THE DREAM OF THE ROODOne of the earliest English poems is inscribed in runes on the Anglo Saxon Ruthwell Cross in Northumbria. A longer version appears in the early medieval Vercelli Manuscript in Italy. ‘The Dream of the Rood’ is a contemplation on the Life and Passion of Christ on that first Good Friday...

HEAR, while I tell of the best of dreams + which came to me at midnight when humankind kept their beds It seemed that I saw the Tree itself + borne on the air, light wound round it, brightest of beams + all that beacon was covered with gold, gems stood fair at its foot, and five rubies set in a crux flashed from the crosstree Around angels of God gazed upon it From my own stock I was struck away dragged off by strong enemies wrought into a roadside scaffold + They made me a hoist from wrongdoers The soldiers on their shoulders bore me + until on a hill-top they raised me many enemies made me fast there + Then I saw, marching toward me, Mankind’s brave King + I dared not break nor bend aside against God’s will, though the ground itself shook at my feet Then the young warrior, Almighty God, mounted the Cross, in the sight of many He would set free mankind

I shook when his arms embraced me, but I durst not bow to ground, stoop to Earth’s surface + Stand fast I must.

I was reared up, a rood q+ I held the King, Heaven’s lord, I dared not bow They drove me through with dark nails: on me are the wounds Wide-mouthed hate dents + They mocked us together + I was all wet with blood sprung from the Man’s side + after he sent forth his soul

Darkness shrouded the King’s corpse + A shade went wan under cloud pall All creation wept, keened the King’s death Christ was on the Cross But there quickly came from afar + many to the Prince They lifted Him down from the leaden pain + left me, the commanders Standing in blood sweat + I was sorely smitten with sorrow wounded with shafts + Limb-weary they laid him down They stood at his head + They looked on him there . They set to contrive Him a tomb + within sight of his bane carved it of bright stone + laid in it the Bringer of Victory They began to speak the grief song + sad in the sinking light then thought to set out homeward their most high Prince

Yet we three, weeping, a good while + Cold grew the corpse, fair soul house

Adapted, from a translation by Michael Alexander

SELECTED CONTENTS3 Parish & Benefice Services 6 The Rector’s Letter9 Rogation? What’s that? 10 The Archbishop tells the truth16 Cooking up a storm in Holwell 34 Buscot Park changes39 Plants for a warming garden 41 An Australian soldier writes home

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PARISH & BENEFICE SERVICES1st April - Palm Sunday

10.00am Wild life Park Assemble at cross-roads for procession to ...10.30am Holwell Benefice Eucharist Service HM, EJ6.00pm Alvescot Evensong EJnda April9.00pm L Faringdon Compline NUW3rd April9.00pm Filkins Compline HM4th April9.00pm Broadwell Compline NUW5th April - Maundy Thursday7.30pm Langford Benefice Eucharist DM6th April - Good Friday2.00pm Westwell Benefice Service (2.00 - 3.00pm) MP8‘th April - Easter Sunday9.00am. B Bourton Parish Communion DM9.00am Langford Parish Communion EJ9.00am Shilton Parish Communion HM9.00am Westwell Parish Communion IP9.30am Kencot Parish Communion NUW10.30am Alvescot Family Communion EJ10.30am Filkins Family Communion HM10.30am Holwell Parish Communion IP10.30am Kelmscott Family Communion DM11.00am Broadwell Parish Communion NUW11.00am L Faringdon Parish Communion CR15th April - Easter II9.00am Holwell Holy Communion NUW10.30am Broadwell/Kencot Combined Matins EJ10.30am Langford Parish Communion NUW11.00am B Bourton Family Service & Baptism RL6.00pm B Poggs Evensong NUW6.00pm Westwell Evensong EJ22nd April - Easter III

9.00am Kencot Holy Communion no sermon HM 9.00am Shilton Holy Communion NUW 10.30am Filkins Family Communion HM 11.00am L Faringdon Matins NUW 6.00pm Alvescot Evensong NUW 6.00pm LangfordEvensong HM

329th April - Easter IV9.00am Langford Holy Communion EJ10.30am Kencot Parish Communion EJ10.30am Shilton Parish Communion HM6.00pm Holwell Benefice Choral Evensong HM, EJ

5th May11.30am Westwell Family Service & Baptism NUW6‘n May - Rogation Sunday12noon Broadwell Benefice Rogation Family Service & Picnic NLJW, HM6.00pm Kelmscott Benefice Holy Communion HM

Combined services are in the first-named churchThere is also a Communion Service at Black Bourton every Wednesday at 10.00am

CELEBRANTSCR Cedric Reavley DM David MacInnesEJ Liz Johnson HM Harry MacInnesIT Ian Phelps MP Martin PeirceNUW Neville Usher-Wilson PJ Penny Joyce

BENEFICE SERVICESBenefice services for the remainder of 2007:

Date Benefice service at 10.30am Evensong at 6.00pm3rd June Alvescot Holwell1st July ShiltonFilkins(Special 150 th anniversary celebration) 5”’ August Westwell Broadwell2nd a September Filkins B BourtonOctober Harvest Festivals4th November Kelmscott Westwell2nd December Langford Kencot(Advent carols)

ST PETER’S, FILKINSFilkins Church was consecrated to St Peter on Easter Tuesday 1857 by F Bishop Samuel Wilberforce (the son of the anti-slaver William Wilberforce, and so persuasive an orator that he was generally known as ‘Soapy Sam’.) Thirty clergy were present including the Bishop of Jamaica.

At the centenary celebrations in 1957, John Betjeman was moved to commend the church as ‘simple and subtle in local stone’.

This year we celebrate the church’s 150‘” anniversary. See page 19 for details. 4

THE LECTIONARYlst‘ April - Palm Sunday ®Luke 19.2840 Psalm 118.1-2, 19-end5th April - Maundy Thursday (W)Exodus 12.1-4, 11-14 Psalm 116.10-end

1 Corinthians 11.23-26 John13.1-17, 31b-356th April - Good Friday ®Isaiah 52.13-end of 53 Psalm 22HebrewslO.16-25 John18.1-end7th April - Easter EveJob 14.1-14 Psalm 31 1-4, 15-161Peter 4. 1-8 , Matthew 27.57-end8th April - Easter Sunday (G or W)Acts 10.34-43 Psalm 118. 14-241 Corinthians 15. 19-26 John20.1-1815th April - Easter II (W)Acta5.27-32 Psalm 118. 14-endRevelation 1.4-8 John 20. 19-3123rd April - Easter III (W)Acts 9.1-6 Psalm 30Revelation 5. 11-end John 21.1-1923rd April - St George’s Day ®1 Maccabees 2.59-64 Psalm 1262 Timothy 2.3-13 John 15. 18-2129th April - Easter IV (W)Acts 9.36-end Psalm 23Revelation 7.9-end John 10.22-30

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT?J Fletcher Moss, a local historian from Didsbury, writing in 1898 in the Manchester City News about his childhood in the 1850s...

In those days it was the custom to have a distribution not a collection,

after the Sunday service. We gave out loaves of bread to the poor. I have seen as many as fifteen given at once. Old men and women came, with snuffy-coloured cotton handkerchiefs and bobbed their thanks as they took their dole.

Or children came and said ‘Please, Granddad’s back is bad’, or ‘Granddam’s cough is plaguey, and could she have her dole?’ The old-fashioned distribution seems more apostolic than the modern collection. The bread, at least, was visible, tangible, and picturesque, and some there are who regret its

disappearance.5THE RECTOR’S LETTERDear FriendsJ read recently somewhere that some European doctors and psychiatrists had come up with a piece of research to show that the

‘Monday morning feeling’ is not a myth. Not that I ever thought that it was a myth, but it is sometimes nice to know that ‘scientific research’ agrees with you! Their conclusions were that stress related illnesses increase, blood pressure is elevated, stomach acidity is higher, there is a greater risk of contracting ulcers or having a stroke. More people commit suicide on Monday than on any other day.

So, in other words, be careful about Monday mornings. But they went a little bit further to give what they thought was the probable reason. The quite natural stress of starting back at work again after relaxing over the weekend combines with something which lies much deeper and is subliminal. Just below the level of our consciousness, they suggested, there is a sense of emptiness about life. We don’t face it head on, because it is too uncomfortable to do so. However, the vague feeling expressed by one person in the words..

Life has no meaning,

A struggling through the gloom And the senseless end of it Is the insult of the tomb.

... lurks underneath the other pressures and tips us over the edge. The constant stream of depressing news that pours out of our television screens and newspapers has more of an effect than we realise. It produces that feeling which made Woody Allen quip ‘The future isn’t what it used to be.’

Fascinatingly, we are told in the New Testament that it was ‘on the first day of the week’ ie the equivalent of Monday, that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb in which the body of Jesus had been buried. There can be no question that she and the other followers of Jesus were suffering from ‘Monday

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morning feelings’. But that particular Monday morning they began a journey of discovery which was to have an explosive effect on the history of the world. They found they were witnessing something which they could scarcely get their minds around. It gave them a totally new perspective on the world, on life, on everything.

As they put it to their contemporaries ‘this Jesus whom you crucified, God has raised.’ The event opened up an entire dimension of which they had been completely unaware. Monday mornings would never be the same again. The sense of emptiness had been replaced by a discovery that there is a future which they found themselves lost for words to describe. ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it even entered into our imagination, what good things God has prepared for those that love him.’

Harry MacInnesTHE BENEFICE PASTORAL TEAMThe Pastoral Team has been working quietly behind the scenes for nearly three years now, complementing the work of the clergy in the benefice. We feel that the time has come to make members of the team better known, so that they can be more easily contacted.

The team members, listed below, are available to people living in their village for a visit or a phone call. If you would prefer to talk to somebody you don’t know, please contact

one of the team marked with an asterisk, who are happy to visit parishioners in any of our villages.

Sue Cave* Alvescot 01993 846696 Pam Barling Alvescot 01993 841507 Christine Pope Black Bourton 01993 845998 Doreen Hart Black Bourton 01993 844124 Mary Cover Filkins 01367 860302 Helen Squire Kencot 01367 860337 Jean Austin” Langford 01367 810307 Chrissy Tinson Langford 01367 860514 Maxine Ponsonby Little Faringdon 01367 252233 Debs Price* Shilton01993 847039

During the Benefice Communion Service on Sunday 3rd June at St. Peter’s, Alvescot, the Pastoral Team will be commissioned, giving the church’s blessing on what they do. Please come and show your support for them as they seek to give help and support to others.

Liz JohnsonEASTER IN ROME‘Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.’ Pope John Paul II

7CONFIRMATIONO n Sunday 8‘n July, the Bishop of Dorchester will be coming to take a confirmation service in this Benefice. This will be held at St Margaret’s church, Little Faringdon. If you are interested in getting confirmed, please let me know.

Harry MacInnesCHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP0 ur next meeting will be on Wednesday 4”’ April at 2.45pm in Filkins Methodist Chapel Schoolroom. The speaker will be Miss Janet Glanville of Aston, who has spoken to us on previous occasions. All are welcome.

Marjorie BarstowSHILTON BAPTIST CHAPELHere we are again, well into another year - one third to be exact. And what have been the most important things to us so far? What we managed to buy at bargain prices in the New Year or winter sales? Or steering clear of too much credit card debt?

But of course to the sincere Christian

Christmastime was very special, not just for the extra good meals, and the get-togethers with family and friends (much as the latter is

so important), but for the chance once again to reinforce the precious truths of the nativity - so fundamental to our lives. And we also can look forward to the Second Advent and the Lord Jesus’ promise to come again and receive us unto himself (as described in 1 Thessalonians ch.4, verses 14 - 18). ‘Be ye ready’ as the scripture tells us. It might be this year in 2007.

Meanwhile we can enjoy God’s goodness in the spring bulbs and flowers showing cheerfully in our gardens after the winter rain and cold days.

Ray Honeyford

Preachers for April:

1st April Informal8th April (Easter) David Earl. Tea and cakes in the Old School afterwards15‘th April Ray and Dorothy Honeyford22nd April Grev Parmenter29th April Sue BarnesAll the services are at 6.00pm and everyone would be most welcome. Elizabetb Harfield8

SAPIENTIA ET DOCTRINA

Wisdom and learning’from Neville Usher Wilson about the Latin origin of ‘Rogation’ and its continuing relevance today...

It is already April and approaching that time of year we call ‘Rogation’, which we celebrate in May. According to my diary we will be celebrating a week early on May 6‘h but it fits best with our Benefice Service Schedule.

The word comes from the Latin ‘rogare’, meaning’to ask’ and in our country areas it has a particular resonance, for it was/is a time of asking God for His blessing on the crops and so ties in with festivals at the completion of harvest. In the past also it was an occasion when the people of each parish used to walk around its boundaries and the children used to ‘beat the bounds, often marked with stones, so as to imprint on their consciousness where their ‘territory’ ended, which suggests its origins must have gone back far further to primitive man.

As a boy, however, our parish in Sussex, where my guardian Ken Mathews was vicar (some of you may remember him when he lived at Westwell), did things a little differently. Carrying the processional cross from the church, to begin with a fairly small party of walkers set out and, through the day, visited each farm in turn, being met by the farmer, his family and, sometimes, his workers too, conducted to the farmstead for a short prayer of blessing. Then, swelled by that farmer and others on each occasion, we proceeded to the next and the next, finishing up for a great tea at the ‘home farm’, before joining together for a final service of thanksgiving and prayer in the church, asking for a blessing on the land for that season.

Today our farms are much larger and fewer and to walk all round the benefice would not be possible, but, as you know, we have for several years now, had a service in Broadwell, it being about the most central, at 12noon. People from all the parishes have assembled, some have walked, some have ridden bikes or horses (they can be tethered or let loose in a paddock during the service) and some have driven or been driven, and then, after the service, many of us have picniced outside, near the Goodenough’s house. We’ll be doing

it again and a barbecue will be ready and lit so folk can grill sausages or whatever. Dogs and other animals, are very welcome, both during the walk and at the service.

It has always been a good day in the past, but, whereas the first time, the church was quite full, numbers have tended to drop through the years, which is a pity because it has always been a great occasion and a great benefice ‘coming together’ and we’d like to breathe new life into it. Each parish has its organiser to set start times for walkers at their churches and their names are printed below so, please do get in touch and come and join us and make it once again a great day.

Alvescot Jane Lewin Black Bourton Frank Stewart-Wood

Broadwell June Goodenough” Broughton/Filkins Jim Cover

Holwell Reggie Heyworth Kelmscott Ellie MaughanKencotHelen Squire Langford Richard KirbyL Faringdon Jeremy Taylor ShiltonHarry McInnes Westwell Neville Usher-Wilson(*°” June also deals with arrangements for horses) Neville Usher-WilsonTHE HONEST ARCHBISHOP

The writer EF Benson (of Mapp and Lucia fame) tells a splendid story, in his autobiography, of a dinner party attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury before the First War. Archbishop Temple (right) was a man of iron correctness who took great pains to be absolutely truthful at all times.

His neighbour at table twittered away to him about a train smash in which her Aunt had been involved.

‘Archbishop’, said the lady ‘it was a dreadful business. A traveller in the very next carriage was killed in the crash, but my aunt was shaken but otherwise entirely unhurt. Wasn’t it lucky, Archbishop, and wasn’t providence kind to ensure that my aunt was returned safely to her family.’

The rigorously exact Archbishop Temple turned to the woman and said gravely, ‘I’m afraid that I have never met your aunt, so I really can not say.’

FROM THE REGISTERSHOLY BURIAL19th February Banbury Harold Baker aged 99 years of the Cotswold Home lst‘ March Alvescot Michael Aubrey Robert Oakey aged 63 years10ROUND OUR VILLAGES

The 15 villages that make up the 11 parishes in the Shill & Broadshire Benefice are lively places! Every month there are dozens of events organized by the many local

organizations that flourish here. We are pleased to report on every event that has happened, and to publicise all those that are to come. We try to incorporate all the many contributions we receive, but please accept that we can not always advertise your particular event in the way you would like.

But do keep sending us all your Village News.

ALVESCOTSt Peter’sCHURCH BIRTHDAYAs part of St.Peter’s 900‘” Birthday celebrations we want to stitch some more kneelers for the Church. Would anyone willing to stitch or sponsor a kneeler please contact me on 01993 842865.

Cheryl TraffordVILLAGE FETE - SATURDAY 16”H JUNEWhere:Village Playing FieldWhat for: To raise much needed funds for local organisationsPlanning has begun in earnest, and as the months tick by we will be asking for your help/support. If you’re starting to plan your garden/growing seeds/potting up plants... Please do an extra tray/pot for our Plant Stall.

We will also have the usual range of stalls: Bric-a-Brac, bottle, cake, childrens’ toys and books, so keep those unwanted Christmas gifts and strange bottles for us. We’ll come and collect them nearer the time. If you would like to run a stall, or just help out in any way, please telephone

me on 01993 841522. Ann CadoganIlEASTER CHURCH DECORATION & CHURCHYARD TIDY UP Everyone is welcome to come along at 10.00am on Saturday 7”’ April to join together and prepare St Peter’s for Easter.

Inside we will be decorating and cleaning the church. We would like to use lots of daffodils and other spring flowers, blossom and foliage so if you are able to bring some they will all be gratefully received.

Outside there will also be a churchyard tidy up, so if you can spare a couple of hours to help with weeding etc we’d love to see you. Gardening gloves are useful but not essential. Coffee and biscuits will be provided.

LILIES FOR REMEMBRANCE

Once again this Easter we will be using white lilies in remembrance of loved ones. If you would like to make a donation for lilies in memory of someone special, please do so to me (along with the name of whomsoever you would like mentioned) before 3‘d April. The names of those being remembered will be by the lilies in church over Easter.

If you would like more details on any of the above or would like to give flowers or greenery but can’t come on the 7‘h please contact me on 01993 842435.

Jayne Lewin

ST PETER’S INFANT SCHOOL The term started with a return visit from Peter Killick, from the Cultural Loans Service, this time with his ‘Mystery Box’. The children thoroughly enjoyed handling the artefacts and made some beautiful drawings.

Class 2 visited Wroughton

Science Museum and had a wonderful day experimenting with how gas was used to

power vehicles from the past, looking at aeroplanes and making their own paper aeroplanes and exploring bicycles from the past to the present day.

Class 1 visited the Oxford Heritage Museum at Woodstock where they had a wonderful day taking on the chores of a servant in a Victorian household and looking at the historical artefacts gathered from the local area. Many thanks to all the parents who provided transport and helped us on these trips.

Ann Whitehead, County adviser for the Healthy Oxfordshire School’s Award Scheme, came to an assembly to talk to the children about the school’s achievement and to present the school with our plaque for gaining the award.

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This term Roger Trafford led an assembly on Shrove Tuesday and on Ash Wednesday the whole school went to St Peter’s Church for a special assembly led by the Reverend MacInnes. Many children chose to have a cross drawn on their forehead in ash to mark the occasion. Liz Johnson visited in March.

This term, the children in Classes 1 and 2 have been enjoying playing tag rugby, coached by Gary Morris from the Witney Rugby Club on the MUGA.

The whole school raised money for Comic Relief on 16‘” March by supporting a non-uniform day and the Red Nose disco which will be held at the Village Hall.

Our Bookweek began on 19‘’ March and the children had an exciting week of activities including bedtime stories, dressing up, sharing favourite books and a visiting storyteller, Chris Smith. Class 2 will be taking part in the Oxford Literary Festival again this year, and meeting the children’s author Theresa Breslin.

By now we will have enjoyed seeing you all as we paraded around the village in our Easter Bonnets on the afternoon of 28”’ March and at our Easter Service in St Peter’s Church at 2.00pm on the afternoon of 29‘” March.

Please remember Sandie Morris’s Jumble Sale at the village hall on Saturday 28‘h April at 2.00pm. Please bring any jumble to the village hall on the morning of the sale or, if this is not possible, to the school on 27‘” April.

The school now has a fundraising webshop. If you shop on line at shops such as John Lewis, M & S, Tesco, Amazon, Comet, Mothercare and HMV, to name but a few, please purchase your goods via our school website, and raise money for school at the same time!

If you make your purchases by doing this, school will receive a percentage of the money you spend. Webshops can be accessed via the school website: www.st-peters-inf.oxon.sch.uk/ Then go to the Home Page and click on the link, where indicated, to take you to the various sites. We hope you enjoy shopping.

Term ended on Friday 30‘h March and school will reopen again for pupils on Tuesday 17th April.

Sam KingTHE PHOENIX RISESFollowing the closure of Shill Valley WI some ladies from this village have continued to meet, and will be arranging regular meetings in the Village Hall on the first Wednesday of every month.

We will be called ‘Alvescot Ladies’. We are very keen for new members to join us. Membership details are being discussed but it will be a much more relaxed and informal group than one constrained by a formal constitution. We are already planning a trip to Swindon greyhounds!

Sandra Morris13

BLACK BOURTONSt Mary’sNEWS FROM ST MARY’SIt was a good attendance at the United Benefice Service on the 5‘h March. It was a lovely service enhanced by the singing of the Benefice Choir, thank you very much.

FLOWER CLASSES

All those that attended enjoyed the first flower arranging class given by Christine Pope learnt the basic mechanics as Christine demonstrated an arrangement for a shelf or window sill. The result was beautiful, but will we do as well when it is our turn?

It was a relaxed evening with refreshments and chatter, and already plans to have further classes later in the year as everyone discussed what they would like to cover. Christine was accompanied by the drip drip of the rain, reenforcing our need for raising money for roof repairs.

AGM

The AGM for the PCC will take place on Monday 16th April at 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Church. Everyone will be welcome.

QUIZ

Quiz Sheets still available from me on 01993 844124 or the Church for £1.00. Completed entries should be returned by 16‘” April.

Doreen HartBROADWELLSt Peter 6- St Paul’sFLOWER ROTA

The new rota is not yet ready, but it will go up in the church porch as soon as it is available.

APCCMThe Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting will be on Monday 23‘a14April, at 6.30pm in the Old School. All people living in the parish are welcome, so do come and have your say. You might have some very strong views you would like to put forward about the church.

June GoodenoughAPMThe Annual Parish Meeting will be held at the Old School at 7.00pm on Thursday 26”’ April. Please try to attend as this is the one opportunity for residents to discuss officially any matters concerning your village.

Mike Godfrey

FILKINS & BROUGHTON POGGSSt Peter’s

CALOR VILLAGE OF THE YEAR We live in the Best Village in England!

We may already know that this is the case, but we need to persuade the judges from the ‘Calor Village of the Year’ competition on 23‘a April, if we want the official title.

The judges are looking for well-balanced, enterprising, caring villages with communities that are making the most of local opportunities, wherever they are and however large or small the village.

The competition includes six compulsory categories:

Building Community Life Business Young People Older People Environment ICT (Access to Information Communication Technology in the community)We have already completed a written entry, a copy of which is available in the shop, should you wish to read it. The next opportunity to wow the judges is during their visit here on Monday 23‘d April (St George’s Day).

We need your help if we are to succeed and it is important that as many villagers as possible get involved, as well as people from the wider community.

If you are likely to be in the village on the 23‘d April, between the hours of 10.00am and 12 noon, there will be lots of activities taking place with the Village Centre and the Village Hall being the two main focal points. Please refer to the website for more details nearer the time. We would like the judges to see as many people as possible as the villagers are the reason we have got so far in the competition to date.

If you are unlikely to be in the village on 23rd April, don’t worry, there are still things that you can be involved to further our cause.

We will be inviting all the groups, clubs and organisations that are active in the village to produce a display in the Village Hall on Sunday 22nd April with a preview for the village on the Sunday evening. The display will then be ready for the judges on the Monday morning. Those entities that have their own facilities, such as the play ground, the bowls club, the shop, the church and the museum will be included on the judges tour of the village. The route and time plan will be available nearer the time on the website and posters.

The tour finale will be at the Village Hall and we are planning to produce a piece of collective ‘artwork’ here. This will take the form of strings of bunting with handwritten village thoughts on each ‘flag’.

The plan is to distribute pieces of coloured card to every household in the village - and also have them available in strategic places around the village - and ask villagers to write their thoughts about the village and why it should be village of the year, on the card ‘flags’. We will provide a number of posting boxes for collecting the card ‘flags’ and then, before the judges arrive we will string them together to produce an eye catching and inclusive view of the village. So look out for your ‘flag’ and think about what you would like to write on it.

We would also like to receive copies of any photographs (digital or otherwise) that show what makes this village special for you. It might be your next-door neighbour; it could be people at one of the St Filica events; it may possibly be one of the great facilities we have, such as the Village Hall or the Playground, something that will give the judges an insight to Filkins and Broughton Poggs. We will display the photographs in the village along with the bunting and the groups and organisations exhibition. Please leave any photographs you would like to submit in Our Village Shop or email them to the address below. Please only leave copies, as we will not be able to return them all. If you don’t have access to a camera, please ask in the shop and we will arrange for someone to come and take a photo for you.

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In addition to this we are hoping to produce some posters that will be available for each household to display to show their support for the competition. They will be A4 in size and will probably say ‘Proud to live here’ or ‘F&BP Village of the Year’ or ‘I Love (as a heart shape) my Village’ etc.

Finally we are going to source some St George’s flags to display around the village to take advantage of the day the judges are visiting... St Georges Day.

If you would like to help the village succeed, please let us know. Please either email me at robbinscottage-helen@yahoo.co.uk or phone me on 01367 860159.

Helen HoldenPARISH LITTER PICK

35 villagers and 10 children’took part in our 8”’ Annual Litter Pick on 10‘h March probably enjoying the best weather we have ever had and, predictably, picked up a small mountain of rubbish from the roadsides around Filkins. Barbara and her five helpers put on a fantastic tea afterwards during which the main talking points were how Keith Perry got a bloody head (below) and what the strangest object found was.

Concerning Keith’s head, opinions were divided between a hawthorn scratch and a slap from the lady he was picking with for not doing as he was told - her husband definitely thought it was the latter.

The strangest object found was a sex aid, at least that’s what the innocent people of Filkins thought it was, so, if you are reading this and have lost said object please write to the editor so that it can be returned to you, strictly anonymously of course. [Apart from the staff photographer, of course. Ed]

See you next year. Chris BristowPCC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGThe AGM of Broughton and Filkins PCC will be held on Wednesday 25th April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Everyone will be very welcome.

THE GARDENING CLUB...

... is holding a Coffee Morning & Plant Sale in the Village Hall on 12‘” May from 10.00am to 12noon. You will be able to enjoy delicious refreshments, stock up on a wide range of plants, and buy lots of gardening ‘extras ‘.

If you have any plants or other gardening sundries you can donate to our Sale please contact Chris Woodford (01367 860319) or me (01367 860282) Lucille Jones

17WI NEWSWe had a special meeting in February to celebrate the 60‘” Anniversary of Filkins and Broughton WI. This was organised and run by the members, the committee was given the night off. We were entertained to stories from earlier meetings by Anne Cripps and Lil Gibbs and browsed the many photographs, memorabilia and records covering the last 60 years. Our task of identifying members from their early childhood photos proved more difficult. We finished with a special cake and sparkling wine and thanked our chairman for the night, Lucille Jones, and her committee for the lovely evening.

We will be welcoming Sandra Kirby to our meeting on 18th April who will talk about the Life of the Alpaca. Apparently we now have some of these lovely animals in a nearby village. Visitors are always welcome, £2.50 including refreshments.

Hilary WardSWINFORD MUSEUM...... highlight the Thirties and Forties on Friday 27‘” April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. This a chance to see the film ‘24 Square Miles’ which was filmed in the early forties in a north Oxfordshire village with a commentary by John Arlott who discusses the assets and needs of the area. This is a classic film which gives a fascinating insight into village life.

You will also get a chance to see a family film shot in 1958 which shows Cotswold Woollen Weavers’ buildings in quite a different light.

And if that is not enough we will be showing a short digital presentation of Filkins Life before WWII through photographs in our collection.

Tickets are £5 each or £8.50 for two from either the Post Office, Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Ann Cripps, or me. Numbers are limited.

Diane Blackett18CINEMAThe next Monthly Film will be ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ on 10‘” May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Tickets £3.50 on the door.

‘A funny and stylish movie: as assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, young Andy Sachs has landed a job that a million girls would die for. Unfortunately, her heaven-sent appointment as Miranda’s personal whipping girl just might be the death of her! The Devil Wears Prada is a fresh, funny, fabulous masterpiece.’

Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt. 105 minutes, Certificate PG.

John HayesFRENCH EVENINGThe French Evening on 11‘” May will start at 7.00pm with drinks, followed by a light supper (French onion soup, bread and cheese), with entertainment starting at around 8.30pm. French wine and soft drinks will be on sale. The cost will be £7.50 per person, and any money left over will given to Filkins Church.

Numbers are restricted and tickets will be sold on a first-come first-served basis, so if you are interested, don’t wait until the last minute. Tickets are on sale from Filkins Post Office or from me. Telephone me (01367 860195) for more details.

Barbara Bristow

CELEBRATING 150 YEARSSt. Peter’s Church will be 150 years old this year. To celebrate, the PCC is holding a weekend of special events, and we are planning something different each month of the anniversary year.

This is a celebration for the whole village, and you are warmly invited to all the events:

Saturday 30‘” June Exhibition in the church and the museumVictorian style picnic for all ages Sunday 1th July Celebration service with Bishop Colin11th & 12th August ‘Art in Filkins’ exhibition in the churchSunday 12th August Songs of Praise serviceSunday 23rd September Celebration of Baptism service...

.. A special welcome to everyone baptised here Sunday 7‘” October Harvest Festival and supper Thursday lst‘ November All Saints Day service to remember loved ones

More to follow, so watch this space!Liz Johnson

THE ‘FILKINS REUNION 2007’

Great News: this year we are coming back home! We hope you will be pleased that Reunion 2007 will be held in The Carter Institute here in the village on Saturday 4th August from 12noon.

Those who have attended over the last six years know how great it is to see childhood friends, most of whom travel from far and wide, so if you lived in Filkins 50 years’ ago and would like to join us this year for a buffet lunch please let us know before Saturday 30‘” June. Remember it’s first come first served, with a maximum of 80 tickets. The cost this year will be £12 per person, to be paid before 30‘” June.

Cheques should be made payable to Post Office Ltd and sent to Ena Constable, c/o Filkins Post Office, Rouses Lane, Filkins, GL7 3HU. If you have any questions please contact me on 1793 828454.

Frances ClackTHE QUEEN MUST DIE...... A farce by David Farr. This is Filkins Theatre’s 20‘” anniversary production on 13”’, 14‘” and 15‘” April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Tickets are £5.00 from Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Filkins PO and The Five Alls.

Malcolm Hunter, the director, writes:

IstJune 2002 - the eve of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. In a town somewhere in middle’ England the local council has commissioned a huge statue of Her Majesty which will be paraded through the town on a motorised float. Six teenagers come to terms with what the following day will mean to them. For Shannon, Lisa and Sandra it means the humiliation of wearing seriously uncool union jack dresses as they dance on the float,• for Darren, Billy and Mad Mike of the Popular Republican Front it is anti-monarchist anathema.

All are determined that the statue will not survive the night - in some way ‘the ,Queen must die...’

This play was originally commissioned for the National Theatre’s Shell Connections programme for young people. Now Filkins Theatre picks up the mantle of youth theatre and wraps it round some older shoulders. Come and laugh at us, or with us - or

perhaps even both.’Telephone me for more information on 01367 860229 Sue Ashforth-SmithSWINFORD MUSEUMWe are preparing for 2007 with exhibitions of 100 years of Scouting; Filkins Bowls Club; 150 years celebration of St Peter’s Church, Filkins; and Sir Stafford Cripps in Filkins. If you have anything we can display for the season please let either Ann Cripps (03167 860209) or me (01367 860504) know.

Diane Blackett20ROSTER FOR VOLUNTARY CAR SERVICE TO SURGERIES Covering Filkins, Broughton Poggs, Broadwell, Kencot, Langford and L Faringdon 3rdApril Lady Allison860787 24th April Mr A Woodford 8603195th April Mrs M Cover 860302 26th April Mrs V Godfrey 86049810thApril Mr M Hambidge 860381 lst‘ May Mr M Hambidge 86038112th April Miss H Squire 860337 3rd May Mrs B Bristow 86019517ththApril Mr A Heath 860129 (All codes 01367)19thApril Mrs P Clark 860500

For hospital runs, or with any problems, contact me on 01367 860319 Local surgery runs £2.00

Hospitals: Fairford & Witney £6.00 Swindon & Cirencester £8.00 Oxford £10.00 At the JR, parking charges may have to be paid, and will be added to the bill..

Tony WoodfordBOWLS CLUBThere will be an invitation round-robin triples competition sponsored by Cotswold Woollen Weavers on Saturday 23”d June. Do come along and see some of the best bowlers in the district strut their stuff. ‘Expert’ rink-side commentary and refreshments will be available.

CLASSIC CAR SHOW

The successful car show held in 2005 at Filkins Farmhouse will be repeated this year on 10‘” June to coincide with the National Gardens Open afternoon in the village. Proceeds from the car show will go toward Church restoration and St Filica funds. Last time ‘classic cars’ ranged from 1923 to 2005. Please let me know (1367 860195 or cdbristow@tiscali.co.uk or 860195) if you have a car which you would like to bring.

Chris BristowHAVE YOU GOT THE ‘X’ FACTOR?

Do you want the opportunity to perform on stage? Filkins Theatre is planning to present our very own ‘X Factor’ in late September. Any participants wishing to perform, or offer their services as (qualified, experienced or just plain mean and unpleasant, harsh but fair) critics, do please contact me.

We need to know probable numbers and if there would need to be different age groups.If you are interested get in touch now at 5 The Gassons or ring 01367 850730. Daniel Porter21

HOLWELLSt Mary s[Holwell’s finest rattles her pans on page 36. Ed/STUDIO EXHIBITIONPaul Gainsford will be exhibiting his paintings and drawings at Manor Farm from Saturday 5th to Monday 7th May (10.00am to 4.00pm each day.)

KELMSCOTTSt George’sPCC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGThe AGM of Kelmscott PCC will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16‘h May, at the Morris Memorial Hall.

SUMMER BALL

Our Summer Ball will take place on Saturday 23‘d June. Tickets are £40, and are available from me. Do telephone for more information: 01367 252423.

Karen SpittleGARDENS OPENThe village is opening its gardens on Sunday lst‘ July, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Adult entry will be £3, children free. We need your plants for the plant stall. Please sow a few extra seeds, save a few plug plants, pot up any self-seeded plants, take cuttings or divide that clump of polyanthus you’ve been meaning to do for ages. Tea and cakes will be on sale at the Village Hall. If you would like to donate a cake, or need more information, please telephone me on

01367 252154. Celia James

KENCOTSt George’sEASTER SUNDAYHoly Communion is at 9.30am. The offertory will be given to Christian Aid.Helen Squire22

CHURCH FLOWERS

7th April Easter. All help welcomed

14th & 21st April Marjorie Barstow 28th April & 5th May Jane Fyson

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

St. George’s APCM will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 16‘” April at 7.30pm. It will be preceded by the Annual Vestry Meeting and followed by a meeting of the new PCC.

John BarstowPARISH PUMPOur thanks to all who have made donations towards the cost of producing The Parish Pump. It has been possible to send a cheque for £250 to the Treasurer.

John Barstow [Thankyou Kencot. Ed]

GARDENS OPEN ON EASTER MONDAY.

Six gardens and the allotments will be open from 2.00 to 6.00pm on Monday 9”’ April under The National Gardens Scheme. We like to have the village looking at its best on this occasion, so could all householders please make sure that their frontages are clean and tidy.

Also we need a supply of cakes for the teas, so could everyone in the village who can make a cake please take it (them) to the Village Hall on the morning. Susan Portergill (tel 01367 860217) could make use of some more volunteers to help with teas in The Village Hall in the afternoon.

Please ring her if you have an hour to spare that afternoon. The gate money will go as usual to Macmillan Cancer Research and other medical charities and profits from the teas will be split between the Village Hall and the Church.

John BarstowARRIVALSWe welcome Richard and Judith Dallmeyer to ‘The Cottage.’ We hope they will have a long and happy stay with us.

23LANGFORDSt Matthew’sCHURCH FLOWERS8thApril Easter Festival15th April Mrs R Range 22nd & 29th April Mrs S KirbyLANGFORD LADIESWe welcomed back Dr. H. Catling to our March evening meeting where the subject was entitled ‘The Ancient City of Athens.’ Dr Catling gave a very informative talk about the history of Athens from 600BC to 670AD; we then had a lovely slide show. We saw the Acropolis, buildings of recent years with very old freezes from previous demolished buildings and lots more. Dr Catling lived in Athens for 18 years and is an archaeologist. A wonderful talk.

Next months meeting will be on Thursday 12‘” April, 7.30pm at the Village Hall. Chris Bristow will be joining us to talk about a visit to a Primary School in Uganda, which Filkins have supported for some years. Visitors are most welcome at £L50, (We meet every 2°d Thursday in the month). A raffle is held, and refreshments are available. Enquires to Tracy on 01367 860721, or to me on 01367 860514.

Chrissy TinsonVILLAGE HALLThank you to everyone who so generously supported us and helped raise £438 for the village hall, this money has gone towards purchasing 4 new tables. If you would like to book the hall for your party or ‘do’, please contact me, the bookings secretary, on 01367 860811

Jane StevensSPRING GARDENS OPEN DAYThe PCC are organising a Spring Gardens Open Day, in aid of St Matthew’s Church Roof Fund, for Sunday 15”’ April. The owners of more than a dozen gardens, both large and small, have agreed to open their gardens from 2.00 to 6.00pm.

For gardeners, it’s always a bit of a trauma to know exactly what will be in bloom at such an event. We Langford gardeners are no different and already are agonising about what will be on offer. At the moment the snowdrops and aconites are over and the daffodils and jonquils all seem to have burst forth

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together. Some magnolias are beginning to bloom while others remain in that pre spring stage. Is this yet more evidence of global warming? However we feel sure that all visitors will find something of real interest in each and every garden.

As part of the fund raising effort there will be Teas in the Village Hall, a Cake and Plant stalls and a Raffle. Our lovely St Matthews will be open to visitors and there will be free car-parking opposite the Church.

We hope that readers of the Parish Pump, and their families, will come along and enjoy a pleasurable afternoon with us.

Denise KempPARISH COUNCILPublic Meeting ,Mr. Rob Parkinson, Conservation and Design Manager, at West Oxfordshire District Council, addressed the meeting, and outlined the proposals for the preservation and enhancement of the village. These were contained in a draft document. This does not contain any new regulations nor does it strengthen the existing planning regulations. It merely formalises the existing individual views and regulations on planning and conservation.

This would not exclude any developments, as appropriate, in new environmental energy saving technologies/ The document also included advice on traditional building materials and methods that are part of the village now, and so would be suitable for future development.

Litter Pick

We will be doing our yearly Litter Pick on 14t” April. Please collect your bags, gloves etc. from the village hall between 9.00am and 12noon, where you will be directed to an area of the village to collect the litter. Do please join us in this, as certainly the more hands the easier is the task of tidying the village for another year.

Annual Parish Council meeting

The APCM will take place on Tuesday 10‘” April at 7.00pm. in the Village Hall. Do come along if you have any questions you wish to put to the Parish Council, or any concerns you wish to raise.

Ali MacDonaldWHISTJoin us for an evening of whist at the Village Hall on Tuesday 3”’ April. We start at 7.30pm. However if you would like some tuition please arrive a little earlier than this. The entrance fee of £1 includes tea and biscuits at half time. We play for fun with small prizes. Profits go to the Village Hall. Enquiries to

me on 01993 852378.

JO

25ST CHRISTOPHER’S NEWSSt Christopher’s CE School annual Literacy Week started with a visit from the ‘Performance Poet’ James Carter. James spent Monday of the week in school with us working with the children and staff. He led

a really interactive and exciting -- assembly performing some of the

poems from his new book. The children were enthralled and entertained and went away from the assembly thinking of poetry in a whole new light. James then led a poetry workshop in each class tailoring the lesson to the needs of the age group. James’ training as an infant teacher really showed as he both performed his poetry and taught the children about poetry and how to write it. All the children focused on writing poems for the rest of the day, culminating in a wonderful sharing assembly in the afternoon. The quality of the work was outstanding and is on display around the school. Please do

come in and have a look if you can.

Cycling Proficiency training has also re-started at St Christopher’s. Trevor Whiteman spent every afternoon with us during the last week in February. He worked with Julie Banks and Judi Cross and not only trained them as future trainers but also worked with twelve year 5 and 6 children on their cycling and road safety skills. This is a very hard course to pass and I am pleased to say that all the children did really well and the majority passed the test first time! Julie and Judi will be running the course again in the summer term as we are keen for all our oldest children to be able to safely cycle around their villages. We are also starting ‘Footsteps’ training for our younger children this summer. Further details to follow...

As I write this we are preparing for the Year 5 and 6 residential at the Pioneer Centre in Shropshire. Mrs Gair, Mr Cornish and I are privileged to go with thirty of our older children on this wonderful week of outdoor and adventurous activities. The children all have a go at abseiling, high-roping, team and initiative games, wide games, a night walk, a camp fire, fencing, archery, search and rescue and many more. The evenings are kept busy too with a quiz, talent show, sing songs and the big bounce! It is a wonderful week where it is a pleasure to be with the children as they grow and develop while trying out such different and unusual activities.

This year the Governors are being given the opportunity to see a day in the life of the children at the Pioneer and to join in some of the activities. We have booked the Governors in as guests for the day and I hope they are looking forward to it as much as I am. It will give them a flavour of why we encourage children to come on a residential and let them see for themselves the challenges of the activities.

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As the Year 6 SATs approach once more the school is buzzing with excitement about our new Easter School. With support from the Local Authority we are running a Booster School during the holidays to help the Year 6 children to do their very best in their forthcoming tests. This is a really fun two days of cross curricular, hands on learning through real life problem solving. Gone are the days of silent revision and tests! We will be challenging the children with designing and running a restaurant for a day. During this mini-project they will sort out the budget, shop, plan and cook a menu for the twenty children and four staff, design seating plans and a restaurant area. All this with be discreetly filled with Maths, Literacy and Science revision but in a fun and stimulating environment. I can’t wait.

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Miss Pheby this Easter. Kate has been at St Christopher’s since she graduated and has contributed hugely to the school both with her inspirational teaching and her management skills. It is a credit to the school that Kate has been given the experiences and skills necessary to move onto a‘leading teacher’ role at her new school despite only teaching for four years. Recruitment for a new teacher is underway and we are looking forward to a fresh face joining our close, enthusiastic team.

Once again we are collecting Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers. Last year we managed to save enough for a bench for the hall and a new basketball post. If anyone has vouchers and is not sure what to do with them please sent them into the school office where they will be gratefully received.

I would like to say a big thank you to the local people who have recently been coming to St Christopher’s as volunteers. All help is gratefully received and hearing readers on a regular basis really does make a difference. Any volunteers who would like to visit us to share a special skill are always more than welcome. As always, please do contact the school office or visit our website at www.st-christophers.oxon.sch.uk to see what is going on at the moment.

Sarah NisbettLITTLE FARINGDONSt Margaret’s

TALK: FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (ALMOST)It was marvellous to see the church bursting at the seams on 3‘d March to hear Alistair and Carolyn Roberts talk about their sailing trip around the world from 2003 to 2005. Their pictures and anecdotes provided a fascinating insight into what is entailed in taking on such a venture.

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In particular, their discussion about their involvement in the tsunami provided a humbling first-hand impression of this catastrophic event. We are most grateful to Alistair and Carolyn, and to everyone who attended for helping us raise almost £500 for the church repair fund.

Barbara Johnson-BrowneCHURCH FLOWERS8th April Easter Day. Everyone, please help decorate the church8th to 30th April Lucinda de MauleyMay Rachel Taylor

EASTER SERVICES

Please note that a Compline service will be held in St Margaret’s Church on Monday 2°d April at 9.00pm in addition to the Easter Day service detailed in the front of the Parish Pump. This Compline service will be a short time for reflection and prayer at the start of Holy Week.

PCC AGM

The Annual Church Meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Wednesday 25‘” April in Langford House. Everyone in the village and our regular congregation will be most welcome to attend.

CHURCH LUNCH 2O07

This year’s Church Lunch will take place on Sunday 24”’ June, again kindly hosted by Jamie and Emma Abdy Collins at Langford House. Invitations for this always memorable event will be sent out in early May, but please note the date in your diary now.

SHILTON

Holy Rood

If the weather is kind to us, and more importantly if the potholes in Hollow Way have been filled in, we shall be having an afternoon of fun and frolics on Saturday 7‘” April. This includes an Easter hat competition, racing painted eggs downhill, duck (plastic) and boat (wooden) races in the pond, an egg

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hunt and an Easter tea. There will be great fun to be had and oodles of prizes to be won...

2.30pm start at the Old School to buy your painted eggs for the egg rolling races and secure your entries for the boat and duck races.

2.45pm Easter hat competition (open to all ages and sexes and prizes to be won!)

3.00pm Egg rolling down the hill, followed by Duck and Boat races on the pond

And finally an Egg Hunt back up the hill to the hall for an Easter Tea (£2.00 per adult, children free) .... or to buy some delicious home-made cakes to take home.

All great fun and loads of Easter eggs to be won

P.S. If anyone can provide some home-made cakes, savouries, biscuits or scones we’d be delighted to hear from you.

DIARY DATES

A reminder of all the Shilton happenings to look forward to later this year:

St. George’s Day lunch Sunday 22nd April Danish Evening Saturday 19th May Open Gardens Sunday 17th June Village BBQSaturday 21st July Autumn Show Saturday 15th September Harvest Supper Sunday 7yh October Quiz Night Saturday 20th October Church/Chapel coffee morning/bring & buy Saturday 3‘d November Pre-Christmas lunch followed by the Shilton church carol service Sunday 16‘”

December Shirley Cuthbertson

PARISH COUNCIL DATES

24th January Shilton28th’ March Shilton9th May Shilton Statutory Annual Meeting 6.30pm followed byAnnual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm27th June Shilton8th August Bradwell Village17th October Shilton 12‘h December ShiltonAll meetings start at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.Meetings at Bradwell Village will take place in the Hobbies Room.Katherine Robertson29

KEEP FIT

Sandie holds classes every Thursday at 7.00pm in the Old School. £3.00 per session. All ages and abilities welcome.

BRADWELL VILLAGE (part of Shilton Parish)

VILLAGE COFFEE SHOP

The Coffee Shop is open on Friday in term time from 10.30am until 12.30pm in the Village Hall selling hot and cold drinks and home-made cakes and savouries. This is a splendid social focus for anyone with an hour or so to spare. For further details telephone me on 01993 824801 (more volunteers required).

Sharon HowatVILLAGE STITCHERSThe next meeting is on Tuesday 10‘h April from 10.00am until 2.30pm. Visitors are most welcome, at £2 for the day. The half-annual subscription is £10. Please bring along your latest project to work on. Drinks and biscuits are provided, but please bring a packed lunch. Telephone me on 01993 824475

Marion EllisQUIZ NIGHTWe are holding a Quiz Night in the Village Hall on Friday 20th April. Doors open 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. Teams of 8-£2 entry per person. Please bring your own beer, wine and table nibbles.

WESTWELLSt Mary’sNo news this month30

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCIL

0n lst‘ March West Oxfordshire District Council set its council tax - a rise of £3.36 to £71.36 for a Band D property, once again the second lowest district council tax in the country. Government grant increases by £175,000 this year, barely sufficient to cover rising costs of bus passes/travel tokens and increased waste collection costs; not only have we achieved efficiencies to counteract the rise in inflation on our costs, some £500,00, but we

have also reduced our reliance on balances by some £300,000. From our

capital reserves we are funding improvements to fitness suites in out Leisure

centres; finalising refurbishment of the district’s public conveniences;

supporting new developments in the Carterton Country Park, Community

Hall and Play areas and the North East Witney Community Hall and Sports

Pavilion.

For Easter fun for children, do have a look at our special website at www.westoxon.gov.uk/leisure/holidayprog.cfm or call 01993 861080 for details of our Easter activities, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, tai chi, kung fu, fencing, football, golf, tennis, cricket, swimming... Something for all.

If you would like to contact me, telephone 01473 614221

May Neale

FILKINS VILLAGE SHOPWinter Opening HoursMonday 3.00 to 5.00pmTuesday 10.00am to 12noon & 3.00 to 5.00pm Wednesday ClosedThursday 10.00am to 12.00noon & 2.00 to 5.00pmFriday 2.00 to 5.00pmSaturday 9.00am to 1.00pm & 3.00 to S.OOpmSunday 3.00 to 5.00pm

Local tucker

Look out for this logo in the shop for food that is grown, raised or made within a 30 mile radius. It promotes local food in community shops. We have a head start as we already do well with local ranges such as Kelmscott Pork, Coln Valley Smokery, Oxford Wholefoods and Willowbrook Farm eggs.

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James Pavitt who is managing the local food project said; ‘Shops that are owned and run by their local communities are ideal venues for local food promotion because they have a natural affinity with local people and businesses.’

There are many advantages of local food; it helps to preserve local diversity, landscape and culture. Local produce is fresher and transportation is reduced. Buying locally boosts local economies and in particular the farming and small business sector.

Product of the month for April mon...

... Shaken Oak Old Hooky Beer Mustard

Shaken Oak Products are based at Shaken Oak Farm, which is situated in Hailey, near Witney, on the edge of the Cotswolds in an area that was once part of the Royal Forest of Wychwood.

The making of mustards at Shaken Oak started as a

hobby satisfying the needs of family and friends. This gradually led to enquiries from other mustard devotees

and soon a cottage industry was established producing a range of handmade mustards and other products for the speciality food market.

In 1994 production was moved from the farmhouse kitchen to a purposebuilt unit in an adjoining barn, with a further extension to the ‘Mustard House’ being added in 2003.

They only use the finest ingredients, wherever possible from local sources, in their products. The items that they do not grow themselves are continually checked so high standards can be maintained and no added artificial ingredients or preservatives are included at any stage of the manufacturing process.

Old Hooky Beer Mustard is a coarse grain mustard that combines the traditions and skills of two Oxfordshire producers, using ‘Old Hooky Beer’ from the prize winning Hook Norton Brewery. It is medium in strength.

Easter

We will be stocking Easter cards and gifts again this year, including Easter Eggs. Pop in and see what we have.

And remember, you can support us by...

Shopping Volunteering Telling your friends and relatives about the shop Becoming a share member and/or Making a donation Helen Holden 32

A NEW APPROACH TO ALZHEIMERS

Carers and families are invited to contact ‘Special’ (Specialised care for Alzheimer’s) for an information pack providing details of an approach which can turn around

the experience of Alzheimer’s dementia for everyone. Special improves the

quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s twenty four hours a day, every

day, for the rest of the patient’s life.

The Special Centre is in Sheep Street, Burford, or you can look online at

.111.special.co.uk. Our telephone number is 01993 822129, or you can email info@specialburford.co.uK

This new approach really can make a difference, as comments form people we have trained show:

‘How positive the presentation was. There is light in what had previously been a dark area.’

‘A superb and enlightening way of helping someone with dementia.’

‘I came away having learnt a different approach, a kinder way that seems to make so much sense of how to help whilst allowing someone to retain dignity.’

OPEN WIDE

Parish Pump is pleased to report that you can now tick yet another item off the ever-shortening list of ‘Things you can not do in the benefice’.. High-class dentistry!

J have recently opened a new ‘state of the art’ dental clinic in Black Bourton, dedicated to restorative and implant dentistry. The clinic is equipped with the very latest dental technology to ensure the highest standards of hygiene, and the very best possible dental results and finish.

Why Black Bourton? I have previously set up a chain of high street dental surgeries, opened the first cosmetic treatment centre in Selfridges in 2000 and owned and sold various London dental practices. My family and I moved out of London nearly five years ago, and I no longer have any desire to commute there regularly, or irregularly! So it’s Black Bourton from now on.

I am particularly used to treating nervous and phobic patients, and our main areas of work are dental implants, children and adult’s orthopaedics and orthodontics, restorative procedures, cosmetic procedures and teeth whitening. Everyone is very welcome to visit the clinic in Black Bourton.

Julian PerryART EXHIBITION IN FILKINSS ee back cover for details of the exhibition of traditional oil and watercolour paintings at Cotswold Woollen Weavers.

BUSCOT PARK

Buscot Park opens to visitors at the beginning of April. The Grounds are open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2.00pm to 6.00pm, and the House is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2.00pm

to 6.00pm. Last admission to the House is 5.15pm. The House and Grounds are also open on Bank Holidays and usually two weekends a month. Please check our website : www.buscotpark.com or telephone the Estate Office on 01367 240786.

New for this year is a re-arrangement of our Tearoom and Marquee. Visitors can now enter the Marquee via the Tearoom, so you won’t get wet. The floor of the Marquee has

been stone flagged (easier on the feet) and doors added and lighting. We have also borrowed a painting by Luca Giordano (1632

1705) of The Resurrection of Christ o1 -a private collection which appropriatelywill go on display at Easter.The Four Seasons Walled Garden and the myriad of trees should be in full blossom and I suspect the Alliums underplanted beneath the pleached Hop Hornbeams will be as well. The Judas Arch won’t be very far behind.

34David FreemanWHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR DINNER?Angela Galione puts Holwell firmly on the map, as she dons her toque and rattles her pans with the first of her contributions as Parish Pump’s resident chef.

Spring Lamb or Mutton Dressed Up ...ell, I have taken the plunge and offered to have a go at contributingsome food articles for the Pump. It did not take a great deal ofpersuasion from our esteemed Editor, merely a quantity of red wine and second helpings of a delightfully boozy trifle one evening! [.. and I thought it was my charm. Ed/

My husband is rather pleased that I am having a go as a cookery writer. The poor thing imagines that I will be testing recipes every day and he will be required to sample the results. Perhaps in a few months’ time I may have to try some new ideas but to start with I will rely on old favourites which I know work well.

I thought I would start off with lamb as spring is here and Easter is not the same without a leg of lamb (or two actually, as one small leg does not go very far when there are guests for Sunday lunch), Jersey royals and mint from the garden.

Even the most inexperienced of cook, can manage roast lamb with some slivers of garlic pressed into the skin, some mint and a sprinkling of rock salt, but what do you do when you have several joints in the freezer, maybe some hogget, or even mutton, and you want to do something a little different but the family still demand a‘traditional’ roast? This recipe, called Parson’s Venison, gives lamb a lovely, rich flavour and makes a change from the usual - not a sprig of mint in sight! Although this particular version uses a boned out leg of lamb with a mushroom stuffing I have seen simpler versions which omit the stuffing and used a straightforward shoulder or leg. Either is fine. The best thing about cooking is that one can alter recipes to suit one’s ingredients etc and it really does not matter. Obviously for hogget or mutton lengthen the cooking time - this recipe particularly suits the stronger taste of a more mature animal.

Parson’s Venison (Serves 4-6)25g (loz) butter

1 small onion, skinned and finely chopped100g (4oz) mushrooms, chopped 100g (4oz) cooked ham, chopped 30m1 (2tbs) snipped fresh chives salt & pepper

1.8-2kg (4-41/zlbs) leg of lamb, skinned and boned 200m1 (7fl oz) red wine75m1 (3fl oz) port6 juniper berries, crushed1.25m1 (1/4tsp) ground allspice45m1 (3tbs) red wine vinegar1 bay leaf1.25m1 (1/atsp) freshly grated nutmegMelt half the butter in a saucepan, add the onion and mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft but not browned. Stir in the ham and chives and season to taste. Leave to cool.

Season the lamb inside and out with pepper, then spread onion mixture over inside. Roll up tightly and tie securely. Place in a large glass bowl or casserole.

To make the marinade, mix remaining ingredients, except butter, pour over lamb, cover and leave in a cool place for 24 hours, turning occasionally.

Remove the meat from the marinade, drain and dry. Reserve the marinade. Melt the remaining butter in a flameproof casserole. Add the meat and brown on all sides over a medium to high heat.

Pour in the marinade, bring almost to the boil, cover and roast at 180oC (350oF, gas mark 4) for 13/a to 2 hours, until the meat is tender, basting occasionally with the marinade.

Transfer meat to a warmed plate, skim fat from surface of liquid, then boil rapidly until reduced. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning and serve with the meat.

Angela GalioneNATURE NOTESIn which David takes a look at an eclectic mix of frogs, butterflies, snowdrops and blackbirds...

0 n lst‘ March I was very pleased to see that a pair of mating frogs had moved into my brand new pond in the garden, so new in fact that I have no plants in it yet but am waiting for the garden centres to acquire their new season’s stock of pond plants, which like many plants die off in the winter months. When they mate, the smaller male frog climbs onto the female’s back and clasps her with his forelegs and she carries him around as if attached with glue. Since that day I have seen them on the bottom of the

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pond, right across the other side of the garden and now, day six, back on a shelf in the pond! Although she looks very fat there is no happy arrival of frog spawn yet. I see one female can lay as many as 3,000 eggs and I remember at school having frog spawn in an aquarium and then watching the black specks in the middle of the mass of jelly

hatch out into tadpoles two or three weeks later and then about three months later the legs emerged and they became baby frogs.

A brimstone butterfly has been out in the garden and I see that the word butterfly was probably first used to describe this butter yellow coloured insect. It is one of the earliest to appear and also one of the latest to be seen at the end of the year. The one I saw was visiting primrose flowers.

In the middle of February I had an interesting and enlightening walk around Sherborne Estate with Mornee Button from Bourton-on-the-Water. Mornee is a fount of knowledge

on things natural history. It was interesting to see quite a number of fungi

even in winter. There were several memorable ones such as Jews Ear which

grows on dead elder branches and looks very much like a small brown ear and is earlike in consistency and floppiness. The name derives from Judas Iscariot who reputedly was hanged on an elder tree. Another one was yellow brain fungus and was a bright glistening golden yellow and was quite jelly like in consistency. Thirdly and I think the most beautiful was Scarlet Elf Cup which again was growing on dead branches but a patch of them against a background of green moss looked just like an e1Ps tea party laid out on the ground.

One of our main reasons to visit Sherborne was to see the wonderful display of snowdrops (left). These grow

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in profusion near the church as well as in parts of the estate pleasure garden. Where the church now stands there used to be an abbey and there are nearly always snowdrops growing in the environs of old abbeys and churches because their alternative name is Candlemas Bells due to their original flowering time of the Candlemas festival 2nd February when they were used to decorate the churches. Now of course with spring arriving earlier and autumn lengthening, winter is being shortened at both ends and birds and flowers are adapting to the milder weather so that we can have snowdrops appear in November.

Back home today the blue sky day has been beautiful and the blackbird has at last begun to sing his wonderfully musical full-throated mellow song which I look forward to every year. The best of the songsters!

David RobertsPOTTERING IN THE POTTING SHEDWIs the world heating up? If it is, and whether or not man has anything to do with it, Anne has some ideas for plants that will do well... ith global warming seeming more and

more likely to be a reality there is an increasing interest in growing Mediterranean plants here in UK. One such group of plants readily available is the Bamboo. One Bamboo in particular is the Phyllostachys nigra or Black Bamboo. This striking plant, with its beautiful black shiny canes, was first introduced into Britain in 1827. Phyllostachys nigra grows equally well in pots or in a planted situation and will develop to provide excellent screening. Best located in a sheltered situation, it benefits from regular watering, particularly during the summer months. Phyllostachys nigra can grow to heights of up to 15 metres.

Also worthy of consideration is the Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’. This is atruly outstanding garden plant with rich yellow culms. Its smaller culms oftenshow beautifully random green stripes. It is a hardy variety growing to grand_ heights of 15 metres. The third variety worth considering is the Pleioblastus pygmaeus. This dwarf variety with its thin culms and mass of green leaves, set in two parallel rows, is carpet forming and perfect for attractive ground cover. Growing to an average height of less than a metre, it is well suited for container or border growth. It thrives well in sunny

or slightly shaded positions. If the cold winters should become a problem at any time, each of these Bamboos is capable of withstanding

; temperatures down to -20°C!An olive tree (left) is an ideal specimen plant

for 39your decking, patio, courtyard or on that slope where few plants thrive. Most people are pleasantly surprised to hear that olive trees are particularly well suited to growing outside all year in our climate, surviving quite happily down to -8°C. They can be grown with minimum attention in pots or in most well drained soils. Olea europaea offers a contemporary style for a superb planter. The dense foliage of this plant gives a profusion of flowers and fruit if conditions are right. Chamaerops humilis or Mediterranean Fan

Palm is a clump forming palm and grows very well in cooler areas, surviving temperatures as low as -10°C. Originating from Mediterrenean countries it can reach a mature height of 1.2 metres in the UK. Cordyline australis or Torbay Dazzler is related to the grass family and although not a true palm, it is one of the most suited palm-like trees for successful cultivation to the UK climate.

To really embrace the feel of a Mediterranean garden try growing your own fig tree (right). The Brown Turkey is easy and reliable. It is suitable for a southwest position and will often fruit in the first season. It is also self-fertile. Restriction of the roots will prevent the tree from growing too large and keep it fruitful. It likes nothing better than a spot of dry, stony soil and to be ignored. With the rustle of the breeze through the Bamboo, the prospect of fresh figs with home-made ice-cream why not reduce your carbon footprint, forget that flight to overseas sunny climes and stay at home?

Anne GreenwoodTAILPIECE 1Avoidable: Bullfighter’s targetBaloney: Longish skirt Counterfeiters: Duff shop-fittersParadox: Two of themRelief: What trees do in the springRubberneck: Help relax herSeamstress: Big girl in a small dress40TAILPIECE 2An outback Australian soldier on overseas duties writes to the folks back home... Dear Mum & Dad,

I am well. Hope youse are too. Tell me big brothers Doug and Phil that the Army is better than workin’ on the farm. Tell them to get in damned quick smart before the jobs are all gone! I wuz a bit slow in settling down at first, because ya don’t hafta get outta bed until 6am. But I like sleeping in now, cuz all ya gotta do before brekky is make ya bed and shine ya boots and clean ya uniform. No cows to milk, no calves to feed, no feed to stack - nothin’! There’s lotsa hot water and even a light to see what ya doing!

At brekky ya get cereal, fruit and eggs but there’s no kangaroo steaks or possum stew like wot Mum makes. You don’t get fed again until noon , and by that time all the city boys are beggered because we’ve been on a ‘route march’ - Gee! it’s only just like walking to the windmill in the back paddock.

This one will kill me brothers laughing. I keep getting medals for shootin’ - dunno why. The bullseye is as big as a big possum’s bum and it don’t move and it’s not firing back at ya like the Johnson’s kid when our big scrubber bull got into their prize cows before the Ekka last year! All ya gotta do is make yourself comfortable and hit the target - it’s a doddle. You don’t even have to load your own cartridges - they comes in little boxes and ya don’t have to steady yourself against the rollbar of the too shooting truck when you reload!

Sometimes ya gotta wrestle with the city boys and I gotta be real careful coz they break easy - it’s not like fighting with Doug and Phil and Jack and Steve and Muzza all at once like we do at home after the muster.

Turns out I’m not a bad boxer either and it looks like I’m the best the platoon’s got, and I’ve only been beaten by this one bloke from the Engineers - he’s 6 foot 5 and 15 stone and three pick handles wide across the shoulders, and as ya know I’m only 5 foot 7 and eight stone wringin’ wet, but I fought ‘im till the other blokes carried me off to the boozer. I can’t complain about the Army - tell the boys to get in quick before word gets around how damned good it is.

Your loving daughter,Sheila[Sent to Parish Pump by Sarah Kernon (cc -Filkins). Thank you, Sarah. Ed/