National Moment of Reflection, Sunday 18th, Church Street, Stratton Audley.

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The Government Cabinet Office has invited the public to take part in a National Moment of Reflection to mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and reflect on her life and legacy. The National Moment of Reflection will take place at 8pm on Sunday 18 September, the night before the State Funeral, and be marked by a one-minute silence.

Stratton Audley Parish Council has decided to hold a short vigil outside the Church commencing at 7.45pm. Everyone is invited to attend by gathering in front of the War Memorial. Please spread the word as this email newsletter is not read by everyone in the community.

Jeremy Adams has very kindly agreed to ring a sole bell and will do this
70 times in the lead up to the hour. A short official script will be read out just prior to 8pm, then a whistle will be blown and a minute’s silence will be observed followed by the singing of the National Anthem.

For those who are unable to attend, the suggestion is to stand by your doorstep and observe the one minute’s silence.
The Running order for the proceedings will be as follows:

By 19.45 members of the community will gather outside the entrance to the church.

70 bells will toll.

At approximate 19.57 the following words will be spoken:

Thank you all for gathering here this evening for this brief vigil on the eve of the funeral of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In a few moments we will join with people across the United Kingdom in a Moment of Silent Reflection.  The start and end of the Minute here will be marked by a whistle.

During the Minute we will have an opportunity, in silence, to reflect on the lifetime of service which Her late Majesty devoted to the United Kingdom, the Realms and Territories and to the Commonwealth.

The Queen was sure in her faith and steadfast in her duty, bringing constancy through 70 years of change.  We will remember Her late Majesty with affection and gratitude and silently give thanks in our hearts for her unswerving devotion to us and to our Country.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is now approaching 8.00 p.m.

At 20.00 a whistle sounds

Silence will be kept

At 20.01 the whistle marks the end of the Silence

Applause

The vigil concludes with all present saying:

God Save The King

and the singing of the National Anthem.

 

Her Majesty the Queen. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

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Our sincerest condolences to the Royal Family on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Parish Council, on behalf of residents, wishes to express how deeply saddened we are to hear the news of the death of our most beloved Queen. She was simply the best of us, an exemplar of public service and to many, just like a family member who we have known all of our lives.

The Parish Church has opened a book of condolence which is located in the church and has marked out an area for those who wish to pay their respects by laying flowers.

There is also a Buckingham Palace ebook of condolence which can be accessed https://www.royal.uk/send-message-condolence

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

News Update no 98, September 7th

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This newsletter contains a number of new items of interest including several that relate to this weekend, so well worth reading as soon as you can.
Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase Free to enter Open Day

Delighted to say that the delayed Open Day (due the extreme heat at the time) is happening this Sunday 11th September and it is going to be a great fun occasion for all the family. 

Ride & Stride for Churches Saturday 10th September
A final reminder for anyone who wishes to take part in this fun cycle event this Saturday. Sponsorship forms are in the SA church porch on noticeboard or you can sign up on line https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/
If people don’t wish to cycle, you are welcome to donate a sum either using a sponsorship form or by giving to the welcoming team at the SA church between 10am and 4pm. Everyone is welcome to participate, individually, as a family or a group of friends.

Stratton Audley Church
The following is from Becky Adams:
“The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a Morning Service on Sunday 11thSeptember at 10.45am – all are welcome, as ever.
Please check the Shelswell website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php
‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesdays in term time in Stratton Audley Church, starting at 9.30am and finishing at 11am. Our new term has now started. Just turn up or for more information contact Alice  at rector@shelswellparishes.info “.

Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the team:
“Breaking News from the barn this week! Christmas is coming to the Barn very soon, so it’s time to make some room for gonks, garlands and much much more! 
!SALE STARTS SATURDAY 10th SEPTEMBER!
Huge sale on selected home and accessories starting on Saturday 10th September with 30% off all sale stock! Pop on down and grab yourself a bargain. Why not sup a fine Coffee, indulge on a generous slice of cake, tuck into a tasty toasted Panini or enjoy one last homemade Ice Cream before the season ends too!
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4pm (Panini’s served 12-2pm Tuesday to Saturday)
Look forward to seeing you soon”.

John O’Neill (1947-2022) RIP
The funeral of John O’Neill took place at 12 noon on 1st September at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Bicester, then afterwards at the Red Lion for the wake. Both events were attended by hundreds of people and whilst a sad occasion, was also a chance for everyone who knew John to pay their respects and raise a glass to him in a way he would have appreciated.
The family has set up an email address where people can send memories, including photographs of John: johnoneillcondolences@gmail.com

Padbury Solar Farm Community Meeting
A public meeting will be held in the Stratton Audley Church at 7pm on Tuesday 20th September at which JBM, the developers, will present their proposals.
This will give residents a further opportunity to find out more about what is proposed and ask questions of the developers prior to them submitting a formal planning application.
The Parish Council is keeping an open mind on this matter and will be guided by the feedback from residents. This is a large-scale development and whether you are in favour or against, this is your opportunity to make your views known.

100 Club Winners
The Winners in the 100 club draw for the month of September 2022 are:
£30                      Margaret Holmes (140)
£20                      Iball Family (104)
£10                      Lesley Korsak (133)
£10                      Mike Haddon (148)

East West Rail Update
East West Rail produced a bi-annual newsletter and the Summer/Autumn one has just been published. The complete online, interactive version is available to view here: EWR2 Project Newsletter – Summer/Autumn 2022
However the most relevant part for us concerns the Bicester area report which can be viewed here: https://sway.office.com/BeGnCQ7qBkLHI2Xl?ref=Link&loc=play
The good news is that they have now started to lay track in our area for commissioning in summer 2023, so HGV traffic is now much reduced. Restorative works to the roads leading to the compounds are in the final stages of agreement with OCC Highways.

Parking on Grass Verges
A number of comments have been relayed to the Parish Council about cars being parked on more than one occasion, on the grass verges in the village. This is sometimes unavoidable, however it can be a danger for pedestrians especially where the verges are used by pedestrians in the absence of footpaths. It is also a problem when the grass is to be cut which is done on a frequent basis.
The verges are an attractive part of the village and we are lucky to have such greenery, especially in the absence of a proper village green and not only is it unsightly, some verges are slowly being eroded.
It has long been the convention to keep the verges free of vehicles and the Parish Council respectfully wishes to take this opportunity to bring this matter to the attention of everyone especially those new in the community.

Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Tickets for the next Scramble meeting, set to be held on the 9th of October are on sale and still available. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Promocode: BristolBoxkite

Church Street and Launton Road Closure
There will be a full road closure of Church Street and Launton Road on Monday 17th October from 19:00-06:00hrs, where Highways will carry out some wholesale resurfacing.This includes  inlay areas between the Red Lion and the Church, the junction with Launton Rd/Mill Rd/Church St and a narrow section further down the Launton Road which is suitable for overlay.
There will be subsequent full road closures of Church Street & Launton Road on Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th October from 19:00-06:00hrs, for additional patching including overlay works up to the turning with the Bradburys.
This work has been under discussion for several years but was delayed due to Covid and other priorities and the good news is that there are no planned day time works, so disruption around the village should be minimal.
In summary all works (inlay/overlay & patching) will be overnight and via the full road closure over the 3 nights.
And a few previous items that are still relevant:
Keeping Dogs under control in open fields
There is currently a foal in the field immediately adjacent to The Pound at the start of the Cross Bucks Way and this week a dog was seen off the lead, harassing the animal and its mother. Signs have been placed in the field by the owner, to ask those with dogs to keep them on their lead when walking through on the footpath for the time being. Whilst most people know it is not illegal to have a dog off the lead providing you have it under control, it can present a danger so to be on the safe side your co-operation is appreciated.Defibrillator Training – View this short video
As you know we have been planning to run some defibrillator training in the church for some time and this has not happened for a variety of reasons. Over a dozen people put their names down for it and it is not being abandoned.
However a new Parish councillor, John Edwards came across an excellent short St John’s Ambulance video on YouTube which is  authoritative, short, and clear and really worth viewing for everyone. This is the link:
https://youtu.be/
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.
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 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.

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 97, August 20th, 2022

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John O’Neill 1947- 2022
As most people in the community will know, one of the great characters of Stratton Audley, John O’Neill, died suddenly during the early hours of last Saturday morning. He had suffered a stroke on Thursday. This has come as a great shock to many residents. He will be sadly missed.
John’s story is a long and fascinating one. Because there is so much to say, the family has set up an email address where people can send memories, including photographs of John: johnoneillcondolences@gmail.com
John was born in Tipperary town in 1947. He moved to England in the mid-1960s to start out on a career in the City that was to be both enterprising and successful.
John had a long association with London Irish rugby club, both as a player and supporter. When his playing days were over, he remained involved, helping to put the club on a commercial footing when the game turned professional.
He settled with his family in Stratton Audley in the mid-1980s when he bought the Hall and Hall Farm, which allowed him to develop his passion for hunting.
He worked tirelessly on behalf of the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, serving as Hunt Master and Chairman for many years. In parallel, he developed a formidable reputation as a racehorse owner, breeder and trainer.
John’s physical presence was matched by his larger-than-life convivial personality. All those privileged to share his company know this only too well.
Our condolences to his family and friends, including his partner Dillie, son Malachy, daughters Ciara and Ferga, and his brother Finbarr.

The funeral is confirmed for 12 noon on 1st September at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Bicester, then afterwards at the Red Lion for the wake. The family ask for no flowers, but donations, if desired, to The Injured Jockeys Fund and The Irish Youth Foundation.
Missing Cat Found in Good Health.
As a result of the special news email sent  out, someone called to say she had seen Ollie, and after a few hours of searching he was found at Lodge Farm. The owners Jill and Graham Noble wish to thank those who spoke to them about him and say what a friendly and helpful village this is.
Stratton Audley Church
The following is from Becky Adams:
The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a service of Holy Communion on Sunday 28th August at 9.15am – all are welcome, as ever.
Please check the Shelswell website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group will be holding two more sessions over the summer holidays which will be on Wednesday 24th August and Wednesday 31st August starting at 9.30am and finishing at 11am. Just turn up – or if you’d like any further information then do email Alice at rector@shelswellparishes.info

Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the team
“We are delighted to be able to resume our hot food offering at lunch times in the form of PANINI’S  Tuesday- Saturday 12-2pm ,together with PASTRIES,HOME BAKED CAKES,TRAY BAKES and last but not least our great selection of HOME MADE ICE CREAMS.!
Thank you for your continued support .
Looking forward to seeing you over the summer”

Ride & Stride For Churches
Saturday 10th September 2022 – sign up!
https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/
Hard copy Sponsorship forms are in the SA Church porch.
Everyone is welcome participate, individually, as a family or a group of friends. Please register using the Sign up registration:
https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/take-part/
and remember to add the St Mary & St Edburga Stratton Audley church for whom you are raising money.  You can also just donate rather than stride but still need to fill out a form for Stratton Audley : St Mary & St Edburga, or Godington : Holy Trinity.

2022 Stratton Audley Boules Competion
And the event report from Sarah Noujaim is…… 2022 resurrected Boules (knock-out) Competition raising funds for the Church building was a great success and raised a  huge £625+gift aid from all those participating.  It was a very enjoyable evening for all who attended so thank you to all of you.  Huge thanks must go to Emma and Mark ter Haar for hosting the evening event at Stratton Audley Park and also to Mark’s niece for making the smiley face stickers given to those who had paid, what a brilliant idea it was.
Emma and Mark not only sourced/paid for a new cup but they also donated a lovely supper!  A thank you also to Richard and Sara Howson, Stratton Audley Barn, for their donation of the yummy ice cream.
After a competitive few hours, the tense final, played using Emma’s headlights as the sun had long gone, was only just won by Wendy and David Spence whose daughter Leah lives in Glen Close. The runners-up were Hazel Somerville of Launton Road and her friend Kirsty Jones of Harrogate who won the fabulous plate!  Well done to all finalists as well as all the pairings who played.

Padbury Solar Farm Community Meeting

A public meeting will be held in the Stratton Audley Church at 7pm on Tuesday 20th September at which JBM will present their proposals. JBM will set up a small exhibition area for anyone who wants to view their proposals prior to the meeting.
This will give residents a further opportunity to find out more about what is proposed and ask questions of the developers prior to them submitting a formal planning application.
The Parish Council is keeping an open mind on this matter and will be guided by the feedback from residents. However, if planning consent is to be granted, the Parish Council will be working in the interests of the community to ensure that appropriate conditions are included as well as a compensation package for now and the future.
This is a large-scale development and whether you are in favour or against, this is your opportunity to make your views known, so please try and attend the meeting.
For those interested the JBM website is https://jbm-solar.com/
100 CLUB WINNERS
The Winners in the 100 club draw for the month of August 2022 are:
£30  Maxine Ling (9)
£20  Nicole Gilroy (153)
£10  Paddy Hall (142)
£10  Laura Gosling (76)

Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Tickets for the next Scramble meeting, set to be held on the 9th of October are on sale and still available. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Promocode: BristolBoxkite

Churchyard tidy up & mowing rotas
Thanks once again go to those who volunteer to mow and tidy the churchyard, but we also need further volunteers to help several times in the year to clear ivy, prune trees and remove unwanted saplings popping up. To find out more please contact Anthony at flack.wine_train@btinternet.com
Thank you to Jeremy Adams for arranging the mowing rotas of reliable people.
And a few previous items that are still relevant:

Keeping Dogs under control in open fields
There is currently a foal in the field immediately adjacent to The Pound at the start of the Cross Bucks Way and this week a dog was seen off the lead, harassing the animal and its mother. Signs have been placed in the field by the owner, to ask those with dogs to keep them on their lead when walking through on the footpath for the time being. Whilst most people know it is not illegal to have a dog off the lead providing you have it under control, it can present a danger so to be on the safe side your co-operation is appreciated.Defibrillator Training – View this short video
As you know we have been planning to run some defibrillator training in the church for some time and this has not happened for a variety of reasons. Over a dozen people put their names down for it and it is not being abandoned.
However a new Parish councillor, John Edwards came across an excellent short St John’s Ambulance video on YouTube which is  authoritative, short, and clear and really worth viewing for everyone. This is the link:
https://youtu.be/

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.

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.

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 96, July 28th 2022

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Another scorching day

Lost Key
The key shown in the photograph was found in Cherry Street outside Lime Cottage and handed to me  on Friday 22nd July. On the key is NWKS and on the fob is Travel Safely. Would anyone like to claim it? Call 278 000.

News on recent meetings

The Red Lion. A meeting was held on Monday organised by Dillie and John to outline the current situation and seek community interest in the  possibility of local people investing in the Red Lion, which is likely to be offered for sale.  A separate update has been circulated and you will be kept informed going forward.
Parish Council Meeting. This took place in the Red Lion last night (27th July) and 15 people turned up to  air their views on the proposed Padbury Brook Farm Solar Farm.
Padbury Brook Solar Farm Community Engagement Exhibition. This was held on Thursday 28th and received a good turnout from the community. Whilst in principle most people seem to be in favour of solar energy, most attending had concerns on many different subjects and in particular with regard to the size and location. It is early days and at this stage it would be helpful if everyone with a view, sends their thoughts to me at jhonsinger@btconnect.com

News from The Red Lion
The following is from Dillie:
“I am sorry to say that we’re discontinuing lunches from next week with the exception of Wednesday Coffee Mornings.  We’d ask that there be a minimum of 8 people to make it worthwhile.  However, I’m sure if you’re starving, Sapphy will be able to make you a baguette!
Sunday lunch is also discontinued for the summer, but we will be offering food on Saturday night. 
And do come along for our Indian Night – curry and all sorts of delicacies on 30th July”. 

Stratton Audley Church
The following is from Becky Adams:
“The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a service of Compline (a short, reflective form of evening service)  on Sunday 7th August at 6pm – all are welcome, as ever. Please check the Shelswell website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group may be meeting on some Wednesdays mornings through the summer in Stratton Audley Church. If you would be interested in this do email Alice for details at rector@shelswellparishes.info “.

Stratton Audley Barn
“We are delighted to be able to resume our hot food offering at lunch times in the form of PANINI’S  Tuesday- Saturday 12-2pm ,together with PASTRIES,HOME BAKED CAKES,TRAY BAKES and last but not least our great selection of HOME MADE ICE CREAMS.!
Thank you for your continued support .
Looking forward to seeing you over the summer”
Richard, Sara and the team

Stratton Audley 2022 Boules Cup Competition
There is still time to book for this event. It takes  place on Friday 5th August, starting at 6.30pm and is being held at Stratton Audley Park, the home of Mark and Emma ter Haar.
Tickets are on sale now and cost £15 for adults, £10 for under 16’s and £5 for children under five. This includes a good 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.

Keeping Dogs under control in open fields
There is currently a foal in the field immediately adjacent to The Pound at the start of the Cross Bucks Way and this week a dog was seen off the lead, harassing the animal and its mother. Signs have been placed in the field by the owner, to ask those with dogs to keep them on their lead when walking through on the footpath for the time being. Whilst most people know it is not illegal to have a dog off the lead providing you have it under control, it can present a danger so to be on the safe side your co-operation is appreciated.

Village Drains
Parish Councillor Kathryn Walker and husband Tony, who live at no 10 The Manor experienced a very bad drain smell in their home on Monday this week. They traced the smell to a main sewage drain on Mill Road and called Thames Water, who attended within the hour. They spent the next couple of hours clearing what can best be described as a tsunami of waste caused by a huge blockage that they estimate must have affected about half of the village. They could not understand how no one else had noticed the smell.
Amongst the waste that one would expect, there was a huge amount of fat and grease which indicates that fatty kitchen substances are being put into the system as well as other items that really should be binned.
We in SA, as most people in the UK, are living with a Victorian drainage/sewerage system so such problems are perhaps to be expected. However, Thames Water point out that it would really benefit all of us to be careful of what goes down our drains in the form of wipes, nappies, sanitary products etc. that could be disposed of elsewhere and apparently the thick, cushioned loo roles are a major blocker.
Moving forward, if you notice foul smells coming from your drains that you don’t think you are responsible for, their advice is to report it on the Thames Water Emergency Number for Drains by calling 0800 316 9800.

Shelswell Art & History Festival Review
The Art and History Festival took place on Saturday 16th July and was generally considered to have been a great success, though it did get rather warm in the afternoon!  Huge thanks from Alice Goodall, Event Manager, for everyone who helped in whatever way – without everyone’s help, the Festival would just not have been possible.  There is still some money to come in and some bills to be paid, but at the present time it looks as if the festival may have made a profit of about £1800, which will be divided between the next Festival, Oxfordshire Mind, the Woodland Trust and the Shelswell Group of Churches  – about £450 each.  There are some fantastic photos on the website taken by Graham Perryman of Dragonfly Framing – check them out on https://shelswellhistoryfestival.org.uk/  .  And you can also pop into the church to see the Stratton Audley display – on the table opposite you as you enter the church – thanks to Dorothy Howarth and the Stratton Audley Local History Society for putting it together

Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Tickets for the next Scramble meeting, set to be held on the 9th of October are on sale now. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Promocode: BristolBoxkite

Defibrillator Training – View this short video
As you know we have been planning to run some defibrillator training in the church for some time and this has not happened for a variety of reasons. Over a dozen people put their names down for it and it is not being abandoned.
However a new Parish councillor, John Edwards came across an excellent short St John’s Ambulance video on YouTube which is  authoritative, short, and clear and really worth viewing for everyone. This is the link:
https://youtu.be/

And a few previous pieces that are still relevant:

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.

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.

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)

Meeting to discuss possible Joint Venture to purchase the Pub

by
Apologise for a second note about the pub but in my haste to send out the email last night, I introduced the subject by saying that John & Dillie had decided not to continue to run the pub when in fact John is still keen to remain involved if the village is supportive and this is what it says in paragraph six of their original note:
 “John now wants to open the possibility of buying the pub as a joint venture with any others from the village who’d like to keep it in local hands.  Some friends have quite often mentioned that they’d like to be involved if there were such a move. And I’m willing to keep going with it.”See Full text repeated below and if you are interested then be at the meeting on Monday.
To… Everyone
The Village
Stratton Audley
From Dillie & JohnRe:  The Red Lion

This morning I showed round an agent from Stonegate, who own the pub.  He took extensive photographs and it’s going on the market.
A quick history of our involvement.
John very much wanted to open the pub when lockdown started lifting, for the sake of Frank’s memory and the locals’ need to see its pub back open.  We opened it within Frank’s Estate and then, when Probate was granted, kept running it.  We formed THE RED LION PARTNERSHIP which is just John and me, that’s the entity that currently runs the pub.
After a while, we thought we should make an offer for it and, to cut a long story short, they accepted £500,000.  We had a survey done, and the survey confirmed a price range between £450,000 and £600,000.  Stonegate made it very clear that they would not accept less thant £500,000.
Then Ukraine happened, and I baled out.  John’s health hasn’t been great and my lunatic work commitments this year have meant things have been overlooked.  He agreed it was probably a step too far to buy the pub – he’s 75 and I am now 70.  And it needs a lot of investment.
In the past year, we’ve had two glitches – I’ve had to invest in expensive equipment for the kitchen, I’ve installed fire doors and fire alarms etc.  So our finances looked a bit wobbly for a week or two – but in the main, we’ve kept our heads above water.
John now wants to open the possibility of buying the pub as a joint venture with any others from the village who’d like to keep it in local hands.  Some friends have quite often mentioned that they’d like to be involved if there were such a move.
And I’m willing to keep going with it.  I’m very proud of some of the improvements that we’ve made and it would be sad to see those go backwards under new ownership.
So if anyone is interested, can we have a meeting?  I suggest Monday night at the pub – 6.30, when it’s closed.  Or Tuesday, but I would prefer Monday and will assume Monday unless it appears that Monday is impossible.  I am more than happy to open our accounts to anyone interested (nothing to hide there, haha!!!!) and will try and get the P&L figures from when we opened in May last year.  I’ll also give a guided tour of the premises and we will answer any questions that people have.
We’ll have to act soon if we’re going to do anything, hence the haste – apart from anything else, I am unavailable in person from Thursday 28th (Edinburgh Festival) till the end of August, but can always zoom.
Please reply either by phone 07968 393 428, or back to me at this address – dilliedarling@gmail.com

News Update no 95, July 14th

by
What a weekend there is in store weatherwise…and what better way to spend it than at the Shelswell Art & History Festival at Newton Purcell on Saturday.
On another event, please note that due to the likely excessive heat on Sunday, the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase have reluctantly postpone the kennels open day until a later date.
For Art Lovers 
ARTISTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE is once again happening this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in the picturesque surroundings of The Old School at Newton Purcell.  There’s a Private View from 6pm on Friday where you can meet the artists, enjoy a glass of Provençal wine with canapés whilst perusing the work of the 10 local artists. You need to reserve by using this link https://bit.ly/3OxI0dh Tickets cost £10, payable on the door. All proceeds in supporting of St Michael & All Angels Church.
The exhibition continues throughout the weekend with artists painting al fresco and welcoming others to join in.  There is a children’s art competition and the Shelswell History Festival taking place in the adjacent field (see details below).
For more information visit the https://artinthecountryside.co.ukShelswell Art & History Festival Saturday 16th July 2022 – Free Entry. 10AM – 6PM.
The Shelswell History Festival is back for one day only and this time being organised in conjunction with the Newton Purcell Art Exhibition (above). The day has so much to offer for everyone whether a history lover or not: vintage cars, machinery, battle re-enactments, pipers and even ferret racing – do not miss this Countryside extravaganza!
All monies raised will go to The Woodland Trust, Oxfordshire Mind and the Shelswell Group of Churches.
Gates open 10am.

100 Club Winners
The Winners in the 100 club draw for the month of July 2022 are:
£30                      Jenkinson family (100)
£20                      Ken Leach (151)
£10                      Leigh-Wood family (161)
£10                      Pam Morgan (78)

News from The Red Lion
The following is from Dillie:
“Come along to the quiz on 21st July.  Will Jones is your Quizmaster and promises to go slower than his father did.
The Table Tennis Tournament is on 24th.  Singles and doubles.  4.30 pm kick off. Put your name down at the pub.  
Those of you who frequent the pub will know the indefatigable Sapphire, so I should let you all know that she has been promoted to Bar Manager.  Well done, Sapphy. 
In the last newsletter, I said we were having Indian night on 31st – apologies – it’s the 30th.  Kick off the August Bank Holiday weekend with a delicious curry in the beer garden.”

Stratton Audley Church
The Following is from Becky Adams
“The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a service of Holy Communion on Sunday 24thJuly at 9.15am – all are welcome, as ever.
Please check the Shelswell website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesdays in Term time in Stratton Audley Church, starting at the new time of 9.30am and finishing at 11am. We are looking at the possibility of providing some sessions over the summer so if you would be interested in this do email Alice for details at rector@shelswellparishes.info “.

The Shelswell Churches are also running a summer holiday playscheme for children aged 5-11 years. ‘Lighthouse Shelswell’ runs from Monday 25th – Friday 29th July (10am-3.30pm) at Finmere CE School. For more information have a look at www.lighthousecentral.org
Stratton Audley 2022 Boules Cup Competition
This event is scheduled for Friday 5th August, starting at 6.30pm and is being held at Stratton Audley Park, the home of Mark and Emma ter Haar.
Tickets are on sale now and cost £15 for adults, £10 for under 16’s and £5 for children under five. This includes a good 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.Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Tickets for the next Scramble meeting, set to be held on the 9th of October are on sale now. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Promocode: BristolBoxkite

Defibrillator Training – View this short video
As you know we have been planning to run some defibrillator training in the church for some time and this has not happened for a variety of reasons. Over a dozen people put their names down for it and it is not being abandoned.
However a new Parish councillor, John Edwards came across an excellent short St John’s Ambulance video on YouTube which is  authoritative, short, and clear and really worth viewing for everyone. This is the link:
https://youtu.be/

Proposals to Reopen Ardley Landfill
Valencia, the new owners of Ardley Landfill Site, are seeking permission to reopen landfill operations.  Ian Corkin our local County and District Councillor considers it totally unacceptable to destroy all of the landscaping completed to date,  and believes that the increase in HGV’s on our already busy roads, not to mention reintroducing a totally unsustainable way of managing waste should be apposed.  For anyone who is motivated to attend, they are holding a public consultation on Thursday 14th July from 2 to 8pm at Ardley Village Hall.  From the 13th you can also view the information on line at www.ardleylandfill.co.uk The application will be heard by OCC and he will keep everyone posted as it progresses.

And a few previous pieces that are still relevant:

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.

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.

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 94, July 1st, 2022

by

News from The Red Lion
The following is from Dillie:
“Check out our new and delightful summer menu!
The next quiz is on 21st July.
Pop into the pub and write your name down to enter our annual Table Tennis Tournament on 24th July!   No prize, only the honour and glory and probably a free drink.  £2 entry fee, all that goes to the upkeep of our lovely church.
Following the success of the recent Caribbean night, our intrepid cooks are going East and planning an Indian night on 31st.
Keep your eye on the pub boards for other events”.

Stratton Audley Church
“The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a morning service on Sunday 10thJuly at 10.45am – all are welcome, as ever.
Please check the Shelswell website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php 
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the late Lady Frances Stokes will be held on Thursday 7th July at 2.30pm. Anyone who remembers Frances is very welcome to attend.
Additionally, you may like to attend a Celebration Service at 11 am on Sunday 17th July at the Art and History Festival site at Newton Purcell followed by ‘bring and share ‘ picnic.

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesdays in Term time in Stratton Audley Church, starting at the new time of 9.30am and finishing at 11am. If you are new to the area please do come along for a mixture of play, music and stories, plus tea coffee and snacks for adults and toddlers”.

Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
There are a few little changes at the barn this coming fortnight; from now until the 10th July, we are serving up our tasty panini’s in place of our usual lunch menu, served daily between 12-2:30 with a selection of fillings to choose from. Our homemade cakes and Ice Cream will be available as usual, with new flavours popping up weekly, pop in to try this weeks special, Mars Ice Cream, it’s delicious!
There’s also new stock just in at the shop, perfect gifts to thank the teacher or a little something for a graduation keepsake. Come and see us soon, open Tues – Sunday 10am – 4pm

Art Lovers – A date for your diary – 15th July
Friday 15th July will see the launch and Private View of the ever popular ARTISTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE taking place in the picturesque surroundings of The Old School at Newton Purcell.  Come along from 6pm and meet the artists, enjoy a glass of Provençal wine with canapés whilst perusing the work of 10 local artists.  Tickets need to be reserved in advance, by using this link https://bit.ly/3OxI0dh and cost £10, payable on the door. All proceeds in supporting of St Michael & All Angels Church.
The exhibition continues throughout the weekend with artists painting al fresco and welcoming others to join in.  There is a children’s art competition and the Shelswell History Festival taking place in the adjacent field (see details below).
For more information visit the https://artinthecountryside.co.uk

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. The weekend has so much to offer for everyone whether a history lover or not: vintage cars, machinery, battle re-enactments, pipers and even ferret racing – do not miss this
Countryside extravaganza!
Many people in the area are already involved but more volunteers are needed, in particular to:
–          make cakes or savouries for the tea tent
–          help Stoke Lyne WI serve teas
–          rattle a collection bucket
–          sell raffle tickets
–          marshall traffic
Why not enjoy a great day of entertainment and help out for a few hours at the same time. Help raise some money for The Woodland Trust, Oxfordshire Mind and the Shelswell Group of Churches.  Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Send me a message on alicegoodall313@gmail.com or phone 01280 848192, to say what you can do to help.
They are also looking for one or two more raffle prizes – so if you are in the fortunate position to be able to donate a days fishing or shooting, a beauty treatment, or a stay in a holiday cottage, or similar, do get in touch!
Also Shelswell WI are collecting for their Vintage clothing store – if you have any clothing, handbags or scarfs in good condition, please do pass them on to them.
Dogs and children welcome.

Stratton Audley 2022 Boules Cup Competition
This event is scheduled for Friday 5th August, starting at 6.30pm and is being held at Stratton Audley Park, the home of Mark and Emma ter Haar.
Tickets are on sale now and cost £15 for adults, £10 for under 16’s and £5 for children under five. This includes a good 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.

Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Tickets for the next Scramble meeting, set to be held on the 9th of October are on sale now. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Promocode: BristolBoxkit

EWR Site Visit
A resident has asked if a walking tour of the track could be organised prior to the start of rails being laid at the end of July. EWR Alliance have responded with an offer to organise a minibus tour of the track from Bicester end, as a walking tour cannot be allowed on safety grounds. If anyone is interested please let me or another Parish Councillor know and then a suitable date in July will be arranged.

Advanced Warning – Church Street & Launton Road Surface repairs
This is to provide advanced notice of repair works to both Church Street and Launton Road in the village throughout the nights of 17,18 19 October.

And a few previous announcements that are still relevant:

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.

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.

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 93, June 17th

by
The parties are over…and so
This regular newsletter begins with a little more news about the jubilee celebrations, but do read on as it also contains NEW general news-worth information. 
But first a Birds Eye View of the Jubilee Street Party!
(taken from a drone courtesy of Jonathan Beech)
Platinum Jubilee Street Party
Three separate reports have gone out during the last week on the success of the jubilee celebrations and street party in which some of the photos taken on the day were included. Please don’t hesitate to share your own photos on the Stratton Audley Facebook site.
A short video is also being put together of the day as it unfolded and a link will be provided in due course.
Platinum Jubilee Mug

The ‘Made in Britain’ Jubilee mug was distributed by hand to all households in the Parish during the Jubilee week and was well received. It will act as a more lasting memento of the occasion.
Platinum Jubilee Tree Planting

For those of you who have not been able to go and see the new Jubilee tree I am happy to confirm that the tree, an attractive ‘Whitebeam’ has now been planted permanently in the agreed location on The Green, Mill Road. This is thanks to a bit of help from Jeremy Adams and a fencing contractor who successfully drilled through the layer of stone and rubble to allow for good drainage. An official commemorative plaque has been ordered.
…..and finally the parties over and this must be one of the most endearing sketches out there.
News from The Red Lion
Following a highly successful Jubilee weekend the pub is taking it a bit easy, but not wishing to rest on its laurels too long, gird your loins for a special quiz on 23rd June.  Dillie is setting the questions and Jonesy is your quizmaster.
Otherwise, everything is as usual.  Check the boards outside in case of changes occur or additions to the calendar are made.  Wednesday coffee mornings with lunch continues and goes down a real treat. Sunday lunches also continue as usual!Stratton Audley Church
“The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a service of Holy Communion at 9.15am on Sunday 26th June – all are welcome, as ever.
Please check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php “
There are two up-coming Memorial Services to be held in Stratton Audley Church for previous residents who would be remembered by many.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the late Audrey Weedon, previously of Fringford Lodge, will be held on Friday 1stJuly at
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the late Lady Frances Stokes will be held on Thursday 7th July at 2.30pmAnyone who remembers Audrey or Frances is very welcome to attend.‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesdays in term time in Stratton Audley Church, starting at the new time of 9.30am!Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
“Summer has arrived! So with things hotting up, this weekend at the Barn, it’s all about the Ice Cream! With special flavours made here each week, there’s always something new to try, and we can whip it up into a delicious refreshing shake too! If you’re out and about enjoying the local events, you’ll also find us serving up our homemade Ice Cream, hot drinks and traybakes from our event box at both Fringford Beer Festival and the Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble, we hope to see you there. Back at the
Barn we’ll be serving up our lunch menu daily along with some delicious specials, come and see us this weekend and we’ll take the heat off! 
Finally, this Father’s Day, we’d love to treat the Stratton Dad’s to an Ice cream, just flash a copy of the newsletter when ordering and Dad’s Ice Cream is our treat!”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.
Many people in the area are already involved but they need more volunteers, in particular to:
–          make cakes or savouries for the tea tent
–          help Stoke Lyne WI serve teas
–          rattle a collection bucket
–          sell raffle tickets
–          marshall traffic
Why not enjoy a great day of entertainment and help out for a few hours at the same time. Help raise some money for The Woodland Trust, Oxfordshire Mind and the Shelswell Group of Churches.  Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Send me a message on alicegoodall313@gmail.com or phone 01280 848192, to say what you can do to help.
They are also looking for one or two more really good raffle prizes – so if you are in the fortunate position to be able to donate a days fishing or shooting, or a beauty treatment, or a stay in a holiday cottage or caravan, or similar, do get in touch!
Also Shelswell WI are collecting for their Vintage clothing store – if you have any clothing, handbags or scarfs in good condition, please do pass them on to them.
And don’t forget the Celebration Service on Sunday 17th July at 11 am on the festival site at Newton Purcell followed by a ‘Bring and share’ picnic.  Dogs and children welcome
Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Tickets for the next Scramble meeting, set to be held on the 9th of October will go on sale from  9am on the 20th of June. Once again, local residents have discounted tickets allocated to them at 50% off.
Promocode: BristolBoxkiteEWR Site Visit
A resident has asked if a walking tour of the track could be organised prior to the start of rails being laid at the end of July. EWR Alliance have responded with an offer to organise a minibus tour of the track from Bicester end, as a walking tour cannot be allowed on safety grounds. If anyone is interested please let me or another Parish Councillor know and then a suitable date in July will be arranged.Separately,  please note the road to Marsh Gibbon is now open, exactly on schedule.Stratton Audley 2022 Boules Cup Competition
This event is scheduled for Friday 5th Augusat, starting at 6.30pm and is 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 call 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.Advanced Warning – Church Street & Launton Road Surface repairs
This is to provide advanced notice of repair works to both Church Street and Launton Road in the village throughout the nights of 17,18 19 October. The map below gives you an indication of the type of work in each area and as you can see it is unfortunately not the more extensive repair that we were promised but budget cuts have prevented this. The disruption fortunately will be minimal.
I can also confirm that the big machine that attended the section of the Launton Road from the edge of the village to the crossroads with Station Road was in fact the dragon patcher which is supposed to give a good but temporary repair to the surface.
Launton Road and Church Street. Blue indicates deeper structural patching and Inlay repairs and Orange indicates patching works of a more minor kind by another team.
And some reminders from the previous newsletters for those who missed them:
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.
East West Rail General Update 
EWR are still on schedule with the majority of the Bicester phase including the track bed 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.comVillage 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.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)

Platinum Jubilee Cake Judging & Children’s Activities

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As promised, herewith, news and photos of the Cake Bake-Off and children’s activities.
Some 19 cakes were entered for the Bake-Off competition by adults and children in what was a hotly contested affair, and after much deliberation three adults and three under-16-year-old cakes were selected as winners. Thanks to Cafe Wolseley for the super adult prizes and Graham Nash for the children’s ‘surprises’. Also thanks to Graham, Sarah Howson and Chris Fitzgerald for spending at least an hour judging.
(The hay bales shown in the main photo came in really useful and were supplied courtesy of John “O’Neill).
The Jubilee celebration gave the children of the village the perfect opportunity to show off their artistic skills. We had lots of entries for the bunting competition and saw the theme of the Jubilee interpreted through corgis, rainbows, tea pots and much more! The winners of the competition were: Ophelia Osborne, Cressida Leighwood, Alexandra Steele, Evelyn Mills and Scarlett Nash. Please contact Sophie on sophiejnelson@hotmail.com and your prizes will be on the way.
On the day, damp weather did not stop us from making an array of bejewelled crowns and new stamp designs. The nail polish and face painting salon were particularly popular with young and old! Although we couldn’t hold the sporting events, plenty of us worked up a sweat trying to splat that elusive rat… Thank you to all the children that took part in the activities and the trails. Special thanks to Fernando who helped with everything.
And finally, one of the biggest thanks goes to Sophie Nelson, who stepped up and took on all the organising of the children’s activities, creating the games and display boards for the Queen’s trail, the Corgi trail and the flag making competition. On the day she worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of all the children’s activities despite having two young children of her own.
And incidentally, she created the beautiful headgear that she wore so gracefully on the day. Thank you.