RAMBLINGS - ABINGDON & STEVENTON- OX14 / OX13- OCTOBER 2008
As
I told you last month, I’m not here! But all is not lost! In the words of
Alfred
Austin the Poet Laureate in 1879. “Across the wires, the electric message came:
‘He is no better; he is much the same’". How Eddy Seven recovered I don’t
know. Anyway, here we are in October and I’m out in Oz recovering from a disastrous
summer. For the second year running my tomatoes turned up their toes in the
cold and wet. Over one hundred and fifty pounds of big fat beauties went to
the great big compost bin in the sky. The only outdoor ones that survived, strangely
enough, were some Australian cherry tomatoes that Corky gave me years ago. They
fruited prolifically right next to the now deceased heavyweights. I’m renaming
them ‘
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And
a message from Jackie Gould to say “At least this year my tomatoes have survived
and are now ripening. Last
year I lost every one to the dreaded blight, so this year they have been grown
indoors.” Don’t you just hate a show off? And I’m glad I’m not here for the
Sunningwell Gardening Club’s meeting at 7.30 on the 9th in the village hall.
It would be just too painful. Graham Pavey will be talking on ‘Mistakes Gardeners
Make.’ Another Smartypants obviously! Anyway, if you want to go along and have
your nose rubbed in it; it’ll only cost £2 if you’re not a member.
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With
the autumn evenings drawing in, and not a lot on the telly, a reminder that
the Jigsaw Library meets on the third Monday in every month at 36,
Stonebridge Road, Steventon between
11.30 and 4 and from 6 to
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October
is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can join the ‘Against Breast Cancer’
sponsored walk on Sunday 12th at Wittenham Clumps. It’s a 5k fun walk for all
the family through an area of outstanding natural beauty that allows you to
follow in the footsteps of channel 4’s Time Team and discover the bronze Age
Hill fort with its curved ramparts and ditches. You can enjoy the fantastic
views from the two chalk hills and discover the amazing wildlife that has been
internationally recognized. This year they have reduced the adult entry fee
to only £2 and are welcoming children free of charge. Dogs on a lead are
very welcome too. To secure your place and to receive a fundraising pack contact
Denise on 01235 820 777.
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How
d’you fancy a Chinese? And salve your conscience ‘cos it’s in a good cause?
Vale House, the Botley Alzheimers Home is fundraising with a sumptuous Chinese
meal in Kidlington on October 22nd.
£20 a knob. That’s very reasonable that is! If I was here I’d be
there. Contact Jenny Slade 01865 722 541.
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Have
you seen the state of the poor chestnut trees this year? All brown and shrivelled
with canker. So this may be your last chance to place conkers. The Annual Charity
Conker Competition organised by Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club will
be held at Cross Lanes Fruit Farm, Mapledurham, during Orchard Open Day on Sunday
12th October. Entrance to the fruit farm and the car park is free. And don’t
worry about the official spoilsports, safety equipment will be available free
of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. A voluntary contribution of £1
on the day will provide each competitor with one fresh conker complete with
string. So it’s no good bring the one you’ve pickled in vinegar and baked in
the oven. You’ll be disqualified. All profits to charity and a special prize
will be presented to the winner. For details of Cross Lanes Fruit Farm and its
Open Day see ‘www.crosslanesfruitfarm.co.uk’.
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Chantal
Cornelius has organised a mounted treasure hunt on the 11th starting from Alden
Farm in
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Abingdon
Operatic Society is celebrating its Golden Jubilee year with a production ‘My
Fair Lady’. Performances from 27th October to 1st November at The Amey Theatre,
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For
you crafty types, a call to come along and show and sell your products at the
Craft Fair in Sutton Courtenay Village Hall on Saturday the 11th between 10
and 3. Anything goes, cards and gifts, paintings, ceramics, stained glass, wooden
toys, picture frames, jewellery, knitting and weaving, cakes and other indulgences.
Indulgences? Them’s necessities. Tables £10 each from Rita Atkinson 01235
848 694. Proceeds for refurbishment of the village hall.
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Autism
Speaks is organizing a sponsored walk through the
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“I'm
not Really Old, It's These Trousers.” Hah! I tell the wife that often, but I
like a comfortable elephant bum so I’m keeping them. Hugh Grainger will be talking
of the joys of old age in
The Guildhall, Abingdon at 2.30 on the 21st. Hugh is both a well-known and well-loved
speaker at the Abingdon and District national Trust meetings and has given them
many witty and interesting hours with his views on life. Now, a new perspective
on the ageing process even for those of us who don't feel there yet, and a softening
of the blow for those who have. For details of the association, ring Ruth on
01235 524 119.
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Abingdon
National Childbirth Trust’s Nearly New Sale is on 11th October at
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Christine
Stimson of Abingdon writes, “We had a very successful show day last Saturday.
Lots of paying public came (lots more than last year). I asked a lot of
them where they had seen the show advertised and loads of them said "Round
and About". So thanks a lot. We have made a profit which we
will donate to our local Buckland Cat Sanctuary in Faringdon, the
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Hot
on the heels of Alwyn’s recent article on greyhound racing at
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The
Abingdon Anglo-German Club is going on a ‘Grand Tour across the
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‘Young
Hearts’ is a charity based in Abingdon that provides advice and support for
heart children and their families. They need a new and enthusiastic Chairman/
person/ woman/what have you, for their bi-monthly meetings. So if you want to
put something back into the community see ‘www.younghearts.co.uk’.
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The
local charity ‘POWER International’, which works with people with disabilities
in the poorer countries of the world, is holding it’s second Fun Pub Quiz at
the Red Lion in Brightwell-sum-Sotwell at 7pm on Monday, October 27th.
£2 per person to join in the quiz and supper for a fiver.
There’s a prize for the winning team. No need to book, just turn up.
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Wendover
Woods provides the stunning back drop on Saturday 8th November for the British
Heart Foundations ‘Hearts First Hike – The Chilterns’. The BHF have created
a 17 mile hike that will take you across some of the highest and most picturesque
trails the Chilterns has to offer. This is no stroll in the park. Are you up
to it? Last year’s event raised almost £12,000 from a relatively small
number of dedicated fundraisers. The BHF is the nation’s heart charity, dedicated
to saving lives every day through pioneering research, caring for patients and
families, and by providing vital information. They urgently need your help as
they rely on your donations of time and money to continue their life-saving
work. To register go to bhf.org.uk/chilternshike. For more information on this
or any other BHF Hearts First Events in your area call 0800 389 9750.
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Calling
all stamp stickers! There’s a ‘Stamp Fair and Auction’ at Didcot Civic Hall
on Sunday the 19th between 10 and 4. Viewing until 1.30. A lot of dealers are
expected, there’s a private treaty table and refreshments will be available.
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Remember
we told you about the
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I
bet Morse would have been there! A treat for music lovers at the Holywell Music
Room in
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Abingdon
Carbon Cutters invite you to hear Mark Saunders, Principal Energy Officer from
the Vale of White Horse District Council, talk about ‘How To Slash Your Fuel
Bills’ at 7.30 on the 15th in St Ethelwold’s House, 30 East St Helen Street.
ACC are a group of local people concerned about their own contribution to climate
change who meet on the third Wednesday of the month. All are very welcome.
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Carbon
Cutters? Sounds like pencil sharpeners!
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The
October meeting of Harwell Women’s Institute will be at 7.30 on Wednesday the
8th in the Village Hall. Adrian Jefferies will be talking about Antique Collectable
Jewellery’. New members and visitors are always welcome.
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“Just
a note to say many thanks for advertising our garage and car boot sale in Hanney
on Sunday 24th. We made £974 in aid of Cancer Research.”
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I
do love a bit of Restoration. Must be my age! Sinodun Players’ autumn production
is the comedy 'The Way of The World' by William Congreve. It premiered in 1700
in the theatre in
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Matthew
Smalden writes to thank all those who contacted him regarding his researches
for The Second World War Experience Centre’ and to say that he
would be happy to hear from anyone else who’d like to record their wartime
experiences via 01235 526 734.
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Here
I must disagree with John Endicott who writes, “I may be biased, but I thought
the Bath Male choir did particularly well in ‘Last Choir Still Standing.” Yeah!
You’re biased John…. And so am I. I
thought ‘Only Men Aloud’ were the outstanding choir from the very beginning.
And worthy winners! But the sheer
compulsion of having to tune in to the programme every Saturday only goes to
show the popularity, diversity and scope of choral singing. If you fancy exercising
the old tonsils, one of the most popular local choirs is the Wantage Male Voice
Choir. They meet every Tuesday evening at 7.30 in Hanney War Memorial Hall,
and draw from the whole area of the Vale, including Didcot. There’s no audition,
so you can feel relaxed about coming along to give it a try. For further details
just call Geoff on 01235 868 440 or just turn up! See ‘www.wantagemalevoicechoir.org.uk’.
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Abingdon
Alzheimers Club’s next fundraising event is their ‘Autumn Sale’ in the Abbey
Hall between 10 and 12.30 on Saturday the 18th. Lots of bargains, tea, coffee
and homemade biscuits.
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‘Ladies
Pampering Evening’, East Hagbourne Village Hall, 7th November between 7 and
10.30. Perfect! Gentlemen! That’s a call to the pub. A number of therapists
are offering a variety of 15 minute ‘Taster Beauty Treatment’ priced at a fiver
each. There’ll also be stalls selling make up, cards, gifts and jewellery. Tickets
at £5 each to include a drink and nibbles from Jill Garlick on 01235 817
377. How fragrant! Or from the Hagbourne Community Shop. Proceeds to St Andrew's
Church and the Oxford Gap Project, a charity for homeless young people.
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Didcot
Christmas Street Fair Committee has been granted a special charity screening
of the new James Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace’ at Cineworld Didcot on Thursday
30th October, a day ahead of the general release. 268 tickets are available
for the charity gala screening at £20, limited to 4 tickets per application
from ‘www.didcotchamberofcommerce.co.uk’.
Chairman Jeanette Howse said “We are delighted to be granted only one
of eight special screenings by Sony to enable us to raise much needed funds
for this year’s Christmas Street Fair.”
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Jackie
Sherman set up the Abingdon Craft Club six months ago and it has proved so popular
that is now offering places on Tuesdays as well as Wednesdays. Daytime sessions
last for 2 hours and you can choose from a wide range of crafts. These are decided
each week by the members and anyone attending can either learn a new skill or
revisit a craft enjoyed previously.
So far they have tried their hand at glass and watercolour painting,
clay modelling, embroidery, greetings card crafts such as iris and teabag folding,
quilling and bead and wire jewellery. All
materials, tools, instructions, patterns and refreshments are included in a
single payment on the day so, with no membership fee required, you can simply
book for one session or attend on a more regular basis. To book, contact Jackie
on 01235 550 168.
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The
Oxfordshire Befriending Network recruits volunteers to support those with life
threatening and terminal illness. They are currently recruiting compassionate,
trustworthy and friendly volunteers to visit homes, hospitals or hospices in
their own areas. Training starts on 21st October in
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A
bit of a hairy one at Southmoor Village Hall on the 12th! The Theatre of Widdershins
is presenting ‘Rapunzel and the
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Abingdon
Naturalists will be donning wellies at
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Do
you know, I’ve got all sorts of funguses growing in my garden ranging from Field
Mushrooms to Chicken of the Woods. That one’s poisonous! It’s growing on yew.
I’ve also got a couple of fungus books. The pictures in them, apart from those
two, very rarely look like anything I’ve ever found. Be warned!
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Members
of All Saints Church, Sutton Courtenay will be holding their annual sale of
Christmas cards and goods on behalf of the Abingdon Branch of ‘Save the Children
Fund’ between 10 and 12.30 on Saturday the 18th. ‘Save the Children’ operates
in over 70 countries worldwide and your contribution to the sale will help
some of the 600 million children living in poverty.
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Skullduggery
at the crossroads. The AAAHS (Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society,
if you didn't know) will meet on Thursday 16th to hear author Mark Davis' account
of a 'dastardly deed' from time gone by. “The Abingdon Turnpike Murder!” The
Northcourt Centre,
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I
can see some more dastardly deeds on the horizon if Team GB brings in tolls
for driving on the roads we’ve already paid for. Why are
-PSW-
Acoustic Triangle tour coming to Dorchester Abbey on 18 October. I attach the press release.
The tour, 3 Dimensions, is a brand new project featuring some of the UK's leading jazz musicians in partnership with classical strings a uses the amazing acoustics and architecture of major buildings around the country to create a kind of acoustic surround sound.
The Guardian gave them a 4 * review of their performance in London last week, http://music.guardian.co.uk/live/story/0,,2286707,00.html
Their performance in Dorchester Abbey will see the building used in new and surprising ways. The 9 musicians will move around the audience, vanish from view to be heard from hidden galleries and spaces like the clerestory. Each of the performances is specifically choreographed for the individual venues based on the layout and resonance.
The core of the group is Acoustic Triangle, a trio made up of the UK's most talented jazz musicians. Gwilym Simcock is currently a BBC New Generation Artist and will be performing his own piano concerto on 9 August at the BBC Proms. Tim Garland is just the most stunning saxophonist, he was picked up by the legendary US jazz pianist Chick Corea to become a key member of his international touring group. Tim is also an eminent composer having written works for Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestras.