News Update no 72, September 24th

Dear All

This week is officially the end of summer in the UK but with the weather holding fair let’s all make the most of it. Plenty to report on as it has been a month since the last newsletter and with some time sensitive matters, please read as soon as you can.

News from the Red Lion

The following information is from Dillie:

“This Saturday do join us for our ‘Farewell to the summer’ party – 25th September – 8 pm till late in the beer garden.  Sapphy’s snacks on the menu once more.  Dangerous Dave will be DJ-ing and will have his decibel reader to hand at all times.  

“Quiz night is back on 16th October, hosted once more by Rich Walsh.  The last one was a great success, and an absolutely brilliant quiz. With every table full!  Sapphy’s snacks available.  

On another subject – we are thinking of starting Cinema Nights in the Red Room.  Popcorn and nachos.  Themed food?  Suggested categories so far: Cult movies, Modern Classics, Black & White Classics, Comedy, Film Noir, Foreign films (??? I suspect I will be sitting alone in the room…)

Are there any movies in particular that people would like to see?  Would anyone like to present a movie that they’re particularly fond of or that means something to them?  How often do people think they might attend?  Once a month?  Once a fortnight?  Would parents like a cinema club on Saturday for kids or would they be concerned that this might be a breeding ground for Covid?  Please email me at redlionstrattonaudley@gmail.com.       

The Red Room is coming together at last and is no longer a dumping ground for old tills, bicycles, broken chairs, cleaning fluids etc…and Yes, it will be available for private hire and we’re very pleased to be able to welcome back our first Parish Council Meeting on 6th October”. 

And lastly many of you who know Dillie,

Stratton Audley Barn

Exciting times are ahead at the Barn over the coming weeks.  The following is from Richard and Sara:

“There’s lots to report with exciting new beginnings for us and you! We have a talented new chef joining us who will be bringing an all new menu launching on 1st October. Offering a tasty Breakfast and Lunch menu using seasonal, fresh ingredients and local suppliers. Our seated area will expand from our Cafe area into a covered cosy marquee adding more space and providing additional seating. In order to prepare our kitchen for the all new menu, and bring our famous Christmas offer to the shop we will be temporarily closing our doors from 4pm Saturday 25th September through until 4pm on Thursday 30th September.  Re-opening Friday 1st October! 

In the meantime, until we close on Saturday, we are still serving a limited lunch menu, our delicious cakes and traybakes and make the most of the final heatwave forecast over the coming days and enjoy a creamy homemade Ice cream too! We look forward to welcoming you soon”.

For more information on www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk  or Facebook Stratton Audley Barn.www.smartinsurance.com

Harvest Festival at Stratton Audley Church

This coming Sunday 26th (September) is Harvest Festival and a service is being held in the church at 9.30am. Traditionally it has been a time to celebrate the bringing in of the harvest and today people can still donate tins of soup, meals etc for the homeless by putting them in the church on the table provided or in the kitchen area if later than Sunday.

The next service in Stratton is evening prayer (known as Compline) and will take place the following week on Sunday 3rd October at 6pm.

For the complete picture go to http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

EWR Road Closure of Stratton Audley Park Road to Poundon – CANCELLED

Please be advised that we have just been informed that the planned closure of the section of this road that runs from the crossroad with Mill Road up to the turning with Godington, scheduled for tomorrow, 25 September, for works by East West Rail, has been cancelled/postponed.

HS2 Road Closure at Newton Purcell Next Week

We have been advised by HS2 of their intention to close the A4421 at Newton Purcell at night time for a week from this coming Monday, 27 September to Friday 1 October, from 8.00pm to 6.00am, and from

Friday 1 October to Monday 4 October, from 9.00pm to 6.00am.

This is in order to complete some finishing works at the Finmere Bridge.

A diversion route will be in place but is NOT via Stratton Audley.

Next Parish Council Meeting

The next full meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 6th October in the Red Lion at 7pm. Anyone is welcome to attend as an observer for the duration of the meeting. Alternatively, if there is something on the Agenda you would like to comment upon or a specific new matter you wish to raise, members of the public have an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting to speak.

Bicester Heritage Scramble- local offer code- Sunday 10th October 2021

The Events team at Bicester Heritage have asked me to notify residents of the local code for the Scramble on the 10th October.

Local Promo code is:  FlyingBrevets

Please see below the link to the ticket page:

https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/whaton/octoberscramble-2/

https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/?ticket=october-scramble-tickets

All tickets are now £14.00 (+£1.10 Fee & Tax) and the discount code will give 25% discount.

Dillie on Tour with Fascinating Aida

As many of you will know over very own Dillie is back on tour with her long term partners in crime, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman.

With a selection of old favourites, songs you haven’t heard before and some you wish you’d never heard in the first place. The songs are hilarious and topical – the glamour is unstoppable. With three Olivier Award nominations and over 25 million YouTube and Facebook hits for Cheap Flights and their incredibly rude Christmas song how can you possibly miss them?

The nearest gig to us is Oxford, on 23rd October at the Oxford Playhouse.

Children with Cancer UK Appeal

Martin Chick who has been a resident in the village for many years is running in the London Marathon at the beginning of October and has asked for our support.

“Some of you in the village know me, others may not but could have seen me huffing and puffing my way around the roads recently, but I am reaching out to everyone for some help please. I am going to be running the London Marathon on October 3rd and in doing so I’ll be raising as much money as I can for Children with Cancer UK. I’ve been very lucky and have 2 wonderfully healthy girls of my own and three fantastic grandchildren – however many others are not so lucky and this is why I’m running. If you could, can you please help me to raise funds for this incredibly worthwhile charity I and they, would be very grateful. I have an online donation page which is: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MartinChick4. 100% of the money I raise will go directly to the charity. As yet, the organiser’s haven’t issued our final BIB numbers but as soon as I have them I’ll let John know and if you want to follow my progress on the day there is an App to do so. Thank you, Martin”

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Help for Fringford Primary School – TESCO SCHEME ENDS SOON!

As previously mentioned, Fringford Primary School was selected for the Tesco Community Grant (Blue token) scheme at Tesco, but the donation scheme is coming to an end on September 30th!

The school grant application is for developing the Sensory Garden and Forest School – projects which will enable stimulating and nurturing environments in which each child is encouraged to enjoy learning and develop a lively and enquiring mind. The more blue tokens they get in the voting boxes, the higher their chance of securing a larger grant. They are only a small school and they have asked for our help.

Next time you are shopping in any of the Bicester Tesco stores, at the till ask for a blue charity token and pop it in the voting box as you leave the store. Spread the word by asking local friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours to support them too.

Dog Warden

The dog Warden has asked me to let everyone know that they should always report any issues with regard to dogs whether of a significant or more minor nature. Part of his job is to help and offer advice and not just received reports of anti-social behaviour. His name is Chris Cundy and his direct telephone number is 01295 221621 (Switchboard: 01295 227990) or you can email him christopher.cundy@cherwell-DC.gov.uk

Volunteer help needed at Sobell Warehouse

Sobell Warehouse in Bicester are desperate for volunteers. The manager Judy said they are very flexible and people can obviously work any hours that suit them. If anyone is interested they should contact Judy on 01869 245235 to have a chat and find out more. It will be most appreciated.

Order a bottle of Nocino – all funds go to the Church building

David Young has started taking pre-orders for people who want their very own bottle of Nocino walnut liqueur in time for a relaxing autumn and Christmas.

To order a bottle, please rsvp to david@betteroutliers.com .  All donations go directly to maintaining the church building and anyone pre-ordering is invited to go into the church and see their liqueur develop – the process to make Nocino takes 40 – 60 days and needs someone to gently shake the Nocino kilners/vat jars every 2-3 days.

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges

Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19

For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

END