Spooky Party is a Scream!

Children queued up at Red Lion to get into the Stratton Audley Halloween party on Saturday 29th October.

About thirty kids and accompanying parents packed into a specially decorated room where there were organised games, activities and frightening fun for all to have. All the children entered the spirit with costumes and face painting to scare the living daylights out of any unsuspecting passers-by.

The event was organised on behalf of the Parish Council by Leah Byrne and Becky Clark, as a free event kindly supported by the Red Lion who provided the venue and hot refreshments for all the children. 

Thanks to everyone else who helped on the day and if anyone wants copies of the photographs just contact Leah Byrne via email at Leah_brennan@hotmail.com

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NEW WEEK-DAY BUS SERVICE

GOOD NEWS.

NEW WEEK-DAY BUS SERVICE THROUGH STRATTON AUDLEY

FROM MONDAY 31st OCTOBER.

 

Following discussions with several bus companies, Langston and Tasker have agreed to reroute their Buckingham to Bicester (no.18 service) through Stratton Audley once a day, Monday to Friday.

The service will commence on Monday 31st October and pass through Stratton Audley at 10.20am. The return journey will leave Bicester (Bure Place) at 13.10 (1.10pm) and arrive back in Stratton Audley nine minutes later (see reverse side for the full timetable).

The service is to run for a six month experimental period to give the bus company the opportunity to gauge demand, because like all public transport operations their funding by County Councils has been severely cut back. If there is sufficient demand they would expect to make the service permanent.

This is a ‘use it or lose it’ service and we would ask/urge as many people as are able and willing to use the service at least once every week during the trial period.

USE IT OR LOSE IT – IT’S UP TO ALL OF US TO MAKE IT WORK!

 

NEW PLAYGROUND OPENED

Stratton Audley’s new playground in Cherry Street was opened on Thursday 1st September at 4pm by the Chairman of the Parish Council, John Honsinger.

In attendance were a large number of children and accompanying parents and grand parents. Thanks were given to Joe Newby from WREN and Nicole O’Donnell from the Oxfordshire Playing  Fields Association, as well as to Mike Gore for restoring the much loved horse and Trevor Stewart for building the playground.

Coincidentally, 2016 is the 40th Anniversary of the original opening of the playground in 1976, as a result of the land being given to the community by the Gosling family and thanks were extended to Mrs Gosling for this act of generosity.

One last thanks went to Sarah Howson from Stratton Audley Barn who attended the event with her three wheel Ice-Cream Tricycle. Stratton Audley Barn who have a tea shop now make delicious home made ice cream and everyone present, young and old, was given a free ice cream, whihc on a warm summers day went down extremely well.

The ribbon was cut with the help of a count down from the children and the fun and games began.

Post script

As many residents will know, plans to update the playground have been in the pipe line for a number of years and by 2015 the Parish Council had managed to accumulate a fund of circa £9000 but it wasn’t enough by itself.   Following a successful bid to WREN (the environmental body funded by the Landfill tax and set up to support eligible projects) the Parish Council secured a grant of £25,000 and was thereby able to commit to replacing the entire playground with new equipment, the plans for which were shared with residents in advance. Local playground specialist builder Trevor Stewart was commissioned after a thorough bid process.

 

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Another Sweeping Success

Yet another successful road sweeping day was carried out in the village on 11th August thanks to the Parish Council coordinating its efforts with CDC to ensure all cars were removed from the streets. This time the District Council sent a road team as well as the sweeper lorry and they did a great job. So enthusiastic were that that  they carried out some work on the previous afternoon which did surprise a few people.

Many thanks to Cherwell District Council and all who took the trouble to move their vehicles – which was virtually everyone on this occasion.

As you will see they even trimmed the ivy on the wall in Church Street and the hounds from the kennels who just happened to come by thought that was nothing to be sniffed at !!!

 

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Road Sweeping 11th August

This is to make all residents aware that Cherwell District Council will be sweeping the roads of Stratton Audley on Thursday 11th  August from 8am.

It would be greatly appreciated if cars parked on the streets could be moved for a short time so that the road sweeping lorry has clear access to the gutters. On previous occasions where we have co-ordinated our efforts it has worked very well with cars being moved for a short period and other put onto the grass verges.

This is in all our interests and thank you for your cooperation.

Book tickets now for The Tempest!

Save the date –  Saturday 24th September at 7.30

The Parish Council in conjunction with the clp group and the church have secured the services of a touring theatre group – to stage a unique and contemporary production of The Tempest.

The adaptation  is set in the future – the year 2020 – in a deserted European Migrant Camp. It will be a combination of traditional Shakespearean acting – and striking digital projections. The show celebrates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and in overall terms is raising money to bring aid to people stranded on the continent.

The show is touring theatres, community halls and rural venues in England during September 2016 and coming to Stratton Audley for the evening of 24th September. A proportion of the money raised at our event will go towards the church restoration fund.

The stage will be set in the village church during the afternoon for a performance at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm and drinks will be served prior to and during the interval. A door drop is being organised with details of how to buy your tickets tickets in advance as the seating capacity is likely to be limited. Tickets cost just £8 per adult (£6 for seniors and children aged 12-16).

Untold Theatre - The Tempest - Stratton Audley Proof - Flyer Front and Poster

 

Categories CLP

Village Festival raises over £8000.

 

A massive thank you to everyone in the parish for supporting the Festival either with your help and attendance on the day or in advance, or with your time, purchase of raffle tickets and/or gifts for the tombola or cake stand. In all we had over 70 volunteers to help on the day.

There are too many people to list here and you know who you are and what you did, but mention should be made of the core committee made up of Anthony Flack, Sarah Watkins, Stewart Hopkins, Rachel Stuart-Buttle, Mike Gore, Lisa Collins and John Honsinger, for without there tenacity this event would not have taken place.

Suffice to say in the words of many outside visitors who came to the event, the village put on a stunning traditional fayre which  harked back to a bygone era and had a value greater than just the money raised.

And on that note we are delighted to confirm that just over £8000 was achieved after all expenses were taken into account and the CLP committee recommended that a £1000 donation be given to both Sobell House and The Air Ambulance and the £6000 be donated to restoration works at the church.

At the Parish Council meeting on 6th July this was resolved and cheques were issue for these amounts.

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PHOTOS FROM VILLAGE FESTIVAL 2016

Stratton Audley Salutes Queen at Festival    (SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)

Stratton Audley kicked off the celebrations for the Queens 90th birthday, a week early at their Food, Beer & Music Festival held in the village on Saturday 4th June. This was ‘a first’ for the village with over 25 speciality food and beverage stalls lining both sides of the street which was closed for the entire day.

Well over 1000 visitors attended from across the county all eager to sample the food and drink on offer. People sat on straw bales listening to a variety of young and older bands, including the 24 strong Bletchingdon Silver Band. Children played in the grounds of the adjacent Manor on a giant bouncy castle and inflatable slide, with other games on offer including some superb face painting. There was a Hog roast, burgers and sausages, 10 cask ales and ciders all for consumption, plus cream teas and cakes in the church throughout the day.

A high point was the attendance of Her Majesty in the form of a life-size silhouetted figure which was positioned next to a guardsman and a giant birthday cake. This was collectively cut by three prominent local ladies – local MP Victoria Prentis, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Miranda Markham and Mayor of Bicester Town, Jolanta Lis. Also celebrating his 90th birthday this year was local man Stanley Gibbs (born in the village) who along with everyone else present, sang Happy Birthday to the Queen before tucking into the delicious cake made by local baker Graham Nash whilst listing to the band play Land of Hope and Glory.

For the adults there was a raffle with some super prizes and a substantial tombola that sold out very quickly. People were heard to say how much they loved the traditional approach and the bustle of the street plus the whole relaxed atmosphere made them think of a bygone era. Stallholders reported brisk trading with several selling out early and others needing to replenish stocks as the day went on. The event lasted 7 hours and ended at 6pm.

All monies raised go to the Church Porch Restoration Fund, Sobell House and the Air Ambulance. Our thanks go to all who participated and helped out on the day.

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TOMBOLA PRIZES REQUIRED FOR FOOD, BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Please donate any new unwanted gifts such as beauty products, chocolates, wine, beer, toys and books to help support our festival.

Donations should be dropped off in the church on 13/14th and 20th and 21st May. There will be a table at the back of the church marked tombola donations. Thank you.