Grapevine feb 2015

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 EDITION 290G R A P E V I N E

FROM THE EDITOR If you have any suggestions, or would like to write a regular column, submit a piece to be included in the next edition or have a local photograph new or old, please contact Sara-Jane on the new Grapevine email address: [email protected].

Happy New Year! Bit late I know, but you can’t forgive me a month off.

It was a very quiet January in Lewknor, apart from a very successful Winter Wonderland Disco at Jubilee Hall on behalf of Krakatoa Pre-School.

And, we’ve had snow! For many of the under fives, the first time they can really remember seeing it as we’ve had so few snow flurries in the last years. As usual I think it was much more fun for the children than the adults who had to get about in it. And no day off school...what a swizz!

Lewknor School has a completely revamped website at: http://www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk/website

Lots of information about the school and a weekly newsletter with all that is current from Mrs Cole.

Now on to a less than palatable subject. Yet again there has been a lot of dog mess in the village, particularly around the school and by the pub. You know if you pick up after your dog or not, and every responsible dog owner does. It’s part of owning a dog, not a nice part, but if you don’t feel able to clean up after them, maybe you shouldn’t be a dog owner!

This is a slightly smaller edition of The Grapevine, just to let people know what’s coming up in the parish in the next month. Normal service will resume in a few weeks!

THE

NEWS FROM THE PARISH

4 Watlington Rd, showing the post office and garage, now Lewknor Close

THE GRAPEVINE FEB/MARCH 2015

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WATLINGTON GARDENING CLUB

We meet at 7.45PM in Watlington Town Hall on the first Wednesday in every month

Wednesday 4 March Speaker: Rod d’Ayala . Subject: Animals in your garden

Wednesday 1 April Speaker: Brenda Harold. Subject: Flower power. How plants control animals

Wednesday 6 May Speaker: Robert Jacobs Subject: Behind the scenes at Waterperry Gardens

Wednesday 3 June Speaker: Graeme Hollingdale. Subject: Growing sweet peas

Our annual outing will be to Hidcote Manor Garden on 17 June.

Visitors , guest and new members are most welcome to our meetings . Annual membership costs £15.00 and there is a small charge for visitors.

For further information please contact Caelia Pereira, Chairman. Tel 01491 612368

LEWKNOR PARISH COUNCIL w w w . l e w k n o r - p c . o r g . u k

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN LEWKNOR WE NEED YOUR HELP

Government is pushing a policy of giving greater responsibility for local planning to the residents of local communities through the development of Neighbourhood planning. It gives people a major say in shaping development in their area and allows them to decide where development should go. It allows people to plan

for the type of houses, businesses and green spaces they want in their area to help it thrive. Lewknor Parish is made up of Lewknor Village and the hamlets of Postcombe and South Weston. Given its position close to the M40 it is an area likely to receive the attention of developers keen to build new housing particularly

for people commuting to work along the M40 corridor. The parish council has learnt that there are proposals in the pipeline to build in the village of Lewknor but at the moment these plans are embryonic. We have also been approached regarding a Car Park solution to the cars in the village and on the B4009. Now is the time to develop our local plan and we need help from residents of the Parish who have or who know others who

have the skills required to develop these plans.

Please contact us at: [email protected]

For more information on Neighbourhood Plans go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/giving-communities-more-power-in-planning-local-development/supporting-pages/neighbourhood-planning

COVER SUPERVISOR – ICKNIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Location: Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5RB

(M40 J6 - 5 minutes; Reading 25 minutes; Oxford 25minutes; Aylesbury 35 minutes; Banbury 45 minutes)

School type: 11-16 mixed Comprehensive, 600 students.Salary: Grade 6, Point 18

£17,506 - £19,510 pro rate (actual salary £11,315 - £12,736pa)29 hours per weekTerm time only

The Governors of Icknield Community College invite applicationsfor the post of Cover Supervisor. This role will be to superviseand/or assist the learning of students in the absence of their

teachers. Applicants would not be required to prepare and markthe work they supervise.

We are keen to appoint a Cover Supervisor who will:Embrace our ethos of "Excellence for All"

Demonstrate a passion for continuous improvement instandards of achievements.

The School Community (Governors, staff and parents) have astrong track record of investing in future improvements and seek acolleague who can build on this platform to deliver "Excellence for

All". We hope you will see Icknield as your next career step.

Icknield Community College is committed to safeguarding andpromoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this

commitment. All staff must have a full DBS (Disclosure andBarring Service) before commencing employment which the

school will process on appointment.

Icknield Community CollegeLove Lane, Watlington

Oxon, OX49 5RBTel: 01491 612 691

icknield.oxon.sch.uk


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LEWKNOR SCARECROW FESTIVAL 2015 SUNDAY 3rd MAYWe are planning a scarecrow festival!! We want the whole community to get involved to create a village fun day. We would like as many people as possible who live in the village to take part and

create a scarecrow to be part of the Lewknor Scarecrow Trail. Please look out for more details to follow on Lewknor Life and posters.

The proceeds from this village event will raise much needed funds for our beautiful church and our wonderful school. This is a great opportunity for everyone to join in!

The school community are already involved, with Friends of Lewknor School (FoLS) joining forces with the PCC to help organise things. We need your support though - enter a display, make cakes for

refreshment camp, help out on the day, help with advertising.

We have a unique asset in St Margaret’s Church- a beautiful building of architectural and historical importance, as well as a place of sanctuary and worship. Our wonderful school is always grateful for support to provide an enriching education to the children. Let’s all join together to make this

a success.

For more details contact Jean on 07825 813137 or Libby on 07990 619685

THE CIRCUS IS COMING!!Roll Up Roll Up!!! FoLS is planning the school summer event – and this year the theme is circus!!

Our children voted for a circus themed summer event this year – which we will hold on Saturday June 13th.

Everyone did an amazing job last year that made the summer Rodeo a great success and showed what a great community spirit we have. This year lets make the circus even better!!

We need everyone’s help – whether its hands on practical or using your contacts to help us source things we need – everyone can support and every little helps

Right now we need the following:

Contacts for a big top tent

Hay bales

Ponies for pony rides

Ideas for stalls – we have some, but we welcome more ideas!

Contacts for performers such as acrobats, jugglers etc

Contacts for live music

Volunteers!! – we would like to get as many people involved in planning and organising as early as possible so we can ensure a really good event. The more we do now the easier it will be for us all to

manage everything

We will be working with school to ensure the children are involved in helping create props etc – so the event will involve all of our school family.

Please contact Michelle on 07879 407 767 if you have ideas, contacts or you want to get involved.

FRIENDS OF LEWKNOR SCHOOL

LEWKNOR SCARECROW FESTIVAL 2015

Sunday 3rd MAY

We are planning a scarecrow festival!! We want the whole community to get involved to create a village fun day. We would like as many people as possible who live in the village to take part and create a scarecrow to be part of the Lewknor Scarecrow Trail. Please look out for more details to follow on Lewknor Life and posters.

The proceeds from this village event will raise much needed funds for our beautiful church and our wonderful school. This is a great opportunity for everyone to join in!

The school community are already involved, with Friends of Lewknor School (FoLS) joining forces with the PCC to help organise things. We need your support though - enter a display, make cakes for refreshment camp, help out on the day, help with advertising.

We have a unique asset in St Margaret’s Church- a beautiful building of architectural and historical importance, as well as a place of sanctuary and worship. Our wonderful school is always grateful for support to provide an enriching education to the children. Let’s all join together to make this a success. For more details contact Jean on 07825 813137 or Libby on 07990 619685


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A MAN OF PARTSDAVID LODGE

David Lodge’s novel, A Man of Parts, is a biography of the author H. G. Wells in novel form. Lodge’s intention for using this format was to relate the factual details of Well’s life by imagining the precise context in which events took place, that is, the conversations which Lodge reports may not have taken place with the exact words and gestures which appear in this book. However, for readers, who are now accustomed to Queen Elizabeth’s conversations with her family, her courtiers and her Government ministers being written for her by Peter Morgan in his films and plays, this is nothing new. In neither case can Lodge or Peter Morgan be sued for misrepresentation by the person concerned, as Wells is dead and Her Majesty by royal protocol cannot reply. I think this is a questionable technique where living persons are concerned.

With this disclaimer, Lodge proceeds to give a lucid, interesting, and well written but over-long account of the career and loves of H.G.Wells who, from his working- class origins, manages to become one of the foremost best-selling authors of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The titles of his early books, such as The War of the World, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, Kipps and Mr Polly brought him fame and fortune and an entrée into the Fabian Society where he could pursue his socialist ideas. It also brought him to the attention of beautiful, intelligent young women whom, despite Wells admitting his lack of physical attractiveness- he was not very tall and of slight build, he was able to seduce much to the dismay of their parents. He made the mistake, however, of writing a novel, Ann Veronica, in which the heroine was quite clearly based on his current amour with Wells himself appearing as a composite of two of the male characters. As a result his socialist and society friends were suitable outraged but, as now if one is famous and rich enough, such behaviour was soon forgotten by most if never forgiven by many.

Our next book appeared to carry on where Lodge’s left- off, it was Sex and Stravinsky by Barbara Trapido. However, whilst Stravinsky featured in the story and there was certainly some sex we were not sure why the latter word featured so prominently in the title. The plot of the novel mainly focussed on two families, one in Oxford, the other in Durban, South Africa. The relationship between these two sets of people

gradually became clear as the author cleverly weaved the individual stories together ending each chapter on a knife edge to be resolved much later.

The characters in Oxford which stood out for us were over- achieving beautiful Caroline and her awful mother but less so the emasculated Josh, Caroline’s husband, and their less than confident adolescent daughter, Zoe. In South Africa, Hattie and her athletic successful architect husband live very prosperously but not very happily whilst their daughter Cat ogles the mysterious tenant in their boutique ‘garden room’. As the book reaches its climax both families meet (except for Caroline’s mother) and mingle but at the end of the book no one could be sure whether everyone lived happily ever after.To reveal more of the plot would be to spoil it for anyone intrigued enough to read the novel which we all rated very highly.

Next month we are reading Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson which we have all been looking forward to reading.

Elan Preston-Whyte. Tel. 01844 350 382.

BOOK CLUBAT LEWKNOR

JACK GORDON DECORATINGALL TYPES OF DECORATING

UNDERTAKEN

INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR

LARGE OR SMALL

Ring or email for a free quote:[email protected]

07590 517 444

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY QUALIFIED FEMALE GARDENER

KNOWLEDGEABLE GARDENING SERVICE INCLUDING PLANT CARE ADVICE,

PLANTING PLANS, SEASONAL PRUNING, GARDEN MAINTENANCE

PHONE: 01844 354097 / 07977 853522EMAIL: [email protected]


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The Great British

Supper

S

upporting Spinal Injuries Association

Friday 15th May 2015

Make the batter matterHold a Great British Fish and ChipSupper to help rebuild lives afterspinal cord injury.To request a fundraising pack:Call 0845 071 4350Email [email protected] www.siafishandchips.co.uk

Registered Charity No 1054097

Have fun and raise money for the SIA

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SO HEALTHY IT HURTS

After the excesses of Christmas our thoughts turn to attempting to atone for over-indulging on a massive scale. No? Just me then?!

This dish doesn’t really have a name, although we call it, not particularly imaginitively, Greek Cauli. It is a flavour-packed veg dish which we use as a side dish but veggies could have as a main course. Although easy to prep it takes an hour to cook so allow plenty of time!

You will need:1 cauliflower, left whole, stalk removed and finely chopped1 onion, finely sliced6 cloves of garlic, crushed12 black olives, stones removed6 salted anchovy fillets, or 0 if you are a veggie6 nonpareil capers1 tablespoon of fresh oregano leaves. Dried will do.2 tins of chopped tomatoes1 teaspoon of tomato puree

Find a good, solid pan with a lid, large enough to take the whole cauliflower head with a bit of a gap around the edges. Place it on a medium heat and warm a good glug of olive oil, then add the onion and the chopped cauliflower stalk. Fry until the onions are soft but not coloured then add the garlic, olives, anchovies, capers and oregano. Give a good stir then chuck in the tomatoes and puree along with a small glass of red wine and a small glass of water. Or just the water if you’re seriously punishing yourself!

Once you’ve removed all the outer leaves from the cauli you can push it into the lovely, tomatoey sauce. It won’t be

completely submerged but don’t worry. Pop the lid on and put it on a medium- low heat for about an hour. It’s that easy, and only one pan to wash to boot! We eat this Greek style, with whole sea bream stuffed with lemon slices and herbs then baked, or with some herby, slow-cooked lamb shoulder fillets but it works well with most meat or fish or just on its own. You’d have to go a long way to find a more healthy supper; fat free and very low calorie, it’s a real gift for all you 5:2ers!

This kind of meal is crying out for a nice gutsy red and I have just the thing from the good people of Waitrose. Tsantali Organic Cabernet Sauvignon from Halkidiki on the Greek mainland. A nose of ripe blackcurrant fruit gives way to a palate of earthy berries and a touch of mint followed by toasty vanillin oak on the finish. You won’t get anything else this classy for (just!) under a tenner.

For the 5:2 brigade, treat yourself to a glass of sparkling water and look foward to tomorrow!

FOOD AND DRINK WITH CATHERINE GALLACHER

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Firstly a happy New Year to everyone and I hope you all received very welcome gifts in your Christmas stockings. Talking of which I wonder how many of us today would be able to knit a pair of stockings or even socks, so this issue I thought I would talk about knitting.

Here in Britain, our word for it is probably linked to the early English word “cnyttan” meaning to tie a knot and theories are that knitting evolved from fishermen knotting their nets.

Hand knitting in England really expanded as an industry in Tudor times with knitted caps and stockings being very fashionable. In Victorian England, knitting became a very refined art, with lace and beaded knitting being a popular way for a well-bred lady to show off her talents. Young girls were expected to learn to knit and complete a set number of rows every day and ladies often carried their knitting with them to social occasions.

I always like to have lots of projects on the go at once so as not to lose interest, as making a complete knitted garment can be quite a lengthy project, so here this photo shows using a very fine lacy yarn to make a scarf. This is from wool made by Rowan, my favourite supplier. If you don’t know how to knit and want to have a try, then visit their website at www.

knitrowan.com where you can register for free. You will then have access to lots of really helpful video tutorials to take you through each and every knitting step to make your own unique garment. Additionally you can access lots and lots of free, lovely downloadable patterns for whatever you would like to make. My scarf is from one of these.

As for wool supplies you can find a selection in Glynswood in Thame, or if you’re in Watlington – I think only on Thursdays - try Black Hills yarns – who have a absolute treasure trove of a showroom down the little alleyway just near the top end of the high street.

NEEDLES AND PINS WITH ALISON SWAIN

• Using the internet• Setting up email• Buying and selling on Ebay• Downloading your digital photos• Word-processing, spreadsheets, etc

NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMPUTER?

For affordable, one-to-one tuition in your home, call Sharene on 08711 296 454

STEFANIE O’BRYEN FAMILY SOLICITOR

Divorce • Conveyancing • Probate • Wills

Contact your local solicitor for a friendly and efficient service

Telephone: 01491 614 70020 Shirburn Street

Watlington, OX49 5BT

Email: [email protected]

HOME APPOINTMENTS BY ARRANGEMENT

Needles and pins


The history of this craft dates back to as early as possibly the 3-5th Centuries where it was then known as nålebinding and was crafted with a single needle and yarn. More recently, examples of more recognisable knitted garments have been found in Egypt and the Middle East dating back to the 11th -14th centuries. We know this too from early paintings showing people knitting.



Wartime saw a peak in knitting with women making garments to help the war effort, such as socks, hats and clothes for the troops, often with free patterns such as the one in the picture.

Now, after somewhat of a decline, it is growing in popularity again and both in shops and online there are some beautiful yarns and patterns to choose from. This p i c t u r e s h o w s a variegated one I am currently using which produces a lovely Fair Isle effect without all t h e h a r d w o r k o f changing wool!

I always like to have lots of projects on the go at once so as not to lose interest, as making a complete knitted garment can be quite a lengthy project, so here this photo shows using a very fine lacy yarn to make a scarf. This is from wool made by Rowan, my favourite supplier. If you don’t know how to knit and want to have a try, then visit their website at www.knitrowan.com where you can register for free. You will then have access to lots of really helpful video tutorials to take you through each and every knitting step to make your own unique garment. Additionally you can access lots and lots of

free, lovely downloadable patterns for whatever you would like to make. My scarf is from one of these.


Needles and pins










Needles and pins










Needles and pins












Now, after somewhat of a decline, it is growing in popularity again and both in shops and online there are some beautiful yarns and patterns to choose from. This picture shows a variegated one I am currently using which produces a lovely Fair Isle effect without all the hard work of changing wool!

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LEWKNOR PARISH COUNCILwww.lewknor-pc.org.uk

RECENT LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

BELOW ARE THE PLANNING APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL AND THEIR CURRENT STATUS:

P14/S3187/O FIELD FARM, SHIRBURN ROAD, LEWKNOR ERECTION OF 3 AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS

APPROVED

P14/S3926/FUL MILL HOUSE, SOUTH WESTON CHANGE OF USE OF PART GRASS LAND PADDOCK TO RESIDENTIAL USE & DEMOLITION

OF EXISTING PRIVATE DWELLING & CONSTRUCTION OF REPLACEMENT DWELLINGAPPROVED

P14/S3957/FUL HILL FARM, HILL ROAD, LEWKNOR CHANGE OF USE FROM DISUSED BARN/STABLE TO GYM/GAMES ROOM TO BE USED AS

ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION TO THE MAIN HOUSEDECISION AWAITED

P14/S3832/FUL THE BARN, WESTON ROAD, LEWKNOR Change of use from agriculture to part car storage, rebuilding of cars & engines

& part servicing of TVR vehicles; erection of a single storey extensionDECISION AWAITED

TO VIEW THE FULL PLANNING REGISTER GO TO: www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/find-application/planning-application-register

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INTERIORAND EXTERIOR

DECORATOR


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Visit us at:The High StreetLewknorOxfordshireOX49 5TN

01844 [email protected]

Opening hours:Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 4.30pmSaturday 9.30am - 1.30pm

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LEWKNOR PARISH DIARY

FEBRUARY 201515TH FEBRUARY HOLY COMMUNION 9.00AM ST. MARGARET’S

MARCH 20158TH MARCH HOLY COMMUNION 9.00AM ST. LAWRENCE8TH MARCH YOUNG PUZZLERS 10.30AM ST. MARGARET’S

9TH MARCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 7.30PM JUBILEE HALL10TH MARCH FAMILY SERVICE 10.30AM ST. LAWRENCE

15TH MARCH HOLY COMMUNION 9.00AM ST. MARGARET’S

THERE IS A NEW PARISH COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE, JUST SEARCHLEWKNOR PARISH COUNCIL

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE ANY EVENTS OR MEETINGS IN THE DIARY, PLEASE LET THE EDITOR KNOW VIA THE GRAPEVINE EMAIL ADDRESS:

[email protected] ONLINE VERSION OF THE GRAPEVINE IS AVAILABLE AT

HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRAPEVINEZINE/DOC

Grapevine feb 2015

Documents

lewknor school

lewknor village

lewknor parish council

new housing

local photograph new

new members

housing development

palatable subject