Platinum Jubilee Planning & Volunteer Meeting – 25th May in the Red Lion
The next committee meeting is this coming Wednesday 25th May in the Red Lion from 6.30pm. Would everyone who has agreed to help or anyone who wishes to get involved prior to the event or help on the day, please come along to the Red room or alternatively email jhonsinger@btconnect.com .
Earlier this week a separate email was circulated about plans for the Stratton Audley celebrations which details most things, so if you haven’t read it yet, please do so as it has all the details.
News from The Red Lion
The following information is from Dillie:
“Quiz & Tapas night is this coming Thursday, 26th May. Lorraine, who does our excellent Sunday lunches, lived in Spain for many years so the Tapas will be authentic. £4 per plate. Tapas starts at 6.15 and the quiz will start at about 7.45. Will Jones is your quizmaster – he and Dillie setting the questions.
Jubilee weekend – we won’t be doing a Sunday roast but light lunches will be available both Saturday and Sunday If you’d like to book, we’d be thrilled as it makes it easier to gauge what’s needed- 01869 277225. And there will be a disco on Saturday night.
Otherwise, everything as usual. Check the boards outside in case of changes or exciting additions to the calendar. Wednesday coffee mornings with lunch continues. Our excellent Sunday lunches also continue!”
Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
“The Cafe is bustling with new and exciting delights; Our homemade Ice Cream is now in full swing with lots of new flavours!! Andy our new chef is creating lots of delicious lunchtime specials alongside the regular menu😊. Follow us on Facebook for regular updates & call us to book your table for lunch! Open Tuesday to Sunday 10-4pm – Last orders in Cafe 3.30pm.
The Shop news – Now filling up with spring/summer collections, stock arriving daily with lots of gift ideas, home goods and some fabulous new furniture! See you at the Barn.
Finally for those who are attending the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration in the village and don’t have time to pack your own hamper, don’t forget that you can pre-book a lunch box by contacting Stratton Audley Barn info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk .”
Ever fancied ringing the Church Bells?
Would you like to have a go at ringing the church bells? Bell-ringing can be an interesting skill to learn and is something you can do as part of a small team so it’s quite a sociable activity as well. Once you’ve got the hang of the basics, then you can learn an unlimited number of ringing ‘methods’ which all involve ringing the bells in different sequences to produce a musical sound. If you’d like to find out more without any obligation then just give Jeremy a ring on 01869 277471.
Get your FREE Copy of the Shelswell News
Would you be interested in receiving a free copy of The Shelswell News – your local community magazine. If you are new to the village this is a great way to see what it is like. It is the only local magazine of its type and there are numerous ads from local businesses where you might find just the product or service that you looking for! It gets hand delivered to your doorstep each month for just £10 a year? That’s less than £1 per copy!
Each of the villages has its own section, plus a general section with articles of interest as well as details of church and community activities. Why not give it a try? Only £1 per monthly issue or £10 a year, delivered direct to your door by your local distributor. Free introductory issue!
Email: admin@shelswellparishes.info
Ring, Text or WhatsApp Becky on 07903 576141
Shelswell Art & History Festival Saturday 16th July 2022 – Free Entry
The Shelswell History Festival is back and this time being organised in conjunction with the Newton Purcell Art Exhibition. They are looking for volunteers prepared to give a couple of hours on the day. They need help with
traffic marshalls, people to man the raffle and people to walk round the site with a donation bucket.
Why not enjoy a great day of entertainment and help out for a few hours at the same time.
Contact Alice Goodall on 01280 848192 by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com
Stratton Audley 2022 Boules Cup Competition – Postponed until 5th August
Please take note that this ticketed event scheduled for Friday 10th June is being put back to Friday 5th August, starting at 6.30pm. It is still being Held at Stratton Audley Park, the home of Mark and Emma ter Haar
Tickets are on sale now and cost £15 for adults and £5 for children under five. This includes Supper and wine, beer and soft drinks, all generously sponsored by Mark and Emma. For tickets please contact Emma at emmaterhaar@yahoo.co.uk or 07867 783938. All proceeds will go to the Stratton Audley Church.
- Please bring a Boules set with you (if you have one)
- Don’t worry if you’re on your own, a partner will be found for you to pair up with
- Play with your partner or child(ren) or mix up with friends!
- Play to win the prestigious “Stratton Audley Boules Cup” and “the Plate” competition for those knocked out in the first round!
Non-participants are very welcome to come along for the fun of it and the same prices apply to cover food and drink.
Access to The Manor Grounds in Church Street
From time-to-time residents of the Manor have legitimate cause to remind everyone, especially visitors to the village and those who are new in the village, that the grounds of the Manor are private. This is not necessarily obvious as the gates are kept permanently open for ease of access by residents. Situated next to the pub, it means vehicles of people visiting the pub are frequently identified as parking in the Manor grounds. Likewise a few Manor residents have recently seen an increase in dog walking, pushing prams and generally using the grounds as either a recreational area or as a cut through to Mill Road.
The Management Committee of the Manor are looking at new signage to install at the entrance, but have asked for it to be pointed out that the grounds are private for the use of the residents and invited visitors.
Bicester Heritage Scramble Weekend 19th June
Here is advanced notice of the next Scramble event that is set to be held on 19th June. Tickets are now on sale. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ The local Promo code is: BristolBoxkite
100 Club Draw
The winners in the 100 Club draw for the month of May 2022 are:
£30 Dorothy Howarth (10)
£20 Richard Watts (93)
£10 David Taylor (109)
£10 Fran Hill (44)
And some reminders from the previous newsletters for those who missed them:
Ukraine Appeal
Donations of goods can still be made in Bicester. In the main they need toiletries, food with a long shelf life, First Aid and children’s items. See details below.
East West Rail General Update
EWR are still on schedule with the majority of the Bicester phase including the trackbed earthworks and civils works substantially complete, with them programmed for completion in the next few months. After this, the majority of the Compounds are programmed to be dismantled which invariably means some of the compound materials will be transported out through the road network. In late July, the next phase of the project commences with the track being installed. We are told that this should be must less intrusive to local residents, as all the sleepers, rail and the majority of ballast will be transported using rail equipment and trains without the need for HGV’s on the road.
A further review and consultation with the Parish and County Council will take place in due course to agree the reparation works. In the meantime EWR have been made aware of the general poor state of Stratton Park Road and the urgent repairs that are outstanding.
Traffic Speed & Volume Monitoring Results
The analysis of the traffic speeds and volumes survey in and out of the village has been completed and a summary of the findings is now available. Most vehicles keep close to the speed limit in the village but a minority exceed the 30mph limit both entering and exiting the village, a few by nearly 100% and this applies to all four main roads! A comparison with the data collected in 2013 perhaps unsurprisingly shows volumes to be 80-100% higher in 2022 and maximum speeds recorded on all four roads to be higher than in 2022.
Defibrillator Training – Date to be confirmed
Sorry to say we are still waiting to get some dates for this to happen but it will take place on a Saturday morning.
There are still places available just email ( jhonsinger@btconnect.com ) if you are interested in this two-hour training session.
Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday
Jack from Grimsby continues to come to the village on Thursday’s between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.
Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the community, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime from 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stop is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.
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
Village Questionnaire Top Line Results
A PowerPoint presentation of the findings has been created and will be circulated via email and placed on the website. 106 questionnaires were received which is a very good response taking everything into account. It represents a 55% return rate, which coincidentally, is similar to the last survey carried out in 2015.
A significant majority of residents are concerned about speeding and large vehicle numbers in the village and there is overwhelming support for progressing the idea of introducing a 20mph zone within the village. A majority are in favour of electronic speed signs at the entrances to both the Launton and Mill Road. Most people are against any other forms of physical traffic calming solutions although chicanes are approved of by some 40% of respondents. Finally, a massive 84% indicated they would be in favour of reducing the speed limit on the roads in and out of the village to 50mph.
EWR Road Closures
Just to remind everyone that the road that runs from Stratton Audley to Marsh Gibbon from the crossroads intersection with Station Road is closed until 17th June for the bridge works.
Additionally, and although it doesn’t affect us directly, another reminder that the Bicester Road that connects Bicester to Launton is now also closed until Friday 27 May 2022, between the hours of 7am and 6pm. Access will be maintained for pedestrians and cyclists.
Time to get walking again!
John Harris has the answers! Walking in Oxfordshire
https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/oxfordshire has hundreds of walks to download and print, free of charge. It also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county, and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group, all the information is there in one place.
With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.
So home or away, check out his websites and get walking!
www.walkinginengland.co.uk
Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
· Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
· Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
· And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)News Update no 91, May 20th
