Mar07Newsletter

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 14th February was attended by five Parish Councillors, the Clerk, the County Councillor and the District Councillor and four members of the public.

The Clerk informed the meeting that the application to register the triangle of land as a Village Green was progressing well although the County Council had posted the public notice close to Four Trees and not on the land in question. This matter had been drawn to the attention of OCC

The Clerk reported that the drain opposite the Lamb had been marked for repair as the road surrounding it was showing signs of collapse.

The Clerk informed the meeting that the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold Street had been swept by SODC although it still had significant levels of surface water. He also reported that he had sent a request to OCC to consider re-designating the road for pedestrian and cyclists only as its current use by motor vehicles was potentially dangerous. Mr David Turner, County Councillor has been informed.

The Clerk stated that he had received a telephone call from Mr Alan Cockbill of OCC Street Lighting indicating that the Parish Council’s proposal to reduce the number of lights had been recommended to OCC Traffic Department on the grounds that the crossing is controlled and any reduction in light emission was beneficial.

The Clerk was delighted to report that the village telephone box has been listed as a Grade II building by the Secretary of State after consulting with English Heritage.

The Chairman gave a brief background to the problems that had been experienced by some of the residents of Cremar Cottages. The Clerk had already circulated an action plan for Council members to consider in advance of the meeting. The Clerk informed the meeting that he had communicated with Monson Engineering Ltd at SODC and had outlined the scope of the work that should be covered by the investigation. Monson Engineering Ltd had briefed OPC who would carry out the survey. OPC’s charge is £60 per hour. The estimated time for the survey was between three and four hours.

Although the drains in question are not the responsibility of the Parish Council it was felt that given the recent developments of the new Village Hall and the additional housing in Old Field/Thame Road it was important to establish the state and effectiveness of the current drains in order to provide a basis to resolve the problem. The Council decided to incur the expenditure under Section 137 of LGA 1972.

The Clerk stated that he would send a letter to the appropriate residents in advance of the work on February 22 explaining the limits of the Parish Council’s financial commitment. The Council undertook to share the outcome of the survey with the relevant interested parties.

Mrs Alison Shelton reported that she met with the Head of Little Milton School to discuss the school’s travel plans to school. The major issue appeared to be the parking of vehicles in Gold Street by parents and the potential dangers to children as a result. The school are considering the use of a mini bus to collect children from outlying villages to reduce the traffic flow and are also investigating with OCC the feasibility of a limited pedestrian walkway. The school would support any proposal to re-designate the slip road into Gold Street from the Haseley Road for pedestrians and cyclists.

P07/W0074: Revelmead; Erection of 3 bay oak framed garagesThe Council recommended approval of this planning application.

P07/W0073: Revelmead; Creation of family room within existing barn and conservatory

P07/W0060: Brooklands; Dormers to first floor and replace kitchen window with bi-fold doors

P06/W1165: Change of use from agricultural land to create an extension of residential curtilage

This application has been granted planning permission by SODC but subject to the withdrawal of General Permitted Development unless planning permission has first been granted.

The Council noted the proposed way of distributing travel tokens through the National Transport Tokens Ltd rather than by a Mrs Mabel Wood. This item prompted a discussion on the top-up tokens of £5 that the Parish Council has given to those persons in receipt of travel tokens issued by SODC. As tokens are only available to persons over 70 years old, the disabled, including children aged 15 years and below; and the necessary travel companions and there was a very low uptake if any since April 2006; the Council agreed to withdraw the £5 top-up tokens for 2007-08. The Clerk was asked to include a suitable note in the Newsletter.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 14th March 2007 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

Please note that the complete minutes of the Council are now included on the Council website www.littlemilton.org.uk after they have been approved by the Council.

Residents can see the records of the policies and practices of the Parish Council

consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk (Raymond Fergusson –279150). Current Council member are:

As many of you may be aware there will be an election on the first Thursday of May for the six places on the Parish Council. The term for Councillors is four years. There will be a detailed timetable in the April Newsletter but now is the time to give the matter some consideration if you are thinking of offering yourself as a candidate. If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

SODC offers free bus passes to people aged 60 and over, the disabled and necessary travel companions to the disabled. The bus pass is valid for five years but if you require an application form for a bus pass please contact Mrs Mabel Wood at The Three Horseshoes on the High Street or telephone 279670.

The Council will continue to offer, as an alternative to the bus pass, travel tokens to the value of £20 per person per year to people aged 70 and over, the disabled, including children aged 15 years and below and necessary travel companions to the disabled. All applications for travel tokens will be processed at the Council Offices in Crowmarsh to check eligibility. Once this is confirmed, National Transport Tokens Ltd will be informed and will send the travel tokens by recorded delivery.

The Council has recently reviewed the garden waste service, and has agreed to some improvements which will be available from April 2007.

There are a limited number of smaller wheeled bins (140 litres) available for those who do not generate as much garden waste. The cost of the service is £20 per year or £27.50 if you pay by direct debit. In exceptional circumstances residents who are unable to use or accommodate a wheeled bin may be offered a year’s supply of 110 litre sacks (52 sacks for £29 or £27.50 if paying by direct debit). The Council will need to be satisfied that there is a genuine barrier to the use of the 240l litre wheeled bin container for garden waste.

For those residents who would like to register their interest or find out more about the new options they can contact SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email recycling@southoxon.gov.uk.

For a charge of £35 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £7.50 per bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. To arrange this service residents can call the Public Amenities Team on 01491 823416 or print a copy of the form from the Council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk .

Your bin will be collected on the same day as your normal refuse and recycling. Please ensure however that your bin is placed in a safe place that does not obstruct the pavement or highway. The dates for March are as follows:-Tuesday 13th & 27th

If you are interested in this service please contact SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email: public.amenities@southoxon.gov.uk or visit www.southoxon.gov.uk

The Oxfordshire County Council Waste Recycling Centres at Redbridge and Oakley Wood are open Monday to Saturday 8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. and Sunday 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Just to let Villagers know that the Bell Ringers will be ringing in St. James’ Church, Little Milton on

I am delighted to welcome another new ringer to our tower; Mrs Jane Willis Jane felt the need for a new challenge and decided to join up with Jennifer. I am delighted to report that both are making excellent progress and more importantly enjoying the new experience.

One of the first LP.s I ever bought was Don Maclean’s ‘American Pie’. The title song is a tribute to Buddy Holly who, together with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, died tragically young in a plane crash some forty eight years ago.

As a young person, all those years ago I didn’t understand all of the somewhat enigmatic lyrics, but I couldn’t miss their underlying theme; that with the death of Buddy Holly this was ‘the day the music died’.

Of course things didn’t work out quite like that. After his death, more hit records were released; then a film made of his life and, more recently a stage musical. Even ‘American Pie’ itself went on to be a hit for other artists. For the truth is that music doesn’t die. At its best it has a way of coping with death and destruction and somehow bringing new life and hope out of despair and disappointment. It serves to articulate those thoughts and feelings which we struggle to express; and in the process of listening helps us, not just to confront our fears but come through them. Music can encapsulate the very deepest of our emotions; those things which are so profound, and which defy any words. Each one of us doesn’t know something of that experience which comes upon us, when we hear a particular piece which has great significance for us, and us alone, and all we want to say, or could say, is, “They are playing our tune!”

That is why music remains at the centre of so much of Christian worship, whether in the great masterpieces of the choral tradition like Bach’s B minor mass, or today’s contemporary worship songs that our children in our schools sing. For music is a most powerful, sublime vehicle of the Spirit. And thus, it’s also why many of the classic hymns still maintain their hold on us.

It may not be rock ’n roll, nor may it be heavy metal-but it’s not a bad note for us to hear and to continue to hear as we journey through Lent.

You know what discordant voices that will assail us as we journey with your Son; help us in all we hear along the way to discern that note of hope and joy which is a sign of your Kingdom.

We welcome into the Lord’s Family, Peter Edward Milton Jarrett, who was baptized in St. James’ on Sunday 12^th February. Please do remember Peter, and Anna and Michael, his parents, in your prayers.

Lent continues during March. Please do see the List of Services in our Benefice, and particularly note the weekly Compline Services on a Wednesday evening at 7.30 p.m. and the Friday morning Communion Services at 9.00 a.m.. The venues rotate around the Benefice, as will be seen from the list.

These will continue during March. As you know there is no need to book, simply come along. To give us all that little bit more encouragement, Le Manoir are very kindly supplying the bread rolls.

Monday 5th March at the home of Miss Marygold Nixey, Harrington Farm, Great Milton.

Monday 12th March, at Simeons, Little Milton, by kind invitation of Mrs. H. Lawrence

Monday 19th March, at Bell House, The Green, Great Milton by kind invitation of Mrs. Jane Falloon.

Do come along. You all would be most welcome. Any donations will be given to Christian Aid.

Mothering Sunday falls on Sunday 18th March, the fourth Sunday of lent, and this year the benefice Mothering Sunday Service will be held in St. Peter’s,

Great Haseley at 10.00 a.m. All of us, whatever our age, are more than grateful to God for what He has given us through our mothers, and this special Family Service on the 18th, does give us the opportunity to express our thanks and praise. Do come along and bring all of your family with you. You would be most welcome, and we look forward to seeing you.

Ever since St. Mary’s was built, I suspect that death watch beetle has been present in the Church, brought, most probably, when the original timbers were fetched in. In recent years they have become an enlarged problem. It is now imperative that action to deal with the infestation is taken. Consequently a firm of contractors who specialise in such eradication are coming to the Church just after Easter to carry out this vital work. It is anticipated that the Church will have to be closed for two weeks, and any services accommodated in St. Peter’s or St. James’ whilst the work is done. We now await confirmation of the start date. I will keep you posted.

On the second Monday of each month there is a service of prayer, readings and hymns in Fullers Field Community Room, Great Milton. The service is shared with our Methodist friends. The service starts at 6.00pm and lasts about 30 minutes. The next service is scheduled on Monday 12^th March 2007. If you would like to attend the service but require transport please contact Raymond Fergusson of 27 Chiltern View; telephone number 01844 279150 who will ensure that you are taken to the service and collected after it is finished.

ECUMENICAL LENT STUDY GROUP

hours. Anyone is welcome to join the group. This year we are working through the Cover to Cover Lent Study Book with the title ‘Jesus the Wounded Saviour’. Please telephone for further details of where each week’s meeting will be held as meetings vary between Great Milton, Little Milton and Tiddington!

A daughter Lydia Charlotte McLean weighing 7lbs 12 ¾ ozs. was born on 6^th February 2007. Both parents and baby are very well.

I am sure that those of you who remember Leonard Drinkwater will be saddened by his death on 5th February 2007. Ed.

Friday 16 March 7.00 p.m.Cheese & wine plus Paraguayan Harps, Christchurch Thame

Work is well underway for this years fete so please make sure that you reserve the date in your dairy now. We hope to make the fete this year another memorable day in the life of our village and if you think you can help in any way please give me a call.

Would you like to help us? Our Sunday School has about 20+ children who come regularly. We have welcomed several new children over the past year which is wonderful. It is always nice to have new faces to replace the older ones who move on. Those of us who run Sunday School have been here several years (one 12 years!) and it has been a while since we had a ‘new’ adult. It would be great to have some new help and energy supporting us in what we do. At the moment we each contribute to a session an average of once a month. If you feel you could help, you could either volunteer to lead a session or be the ‘second’ adult and help with being there and supporting the craft and other activities. If you think you could help then please speak to one of the teachers. We’d love to hear from you.

March 18th - 11.00 in Saint James Church (NB. This may alter as it is Mothering Sunday)

and on March 11^th all are welcome at the family service when the Jones family will be helping Victor.

The prize wining numbers were drawn by the Little Milton School Children at their Good Work Assembly and were as follows:

Sue Marriott 279124

NEWS FROM LITTLE MILTON SCHOOL

The first half of the Spring term concluded with a very successful drama and arts week. Throughout the term, the children had been learning songs from The Amazon Crown – a musical about the destruction of the rain forests through the eyes of toucans, frogs, snakes, a beautiful leopard, butterflies, bats and numerous other animals!

Parents banded together to produce, with the children, wonderful scenery and backcloths for the performance. The village hall did indeed have the brightness and gaiety of a rain forest, particularly when contrasted with the snow which lay outside!

Laurelle Rond Alliston provided a wonderful piano accompaniment, for which we are very grateful, and our gratitude too for all of the superb costumes which parents had made.

Other outings included a visit to The Sheldonian Theatre, where we experienced a wonderful performance by the Central Music School Sinfonia. The Oxfordshire Youth Brass Ensemble also played a brass fanfare, after introducing the children to the various instruments!

The Ancient Greeks and more modern Greeks have been celebrated too, by way of a shared lunch, which the Junior Class prepared. The whole school enjoyed pitta bread, humous, taramasalata, a variety of Greek Cheeses, olives (although not to everyone‘s taste..….) followed by yoghurts with honey and fruit kebabs. What a pity we can’t do this every week!

12 FILMS PER YEAR +

We plan to meet on Sunday 4^th March, when we intend to continue planting a hedge adjacent to the road. We have purchased a further 100 whips to finish off our present task. We then intend to plant some fruit trees in the Autumn.

We welcome anyone who would like to come along and get some fresh air. We meet on the allotments at approximately 10.30 a.m.

THE PINE LODGE NEWS

One of the few decisions we took when we built the Pine Lodge which we subsequently came to regret was that we chose Matt White for the walls of the Gents and Ladies. This meant that we created a slightly “cold” feeling which also showed all the dirt, and this was particularly evident in the Gents. We have also noticed that the lobby was becoming marked and scuffed, so a “scrubbable” paint was required for both. So, at our last meeting, we decided to re-paint the Gents in a warmer, and more durable colour, and paint the lobby again, but this time so that it could be cleaned more easily. The solution came after a visit to Crown Paints in Horspath, where we purchased 20 litres of new “scrubbable” emulsion, and set about the walls with brush and roller. The result is there to see-you can be the judge! Thanks to Dave Ponting, John Buckingham, Chris Coward, Teresa Quested and Linda Lovegrove for their hard work.

We have also spent money on electrical items such as a PIR light at the front door, and a new light switch in the Main Store (near the door!) plus testing of some circuits, and connecting up of our new electric Cinema screen-which works very well.

You should also notice that we have planted the front of the Hall with a lavender border and assorted shrubs. Unfortunately no sooner were they planted than they were trampled on, broken and pulled up, by person or persons unknown.

We have also invested in an advertising board for the front porch, and table trolleys, to enable tables to be moved in and out of the store easily

My apologies for the slight delay to the Cinema Club, due to my misunderstanding of the licensing laws. In simple terms, you can either have a “closed” society where you charge for membership but entry is free, or an “open” society where membership is free (or low cost) but you charge for entry at the door. Although the latter case sounds easier, the cost per film shown is a minimum of £80, so if we wanted to show 24 films we would have to earn nearly £2,000 to break even. So, a “closed” society it is, and therefore we are selling trial membership in the Post Office for £10 to cover all films shown in 6 months-which are likely to be 6 films for children and 6 for adults (no, not “R” rated!). The first film is on Wednesday, 7^th March-“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest “starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightly! which is a great fun movie with swashbuckling action, amazing special effects, and much drooling over Johnny Depp!

The projector and screen both work very well, and the sound system too, so the first outing for the projection equipment will be on Friday 2^nd March when the Liberal Democrats are showing Al Gore’s film on Climate change, “An Inconvenient Truth” If you want to go along, (even if you don’t vote for them!) tickets are £7.50 including a buffet. Tickets from Carole Heath-Whyte, 01865 890442 or bob@rchw.freeserve.co.uk

CINEMA CLUB LAUNCH- Wednesday 7^th March. –7.00 for 7.30 “Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”

The weather has been somewhat dull in the last month, a day’s snow being the only exciting episode, which tested not only our driving skills, but also the authorities’ ability to keep the roads clear. On the subject of the authorities I am reminded of a Television news item at the time, where a highways manager was being interviewed. He was saying that rain was being forecast and that within an hour of this it would freeze. His point being how on earth was he going to get all the roads salted within that hour. I make this point to illustrate how easy it is to criticise, but in practice very difficult to get it right.

In farming circles the big issue at the moment is the Avian Influenza, or “Bird Flu” outbreak in Suffolk. As usual the media have had a field day, exposing allsorts of issues that the public in general were not aware of, without any explanation of why these practices were taking place. I do not know all the answers but I think I can explain some. Why is there such a trade in poultry meat across country borders? Simple, different countries have different markets. Rich countries such as the UK prefer breast meat; therefore there is no great demand for the wings and legs. These have either to be exported to the not so affluent countries where the cheaper meat is more saleable, or dumped. Why do we have such large units producing vast quantities of birds? This is because the economies of scale bring the retail prices down which is what is required by the big retailers. Why was the plant opened to process meat so quickly after the outbreak? I am told this is because the plant in question is state of the art, as it has to be to process the numbers that it does, so is a relatively simple task to disinfect and be ready to start up again, it is completely separate from the rearing/fattening plant although on the same site. I understand both are run separately.

February is not a time of great activity on the land, but the period of dry did allow us to give half the farm a short back and sides, (hedge trimming). The next important task will be the fertilizing, and pest control, for next harvest. For once at this time of year we have got most of our current crops earmarked for certain outlets. The oats are, subject to quality, to go for breakfast cereal, having been bought by Morning Foods. If any one buys Mornflake Oats it may be that we have contributed to your porridge or muesli. Our Wheat is booked to go to “Heygates”, (also depending on quality), who supply “Fine Lady Bakeries” in Banbury; this will go into their bread. In both these instances all the food miles are within this country and at least half is relatively local. The Oil Seed Rape however is a different matter, (not that we are growing any this year). The crop that is being grown locally goes to Germany to be turned into, would you believe, Bio Diesel! This goes against the grain somewhat, as the Germans are encouraged by their government to produce Bio Diesel whereas we are not.

On the subject of grain, cereal farmers are currently experiencing roughly a 25% increase in cereal prices. This being due mainly to a shortage in the world market, and nothing to do with the fact that our costs have risen or the price of fuel, which is the usual excuse given in most other industries for price increases. This shortage is due to the fact that some of the larger cereal producing countries have had a bad harvest which illustrates how precarious the production of food world wide is, and how important our own Agriculture can be. This is even more critical for Organic production as the livestock sector is becoming extremely concerned by the shortage of organic grains, so much so that it is possible that organic pig and poultry meat may have to come off the market for a period. This in itself will push up the price of organic meat, and inevitably it will be the consumer who pays.

The following is a letter I have sent to “The Oxford Times” in the hope that by the time you read this will have been printed. The contents I think are self explanatory. I intend to send it to other Newsletters/Bulletins, in the hope that firstly the message will get through and secondly that those walking the footpaths will keep their eyes open for such behaviour and let us or the police know. I think we will have to install surveillance cameras when we have electricity connected to the building. It really is disheartening when we try and do our bit for the community that this sort of thing happens. Just thoughtless vandalism, and without thought for the consequences, it is this sort of behaviour that leads us to lock and barricade all accesses.

We have been devastated to find that over the recent Half term holiday a Field Study Centre that was built in 1983 for the youngsters of Peers School who were mostly living in the parishes of Rose Hill, Littlemore, and Blackbird Leys has been vandalised yet again! In spite of it being fenced off from an adjacent public footpath. Why oh why do people have to do this sort of thing? And interfere with the works of others.

We built the “Jack Peers Centre” for these youngsters, so that they could have a chance to come out to, and learn about the countryside. This was just a simple hut in the fields, of which about 75% of the physical building work was carried out by the youngsters themselves. The original intention was that this would be a field study centre and so was built adjacent to a footpath, to allow access via a walk across fields for allsorts of reasons this is no longer practical and now a roadway from our farm forms the access.

The building has over a period of years laid almost derelict due to continual acts of needless vandalism by those who seem to enjoy destroying other people’s property. Now recently owing to a greater awareness of those involved the whole project has been revived. This has been achieved by the School, Government, and our family introducing the money, to make the Centre a great resource, and of tremendous benefit to children of these areas of East Oxford.

This incident is doubly devastating as we have always welcomed the general public on to our farm. We feel it important that we all understand each other and what is going on around us. To this end we have opened about 3 miles of permissive footpaths allowing a long circular walk from Great Milton, as well as large areas of conservation strips for wildlife. This we think would indicate we are concerned about the environment we live in. We were delighted during the recent snow to see people enjoying sledging on the only small hill on the farm. (However it would have been appreciated more if those involved had taken their litter away with them).

Is it any wonder there is antagonism between farmers and footpath walkers & the general public?

Next Meeting: Our AGM will be held at 7:45 pm, Thursday 8th March, 2007 at The Pine Lodge (Little Milton Village Hall). The WI is a very active, campaigning organisation and we will be considering the Oxfordshire Resolution urging the government to consider alternatives to prison sentencing for women, with particular reference to the drastic effect on their children and families.

Update on our national Farm gate milk prices campaign – alongside petitions and action cards to lobby the government, the WI is urging everyone to Buy British to increase British dairy farmers’ incomes and to buy dairy products direct from farmers, farm shops or farmers’ markets to ensure that the 15 pence per litre of milk that now goes to the retailer will go to the farmer instead. Some local shops sell milk directly from farmers. Or, we can support supermarkets such as M & S, Waitrose and the Co-op which promise a fair price for farmers. These actions will help stop dairy farmers going out of business because they are paid less than it costs to produce milk.

Although our February meeting was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions, the WI is always a busy organisation. As the WI year gets underway, Oxfordshire members can choose from a wide range of events and activities –

Our Oxfordshire Federation is holding a Weekend later this year at the WI’s own Denman College with a choice of enjoyable courses –

Denman College is based around a lovely Georgian building set in beautiful gardens at Marcham in Oxfordshire. It is available all year round to members nationally and offers courses in many areas of the arts and crafts, cookery, music and dance, history, sport, relaxation and recreation as well as some accredited vocational courses – a great place to unwind and learn!

President: Anne Hawkins, Little Milton 279526 Secretary: Helen Ridley 278816 Press Correspondent: Lyndell Dixon, Great Haseley 279275

So far I have had no response to my article in the February newsletter, appealing for volunteer drivers. The level of demand for the service is relatively low in Little Milton but to those who need support, vital. Please give it some thought and ring me to find out more information if you are interested in helping.

On the 1st February 2007 we held our A.G.M. when 12 members attended. Mrs Cope circulated the Treasurer's Reports for the General Account and the Outings Account. This year we are starting off with a balance of £691.50 in the General Account. Once again we are very grateful to the Sheppard's Trust who have again awarded us £1,300; £600 of which will be allocated to the Club and £700 to the outings. It was decided that, as Plastows coaches are so much more expensive, we will continue with the Heyfordian firm. Mrs Hawes read out her Chairman's report and Mrs Price the minutes of the last A.G.M. Officers were elected as follows; Chairman - Mrs Alma Hawes, Treasurer & Outings Organiser - Mrs Celia Cope, Secretary - Mrs Joyce Price, Programme Secretary - Mrs Pam Assiter. The programme for this year's meetings was discussed and details will now be sorted. On Wednesday, the 14th February, we were on our first outing of 2007. This was to Bablockhythe for lunch followed by an afternoon playing skittles; always a favourite outing and great fun.

March 7th: National Army Museum for lunch. Conducted tour of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in the afternoon. Cost about £3.00 + coach + cost of any meals

April 18th – Hughenden Manor & WI Tea at Radnage: Victorian Gothic home of Disraeli , lunch and tour. In the morning a visit to Wycombe Museum of local area, furniture and chair industries. Museum FREE. National Trust members FREE, others £5.50, WI Tea £5.00 plus cost of any lunch.

If you are interested in any of the above outings contact Mrs C Cope, Woodbine Cottage, Great Milton or telephone 01844 279459

Thank you Pat for hosting last month’s sewing group and Sarah for sharing newly arrived Lydia Charlotte with us all. This month we’re meeting at Sarah’s home on 15th March from 11.00 onwards. Please phone Sarah by 14^th March for lunch time catering numbers. Sarah’s home is 14 Milton Manor Drive and the phone number is 279996.

LITTLE MILTON COMMUNITY SHOP/POST OFFICE

The much heralded Auction of Promises Evening, in aid of the PO / Village Shop Fund, has been set for the evening of Saturday 5^th May – Watch this space for more details with full catalogue available soon!

But there’s still room for more promises, so now is the time to nominate your family and friends with hidden talents that they have been to shy to offer themselves! Do you know any fabulous cake bakers, willing dog-walkers or people with a gift of flower arranging. We’d love as many varied and crazy promises as possible. If you’re short of ideas yourself, but willing to do something, call Lesley who has ideas galore and will find something fun for you to offer. Contact Lesley on 278244 or lesley.mccaig@btinternet.com

The much-loved horticultural event of the Little Milton village calendar is back! Or as it is more commonly known, a Sunday afternoon nosey round other people’s gardens!

If you would be willing to open your garden to the Little Milton discerning villagers, please contact Lesley McCaig (278244).

We are looking for a variety of styles and sizes, so even the Bridlepath garden may feature – Stuart?

Now’s the time to get those green fingers gardening in time for this June event.

And, of course, you’ll be able to stock up on new plants at the Plant Sale of 28^th April, kindly hosted by Joyce Inge.

If you have visited us lately you will have noticed that we have been moving books around and if this has inconvenienced you we do apologise. This was to enable us to have a dedicated Junior Section, to add books specifically aimed at Young Adults, to improve the range of books available for Teenage Readers and to undertake the new rhymetime sessions with minimum disruption to our other readers.

We have also increased our stock of audio books for both adults and juniors. These are available on cassette and on CD. They are available for hire and may be kept for a minimum of three weeks. So, help pass a long journey or doing the ironing with a good read.

I am sorry to say that this will be the last time I will be writing in your local newsletter, as I have decided to take early retirement on 31^st March. I would like to thank everyone for the kindness and friendship shown to me whilst I have been the Manager at Wheatley library. This decision, I can assure you, was not taken lightly and I will miss you all, in particular the marvellous staff here, all of whom I know will continue to provide you all with a first class service.

Do you know that Bookstart provides 3 different gifts for 3 different age ranges containing books and other goodies and it’s all free?

The Bookstart Baby pack is available for babies aged up to 12 months. Your baby will be given a pack by the health visitor at the 8 month health check

The Bookstart+ pack is available for toddlers between 18 – 30 months and can be collected from the library or the health visitor if your child has a 2 year check. So please go to the library and ask for your toddler’s Bookstart+ pack.

My Bookstart Treasure Chest is available to 3 year olds and is delivered to your child’s pre-school. If your child does not attend a pre-school collect your Treasure Chest from the library.

If you run a pre-school and have not given the Bookstart co-ordinator the number of 3 year olds in your setting, please contact her as soon as possible to ensure delivery by August 2007.

For more information contact the Bookstart Co-ordinator for Oxfordshire on 01865 810243 or visit the web site at www.bookstart.org.uk

For more information and advice on consumer rights go to www.adviceguide.org.uk or contact your local CAB.

SATURDAY 17th MARCH 2007-

7.00 FOR 7.30PM

URGENTLY NEEDED

One or two new members of staff to work one shift a week on a regular basis but to be available if needed for sickness and holiday cover.

If it was not for the help and support received from Shirley you would not have had a full-time Post Office for many months now. We have a real problem if one of us is ill or needs time off. If you can help please call in and see us.

Many thanks

Annie Rogers

The CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory carries out world leading research ranging from the vastness of space to the invisibly small world of nanotechnology. All the lectures are free and many are suitable for families – age guidelines are shown for each lecture. If you are interested in what might be available please contact 01235 445959 or Email talkingscience@rl.ac.uk

There is a list of events that can be viewed on www.oxtrust.org.uk or you can ring 01865 728953.

“This year the Oxfordshire Science Festival has a theme of Enterprise with many events showcasing the fantastic work of high-tech companies in the county and the enormous value that they bring to the local economy.

There will be events every day at Science Oxford the Trust’s own home in St Clements, which provides a focal point for scientific innovation and a unique venue in which arts and science mix.” Gillian Pearson Chief Executive The Oxford Trust

Hank Wangford & Reg Meuross presents THE’ NO HALL TOO SMALL’ TOUR on Friday 2nd March 2007. Price £10. For more information and to book tokens, please contact the promoter 01844 278466 / 07980 646124

Learn more about flower and vegetable growing, join your local gardening society, membership only £3 a year.

The surgeries are very popular and it advisable that if you wish to make an appointment that you do so sometime before the surgery you would like to attend. Please contact 01491 612852

If you want advice or general information call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. This is a 24 hour service staffed by nurses who can give confidential advice and information on what to do if you are unwell, have any health concerns and give contact details or self help or support organisations. You can also visit their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

If you need to visit a GP or health professional outside of normal working hours you can call our service on 0845 345 8995. We will then arrange for you to see the right health professional in the right

place. This service runs from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours over weekends and bank holidays.

DEADLINE REMINDER – Please note that unless articles are in the hands of the Editor by the 20^th of the month (unless otherwise stated), such articles will miss the scheduled Newsletter. The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Parish Council. All material for inclusion in the April 2007 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th March 2007. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication and to edit those items, which are published.

Friday 2nd March	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 9th March	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Saturday 10th March	Wheatley Primary School	8.00 – 12.00 pm
Friday 16th March	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 23rd Feb	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Sat 24th March	Wheatley Primary School Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 12.00 pm 8.00 – 12.00 pm

4th	9.30 a.m.	All Age Worship led by Rev Charlotte Collins
11th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs Ann Pape
18th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Rev Derick Chambers
25th	11.00 a.m.	Holy Communion led by Rev Angela Singleton

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon	10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. 1.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.	Open Door No appointment needed Appointments and phone advice
Tuesday Morning	10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.	Appointments and phone advice
Wednesday & Thursday	Closed
Friday	10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.	Appointments and phone advice