onononon----ThamesThamesThamesThames from May 11May 11May 11May 11thththth to 18to 18to 18to 18thththth.... Please come along and visit us, there is easy parking and at the weekends we will be serving teas in a lovely garden setting. Oxford was the first county in the country to organise an Artweeks Festival which gives everyone the unique opportunity to visit artists’ homes and studios to view, and perhaps purchase, their work. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our exhibition in Dorchester.Dorchester.Dorchester.Dorchester. Our opening times will be 12.00 to 6.00pm at weekends and Wednesday 15th, Thursday 16th and Friday 17th. For more details please ring 01865-343815.
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OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL NEWS
Historically, the Nuneham and the Baldons have been represented by two different
County Councillors, Lorraine Lindsay-Gale and David Turner respectively. The County
Council is holding elections on 2nd
May, with the number of councillors being reduced
from 74 to 63. As part of this change, the Baldons will join Nuneham as part of the
Dorchester and Berinsfield Division.
Lorraine Lindsay-Gale says:
It has been an extremely difficult time for the County Council which has been faced with
finding close to £200 million of savings to help clear the national debt. So far we are on
track to do this while protecting front line services such as Adult Social Care, Children’s
Services, the Fire Service and our Libraries.
We are proud that Oxfordshire has the most efficient Fire Service in the country, and that
it is the top recycling county in the country. Other good news has been that I have been
able to fund the improved access to Clifton Hampden primary school, equipment and a
storage facility for the Nuneham Courtenay lunch club, stage lighting for the Greet Hall,
Warborough, a sound loop for Dorchester Village Hall and give contributions towards
the new youth shelter at Berinsfield, plans for the redevelopment of the Village Hall at
Sandford and work on the Village Plan at Culham.
David Turner says:
Highway & Pavement Maintenance. The Government allocated more money in the
form of a specific £3,000,000 grant for highway maintenance which has improved the
situation, although many people would say that they have not noticed the difference. The
bad winter with flooding and frost has added to a backlog of pressing repairs to be done.
For this financial year the £20,000 Locality fund for local projects (the vehicle survey
came from this together with support for the Watlington-Garsington-Oxford bus service)
which I as County Councillor recommended has been replaced by £20,000 for additional
highway maintenance which the local councillor will be asked to prioritise.
Bus Services. The services from Nuneham Courtenay and Garsington to Oxford still
exist although it is not easy for the Baldons residents to use them. The good news is that
South Oxfordshire now at long last has a “Dial-a-Ride” service for mobility impaired and
frail people.
High Speed Broadband. The County Council are targeting May 21st of this year to sign
agreements with the private sector to provide 90% of Oxfordshire with 24Mbit/sec
broadband by the end of 2015. Villages with schools in their area should be in the first
phase of 24M/bit/sec systems as the County Council has to replace the system which it
put into schools many years ago as it is costing a lot of money to maintain.
This year will be the last annual County Councillor’s report that I will be making as I
have decided not to stand for re-election this year: may I thank you for the courtesy
extended to me by the Parish Council and the residents of the Baldons.
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SAFARI SUPPERS
A number of people have expressed an interest in hosting a course for a Safari supper in
aid of church funds. We all know that these events are very popular and I propose to hold
one in Marsh and one in Toot some time in June and July. We are asking for volunteers
to host a course in their gardens with the help of BEC's equipment. Any people willing to
do this should contact me on 341398.
Many thanks,
Ian Gillespie
Churchwarden
ST PETER’S GARDENERS
We are calling a meeting of St Peter's Gardeners in the Seven Stars on Sunday 5th May at
6.00pm. We need to discuss the work that needs to be done there and how and when it
can be carried out. Any persons interested in helping should attend. This should involve
no more than two hours every two months working as a group.
Ian Gillespie
DORCHESTER TEAM NEWS
Ascension Day 9th May
There will be a service for the Team starting at 7pm at the top of Wittenham Clumps –
please meet at the top, or at St Peter’s Church, Little Wittenham, if wet. This is the
perfect place from which to view the area the team covers, and to pray for it. It is also an
opportunity to remember in a tangible way the Ascension.
Festival Sung Eucharist at Dorchester Abbey, 12th May at 10.15am
We are delighted that Terry Waite CBE has agreed to join us at Dorchester Abbey as
the preacher for our Festival Service. Many will remember his role as the Assistant for
Anglican Communion Affairs for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in the
1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure
the release of four hostages, including the journalist John McCarthy. He was himself held
captive between 1987 and 1991.
His current interests include being president of Y Care International (the YMCA's
international development and relief agency) and patron of AbleChildAfrica and Habitat
for Humanity Great Britain. He is also president of Emmaus UK, a charity for
formerly homeless people.
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SERVICES FOR MAY 2013
5th
May 9.30am Holy Communion Toot Baldon
9th
May 7.00pm Ascension Day
Holy Communion
Wittenham Clumps if wet
St Peter’s Little Wittenham 12
th May 6.00pm Evening Prayer Toot Baldon
19th
May 9.30am Holy Communion Marsh Baldon
26th
May 8.30am Said Communion Marsh Baldon
9.30am One4All Marsh Baldon
7.00pm Taize@7 Dorchester Abbey
2nd
June 9.30am Holy Communion Toot Baldon
Morning Prayer in St Peters: Every Thursday at 8.15am
Fellowship Group: 2nd
and 4th
Mondays at 7.30pm Venues and further details from
Jennifer Morton 343302; email: [email protected]
SIDESDUTY Marsh Toot
5th
May 9.30am Ron Hewitt
12th
May 6.00pm Sonia Hobbins
19th
May 9.30am Richard Barnett
26th
May 9.30am Tom Saw
FLOWERS Marsh Toot
5th
& 12th
May C Attewill & L Barnett J van Dijk & S Hobbins
19th
& 26th
May W Barclay& V Sandilands H Maskell & J Knight
2nd
& 9th
June L Martin & I Wright N Wells & V Bowler
15
NUNEHAM COURTENAY VILLAGE HALL NEWS
Nuneham’s Got Talent… and a
small group of young performers
demonstrated this brilliantly on
Friday the 12th
of April. We have
had a request to run this event again
and hope to do so in the autumn.
The piano in the village hall got its
first real use in a long time.
Thank you to both the performers
and supporters!
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