NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2007

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 15th August was attended by five Parish Councillors, the Clerk, the District Councillor, and no members of the public.

Planning

P07/W0838/LB: The Lamb High Street : Single storey extension & associated landscaping. Minor internal alteration & redecoration

P07/W0839: The Lamb High Street : Demolition of garage and toilet block. Erection of single storey rear extension & associated landscaping. Internal alteration & redecoration works to existing building.

The chairman reported that the re-submitted plans had taken account of the Parish Council’s request to use clay tiles and not slate on the roof of the extension. He also confirmed that the rendering on the extension would match the white rendering of the existing building.

The Council RESOLVED that the planning applications were recommended for approval by South Oxfordshire District Council.

   Exchange of Information

Cllr. Barry Coward informed the Council that a meeting had taken place between the interested parties to consider the various aspects of the proposed shop/post office within the planned extension to the village hall and that good progress had been made.

Cllr Mabel Wood reported that the initial problems experienced with the change of local bus provider appeared to have been resolved.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 12th September 2007 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

R. Fergusson Parish Clerk

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.

Freedom of Information Act – Parish Council Publication Scheme

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

including minutes, financial information and responses to planning

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

Mr Stuart McGill Chairman,      Mr Barry Coward Vice Chairman

Mrs Mabel Wood, Mrs Alison Shelton , Mr David Wakeling, Mr Tim Robinson

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS

Annual Canvass – don’t lose your right to vote!
During August to November each year, the Council sends out a canvass form to every property in the district to collect information on those eligible to vote. 

By law, every property in the district must make a return for their household to register everybody who is living at the property and eligible to vote.  We use the updated information we receive from the forms to produce a new Register of Electors that we publish on 1 December each year.  If you do not fill in your form and your name is not included on the register then you will not be able to vote when there is an election.  You may also have difficulty obtaining credit or a loan or opening a bank account as the Electoral Register can be used to check residency for these purposes.

To make sure that you are registered and able to have your vote, please complete your canvass form as soon as you receive it.  Any delay will cost the Council, and therefore the council taxpayer’s money as we have to send reminder forms and visit properties that don’t respond.

If all the pre-printed details on the form are correct then you can use our telephone, internet or text response service to record that no changes need to be made to the information we hold.  For more information on this service please read the notes on your form.

If you need to make changes to the information that is on the form, for example because you are a new resident at the property or you have changed your name, please make the amendments clearly on the form and post it back in the pre-paid envelope provided.

For help and advice about the annual canvass please call 0800 389 5560 or email elections@southoxon.gov.uk

Recycling of electrical items

From 1 September, residents of South Oxfordshire will be able to take their unwanted electrical goods such as stereos, irons and toasters to a county waste recycling centre for recycling or safe disposal.  Sites such as Oakley Wood, Drayton and Redbridge will have clearly labelled containers designed to collect an assortment of electrical goods.  To help prevent electrical waste going to landfill and harming the environment, we will not use community waste vehicles to collect electrical goods and we advise residents not to dispose of them through their normal refuse collection. 

This development is part of the new Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment Directive (WEEE), which sets collection, recycling and recovery targets for all types of electrical products.

We will still collect larger electrical items such as fridges and cookers through our bulky waste collection at a cost of £7.75 per item. You can book a collection online at www.southoxon.gov.uk/bulkywaste

For further information contact Environmental Services 01491 823416

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

A329 Closure at M40 junction 7

I have been advised that contractors are planning to start work under J7 of the M40 in mid October 2007. This will involve a 20 week pre-bridge works construction phase on the M40 using restricted lanes, with the A329 planned to be closed from March 2008. Diversions are currently being agreed between OCC and Thames Valley Police. When these have been finalised information will be included in the newsletter. (Parish Clerk)

Free electric blanket testing near you

Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards and Fire & Rescue Services, together with Oxfordshire’s five district councils, are now receiving bookings for their annual free electric blanket testing.

The tests will be carried out at various venues during the months of September and October.  Last year in Oxfordshire, nearly 800 electric blankets were tested and 40% were found to be unsafe. Electric blankets can be dangerous, because as in all electric systems or appliances old and new, there is the possibility of:

              Electrical shocks which can be dangerous for people with heart problems
              Electrical burns which can be painful and permanently damaging
              Fires which can be devastating or even fatal.

The tests are supported by sponsorship from RWE npower, the owner of Didcot Power Station.

Where are tests taking place?

• Thame Town Hall

To book a free test call Julie Brain at 01865 815607 or visit the 365Alive.co.uk website to email Trading Standards with a booking request.

SODC: WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

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 .

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL –GARDEN WASTE COLLECTION

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 September are as follows:-Tuesday 11th; Tuesday 25th

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

COMMUNITY WASTE VEHICLES – DOMESTIC WASTE ONLY

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.                

CHURCH CLEANING ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER

W/E 1st September                   -          Mrs. M. Davies/Mrs S A Dennis

W/E 4th September                   -          Mrs L. Lovegrove/ Mrs C Coward

W/E 11th September                 -          Mrs E. Summers/ Mrs A Jones

W/E 18th September                 -          Mrs. G. Taylor/Mrs H Ridley

W/E 25th September                 -          Mrs A. Hawkins/Mrs. S. Jones

Sally Ann Dennis 278029

CHURCH FLOWER ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER   

W/E 2nd September                  -          Sally Ann Dennis

W/E 9th September                   -          Sally Ann Dennis                      

W/E 16th September                 -         

W/E 23rd September                 -                     

W/E 30th September                 -         

Teresa Quested

GRASS CUTTING ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER

W/E 7th September                               Phil Jones

W/E 10th September                             Raymond Fergusson

W/E 17th September                             David Hawkins

W/E 24th September                             Tim Robinson

W/E 31st September                              Stuart McGill

Raymond Fergusson 279150

BELL RINGING PRACTICE DURING SEPTEMBER

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

Tuesday 4th September                                     7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Sunday 9th September                                      10.30 am to 11.00 am

Tuesday 11th September                                    7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Tuesday 18th September                                    7.30 pm. to 9.00 pm.

Tuesday 25th September                                    7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Sunday 30th September                                   10.30 am to 11.00 am

I am delighted to report that Jennifer Willis has completed “learning a new skill” as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award by reaching a competent level of bell ringing.   Well done Jennifer!!

Raymond Fergusson (279150)

FROM THE RECTORY.

FROM THE REGISTERS.

We congratulate Alison Clare Quested and Henric Sebastian Tamm, who were married in St. James’ on the 11th August. Please do remember this very happy couple as they embark on the great adventure of married life. May they always know that they are supported and surrounded by the loving support of us all.

THELMA BLAKE.

It is with deepest regret that we record the death of Thelma at her home in Great Milton on the 8^th August at the age of 72. All of us have our own particular memories and recollections of Thelma. She was a larger than life character, who served our community with zeal and passion. She was involved in all aspects and activities of the village. In her time, she worked tirelessly for many village initiatives, such as the refurbishment of the Neighbours’ Hall, and re-roofing the Church Roof. She was a trustee of the Sheppard Trust, sometime Chairman of the Parish Council, a very active supporter of our School, the Neighbours Club, the Hospital Car Service, the Porch, Age Concern, the Historical Society, a Youth Club, a Sunday School and Craft Mornings, Church Fêtes, seeing that the bells were rung after a period of relative silence, to mention but a few things. For some years she was a Churchwarden and all that that entailed. She delighted in the created world, loving especially gardens, and then there were her cats. She was a very complex personality of course, but deep down a very loveable one. Her door was ever open to all and those who knew her closely knew they had a deep and sincere friend.  Her cooking was legendry, particularly the making of meringues.  In Thelma Great Milton has lost something quite precious and certainly unique. We all in our own way mourn her passing. We shall miss her. May she rest in peace.

PARISH SHARE 2008.

Recently I received the projected figures for the Parish Share which will be required of us to pay for next year. This is the figure we have to find from within our parish before we spend anything else on such things as repairs, heating and lighting and insurance. The figure for Little Milton is £10,322.

OXFORDSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES PRESERVATION TRUST RIDE AND STRIDE ON SATURDAY 8^th SEPTEMBER.

The Historic Churches Ride and Stride is taking place on the 8th September. Over the years we have benefited greatly from the Trust in making grants available to us for repairs to our Church Fabric. The major fundraising activity of the Trust is their Ride and Stride Event, where sponsored cyclists or ‘Striders’ visit as many Churches as they can during the day. In view of the way we have benefited from the Trust, it would be good if we in our own parish could play our part, either by being an active participant or by sponsoring someone who is. Raymond Fergusson is our local contact, and sponsor forms can be collected from him at 27 Chiltern View.

HARVEST 2007.

We shall celebrate Harvest Festival on Sunday 30th September at 11.00 a.m. with a special Family Service. Following on from the Service we shall be having Harvest Lunch at the Pine Lodge. The lunch is being co-ordinated by Sally Ann Dennis (tel. 278029), Anne Hawkins (tel. 279526) and Sarah Jones (tel. 278120). If you intend coming please advise Sally Ann. Anne or Sarah by Friday 28th September.

Harvest is a special time for all of us who live in the country, and our Harvest Festival does give us the opportunity to give thanks for God’s Creating Hand, and also to raise our awareness of the farming community and their work in providing us with the food we eat.

Victor Story

XMAS FAYRE – BULBS

Does anyone have any bowls that would be suitable for planting bulbs to sell at the Xmas Fayre? I would need them by the end of September.

Many thanks

Teresa Quested

FULLERS FIELD SERVICE

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 10th September 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.

GREAT MILTON METHODIST CHURCH Minister:  Revd. Derick Chambers Tel: 212019

SUNDAY SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER

For further information, please ring me.

Yvonne Cartwright 279205

ON PRAYER.

One of the things which rather worried me when I was a curate, was wondering what my Vicar was going to ask me to do next. One day, in what we called jokingly our staff meeting-for there was only two of us-he said, “I want you to go and see a speech therapist- I've always arranged it for my curates.” At those words I swallowed hard. “What was he on about”? But my boss, I thought, must know what he's talking about. After all he would often do a “Thought for the Day” on BBC local Radio.

So I pocketed my pride and went off to meet my 'Professor Higgins- if you remember “My Fair Lady”. I must admit, I thought I was going to have my backbone removed. But, as things turned out, I learnt more from him than I could ever have dared imagine. For six months, he asked me to say the prayer which begins our Communion Services, "The Collect for Purity"-“Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid….”

In fact, in the first weeks he only wanted me to say the very first words. That's all. He said: “You know, you're not thinking what you’re saying. You're just reading without thinking. I want you to be silent for a while and think of ‘Almighty God’ and then try and say those two words in a way that conveys what you have in mind.” and he said, “You have in your calling a very difficult job. You've not only got to say what the words mean to you, you've got to say them in such a way that those who hear you will catch at least a glimpse of who you have in mind.”

That statement made me think. It taught me more about prayer and worship, and how to conduct it than anything that my Vicar did, despite the enormous respect I had for him. It taught me, to take deep care over the prayers that I write, how they relate to God and aspects of his nature, and how we seek through them, to articulate what is on our hearts, and how we bring all that closer into God's heart.

So for me, prayer begins with stillness, and stillness of thought, then dwelling on some aspect of his nature, and then relating all that to the contemporary world in which we are set with its needs and cares, joys and setbacks, anxieties and fears.

So we come to have prayers such as,

“Christ our teacher, you reach into our lives not through instruction, but story…………..”

Or, “Vulnerable God, you challenge the powers that rule this world through the needy, the compassionate, and those who are filled with longing.” ‘Vulnerable God’, that’s not an aspect of God’s nature that Crammer had thought of, but a very poignant one when we recognise how vulnerable each one of us is and how God in Christ became vulnerable for us.

Or the one we sometimes use in the

After Communion,

“Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far

off you met us in your Son and brought us home.”

Prayer then, for me seeks to draw us and the little world we live in

into the very heart of God.

I said God reaches us through stories. I love the story told by one of the Mirfield Fathers on prayer. In this story, he described himself in a vision standing beside an angel, looking down from the roof of a church on a congregation praying. As he watched, it seemed that the prayer being offered by the people took form in different ways. Some seemed to be just sounds, which as soon as they were uttered burst like bubbles; others were like a gentle mist that rose from the nave high into the chancel. For a moment they held their form, and then they dispersed. However a few of the prayers were like points of light—golden shafts of light which seemed to radiate from the church and reflect the glory of God. The man turned to the angel and inquired what all this might mean; to which the angel replied that what we had seen were three kinds of prayer. The first was water prayer, merely an uttering of religious noises. The second was silver prayer. This was prayed by people who were engaged in deep thought, but who tended to be wrapped up in themselves. The third was golden prayer. This was prayer uttered from the heart by people who, in so far as they were able, shared in the agony, suffering and disappointment of God as well as in his risen glory. For them prayer was about sharing in the very heart of God.

May our prayers be golden prayers, taking us into the still centre, the still centre of all power and might, into the heart of Almighty God-to whom all hearts be open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid.

Victor Story

01844 279498

GOOD LUCK

We wish Peter & Sue McCluskey all the very best as they set up home in Towester after twenty six years in Little Milton. Ed

BENEFICE SERVICES FOR SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Our new year begins with 2 September dates…

2nd September   11.00-12.30 Meeting in Church

16th September   11.00-12.30 Meeting in Church

We welcome any child over the age of 4 years so come along and find out more on either of these dates….

(on 9th September the Arnold family will be helping Victor with the family service)

NB. New cards for the term available from Sarah Jones on 278120.

Sally Ann Dennis (278029)

JOAN LYDIA AMY WEST

Born in Bridlington Yorkshire, she was the only child of an only child. Her mother had tuberculosis so she spent a lot of time with grandparents. She became a nurse, nursing in the big London Hospitals, especially war wounded.   She was matron at Stowe School and did private nursing. She bought a cottage in Watlington and nursed in Watlington hospital. Stories Joan recounted of her younger days spent nursing showed how much she enjoyed the role of caring for her patients and organising her ward.