Monthly Archives: March 2012

Museum of the History of Science celebrates National Science and Engineering Week with About Time!

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The Museum of the History of Science celebrates National Science and Engineering Week with About Time! - a tick-tocking day of time-related activities for all the family this Saturday (17 March) from 10am-5pm. This event is linked to the Museum’s current special exhibition, Time Machines.

All aspects of clocks and time-telling will be explored in this special day, with tours, trails, workshops to make your own sundials, clocks and even Victorian movie toys. An afternoon workshop of drawing and paper mechanics will see visitors making their own fantastical models, and throughout the day the Museum will buzz with the sound of the Clockwork Symphony – composed with the help of visitors at the touch of a button!

The exhibition Time Machines tells an alternative history of time-telling from the eyes of a Medieval scholar, Nicholas of Oxford. For him a Roman Sundial is yesterday’s news, but he is surprised and excited by the more ‘recent’ marine chronometer, a Renaissance sundial, a decimal clock and a stopwatch! The exhibition’s curator will be on hand on Saturday giving tours at 10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm.

“About Time! beautifully complements the Time Machines exhibition.” Said Stephen Johnston, Curator of the exhibition, “This special day will bring the subject to life, and giving it a twist in directions that will intrigue everyone.”

There will be About Time! events from 10-5pm on Saturday 17 March. Admission is free.

Faringdon joins the Neighbourhood Planning revolution

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Faringdon has been granted ‘front-runner’ status to produce a Neighbourhood Plan under new powers to be introduced through the Localism Act.

The Vale of White Horse District Council worked in partnership with Faringdon Town Council to bid for the grant of £20,000 that accompanies the award of front-runner status.

Neighbourhood planning is the government’s initiative to empower local communities to help make and take forward planning proposals at a local level.  The idea being that local people will be the driver to help shape how their local communities grow and develop.

The Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan will be driven by the Town Council, but the Vale will provide support in helping to ensure that the process conforms with the guidelines for neighbourhood planning.

Cllr Roger Cox, cabinet member for planning at the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Faringdon to help develop a vision for the future of their town.  Being awarded front-runner status means that Faringdon is one of the early communities to benefit from the Localism Bill and it provides an exciting path forward for its residents, for the town council and for the Vale.”

Cllr Alan Hickmore, Chairman of Town Council’s Planning and Highways Committee, said  “Faringdon Town Council is delighted to be one of the “front runners” to produce a neighbourhood plan for our community. We look forward to working with the Vale of White Horse District Council and, most importantly, our townspeople in producing a plan that will benefit us all”.