Oct07Newsletter

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 12th September was attended by three Parish Councillors, the County Councillor , the District Councillor, the Clerk and one member of the public.

Mr Peter Ronald of OCC has stated that there is no funding available to support the possible closure of the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold Street . The cost is estimated at £4,000.

The problem of surface water on the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold has not yet been addressed and the Clerk expressed the concerns of a local resident that the road surface could be extremely hazardous in the winter if the problem is not corrected. Mr David Turner stated that he would take the matter up again with OCC Highways .

Mr David Turner reported that the survey that had taken place in June 2007 indicated a similar level of vehicles to that in 2001. A meeting of the Five Parishes plus Marsh Baldon and Toot Baldon has been arranged for Thursday 11 October 2007 to review the data and consider what the next steps of action should be. Mr Peter Ronald of OCC Highways will also attend the meeting.

The Clerk informed the meeting that each house in the village would receive a pack of information on Thursday 13th September. This was being coordinated by Lesley Nesbitt, Crime Reduction Advisor.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Kevin Brophy of OCC Youth Service and Mr Eddy Lofthouse of Active 10/20. The Chairman gave a brief background on the recent survey that had been conducted in respect of the Youth Shelter. He explained that the Council were seeking other options to support the youth of the village.

Mr Kevin Brophy explained that the Youth Service supported Rural Youth facilities although funding and resources were very limited. Mr Eddie Lofthouse highlighted the role of Active 10/20 within Youth Service as it is a voluntary organisation. Mr Lofthouse stated that a double-decker bus was available to support rural communities as a way of engaging young people in informal surroundings. The Council RESOLVED to invite Active 10/20 to bring their bus to the village on an agreed date to help determine the best way forward in supporting the youth of the village.

The Chairman presented to the Council of the issues arising from the audit for 2006/07. The audit report highlighted the need for the Council to consider the level of fidelity guarantee insurance cover. The Council RESOLVED to maintain its current level of cover as it considered the additional cost of cover disproportionate to the risk involved. It also RESOLVED to accept the Annual Return for 2006-07.

The clerk circulated a projected cash flow for the year ending 31^st March 2008. The projected cash flow showed reserves increasing by £3,115. The clerk drew attention to the

demands on the reserves in 2008-09 due to the expiry of the lease on the Post Office and the possible extension to the Village Hall

The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.

P07/W0699: The Old Cottage Stadhampton Road : Enlarge conservatory and integrate with kitchen

This application has been granted planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The Chairman outlined a letter from SODC in which they suggested the transfer of the amenity land in Chiltern View to the Parish Council. This matter had been considered before and after further discussion the Council RESOLVED to decline the offer. The members took the view that there would be no advantage to the Council if they had the land transferred to them but the Council would be required to maintain the ground.

The Chairman informed the Council of a request by Thames Valley Police to nominate a Councillor to act as champion for the parish on neighbourhood policing. The Council RESOLVED to appoint Cllr. Alison Shelton as the point of contact with Thames Valley Police on Neighbourhood Policing.

The Chairman informed the meeting of the publication of the Panel Report on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East. The Clerk pointed out that the Panel had recommended a relaxation in the Green Belt policy south of Grenoble Road .

The Chairman informed the meeting on the recent meeting with representatives of the village hall and the Post Office steering group. He highlighted the need to update the lease with the site plan that delineated the area occupied by the village. He also informed the meeting that the chairman of the village hall had written to the Charities Commission and that it would appear that the village hall could allow a shop/post office to operate within the charities premises. The Chairman referred to the existing level of rent in the current lease between the Parish Council and the Village Hall. The Council RESOLVED to discuss this matter at a future a future council meeting.

The Parish Council will meet on Tuesday 9th October 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:

Cllr. Mabel Wood, Cllr. Alison Shelton , Cllr. David Wakeling, Cllr. Tim Robinson

An exhibition about convicts transported to

Australia

has gone on display at the Oxfordshire Record Office, Cowley, which is run by Oxfordshire County Council.

Between 1787 and 1867 more than 1500 Oxfordshire men, women and children were sentenced to transportation for crimes such as theft, poaching, forgery and bigamy.

Most of them were sent to

Australia

and neighbouring islands, and the exhibition, Banished Beyond the Seas, tells some of their stories.

The exhibition, which is based on the researches of Oxfordshire-based Carol Richmond, who wrote six booklets, published this week, entitled Banished! Sentences of Transportation from Oxfordshire Courts, 1787-1867.

These give information on the crime, sentence and ultimate destination of the convict, as well as additional biographical details.

Carol used Oxfordshire Record Office sources for her researches and the exhibition put together by Oxfordshire Record Office staff also draws on documents from the National Archives in Kew , and the Archives Office of Tasmania.

The exhibition also includes photographs and other memorabilia provided by private individuals, many of whom are descendants of convicts featured in the exhibition

Oxfordshire County Council’s Senior Archivist Mark Priddey said: “As has been well publicised 2007 marks two centuries since the ending of the Slave Trade and also 1000 years of Oxfordshire history. Less well-known is that it also marks 140 years since the last convicts were transported from England to Australia .”

“This is a fascinating exhibition that looks at what happened to some Oxfordshire people - men, women and children - who were sent half way round the world, sometimes for quite minor crimes.”

The exhibition at the Record Office in St Luke’s Church, Temple road, Cowley, runs until 10 November. Record Office opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Tel. 01865 398200 e-mail: archives@oxfordshire.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 October are as follows:-Tuesday 9th; Tuesday 23rd

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

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

I should to thank George Dennis for flying the flag for St James’ as he was our sole “Rider”. He raised about £80. I should also like to thank all those ladies who gave up an hour on Saturday 8th September to welcome visiting Striders/Riders. Well done to everyone.

We welcome into the Lord’s family Lydia Charlotte McLean who was baptized in St. James’ Little Milton on the 25th August. Please do pray for Lydia , and Sarah and John, as Lydia begins her Christian journey through life.

As you would know, we have a new Diocesan Bishop, John Pritchard. Bishop John is very much a person who listens, and who cares. At the present time he is visiting the Deaneries of the Diocese, and in October he will be coming to our Deanery and he wants to listen to us.

As part of this process he has launched the ‘Tell Bishop John Campaign’. The Bishop of Oxford is appealing to people who have given up coming to church to tell him why-and let him know what might bring them back again. Bishop John says: ’We know people fall out of the habit of coming to church for all sorts of reasons, sometimes simply because they move house or their family circumstances change. Whatever the reason, I’d like to try and understand-and to find out how we can make our churches as welcoming as possible to all comers’ People can contact Bishop John by visiting the website www.tellbishopjohn.com or by writing to ‘Tell Bishop John’ at Diocesan Church House.

Please do feel free to contact Bishop John. I’m sure he would be pleased to help you.

It’s always a real joy, delight and pleasure to have our school come into St. James’ for their Harvest Festival Service, and this year they will come into Church on THURSDAY 4th OCTOBER at 9.00 a.m.. Do make a note of this, and join with our school on the Thursday. We would love to see you.

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 8th October 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.

One day in Evesham, the BBC came to our Church to record a test programme for their students at their nearby training college at Wood Norton. That experience was interesting for that was the time when I was introduce to the mysterious world of ‘atmos’.

Atmos, or ‘atmosphere’, is in part those little sounds that are made when people come together, trying to be silent. Like the sound of two hundred people breathing, the slight rustle of paper, a mother whispering to her child. It’s amazing how noisy silence can be; how many sounds we train ourselves not to hear. That in itself makes you think. But what surprised me was that this Atmos can be recorded. So when we had to re-record a piece after everyone had gone home the Atmos was pasted into the background so that the church didn’t sound false and empty.

Thinking now of that experience, it occurs to me that for most of us, most of the time, God is the Atmos in our lives-unnoticed in the background. Perhaps we even learn not to be aware of the rustle and whispers of God’s Spirit. Just occasionally and unexpectedly God catches us up unawares and we find we’re able to hear what has been there all along, little sounds suddenly amplified.

Jesus encouraged us never to despise the small and weak-to find in those people and things we otherwise overlook, a hint of the presence of God.

One of the instances in Jesus’ life which has helped me time and time again is when he took Ter, James and John up a hill, to pray up a hill, away from it all, away from the clamber of the crowds, the noise of the streets, to enjoy the serenity and calm. We all know something of that feeling, “to be away from it all”. We can echo those memorable words of Peter and say, “How good it is to be here”. But for Peter, arising out of that stillness, he came to perceive Jesus in a new way. Peter along with the others had their ears opened in a new way. To discover that they must be still enough to hearken to the things that Jesus was to teach them.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Pastor, said, “Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians because these Christians are talking when they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God either. He will do noting but prattle in the presence of God.”

I hope that Bonhoeffer would not say that about us. And the way to prove Bonheffer wrong, is for us to listen to God’s voice it to deliberately enter the stillness of God, to put aside the insistent and strident voices that lure and threaten and demand, and to hearken instead to the almost unheard voice of God; so much a part of the Atmos that we have learnt not to pay attention, and yet without which our lives would sound false and empty.

APRONS

Calling all cooks………………..

Does your ‘Little Milton Apron’ need updating or have you never had the pleasure of owning one?

Buy a newly designed apron with artwork of St James’ Church, The Lamb and Little Milton Primary School in burgundy on a white background. With its own little pocket you and your mobile need never be apart!!

Only £7.50 each.

They make ideal Christmas presents.

Special Note: Sunday School has been asked to lead the Family Service on October 14th.

An improvement in the weather heralded our return to school! This Term we have welcomed ten new children, a teacher and a teaching assistant! Our number on roll has now risen to 62 – the highest it has been for some years. Leonora Barlow, Sophie Brough, Victoria Dalby, Sarah Emin, Amelie Freear, Isobel Jones, Elena Kippin, Esmee Knight, Cameron McCaig and Frank Sedgwick-Coward are our new Reception Class, and they are all settling in very happily.

Mrs Shona Bull is teaching Year 5 / 6 in the refurbished classroom. More work took place over the summer holidays, and we now have a state of the art classroom, with sixteen desks housing sixteen computers, an interactive white board and lots of new equipment!

Our Year 3 / 4 children enjoyed a visit to Sulgrave Manor at the start of term, when they all dressed up as children from the Tudor age. They enjoyed seeing the beautiful house and grounds, and learning about the people who lived there many years ago.

A trip is planned to the Didcot Railway Centre for children in Reception and Year 1 who have transport as their topic for this term.

Our next event is Harvest Festival. The service will be held in St James Church on Thursday 4^th October at 9.00 am. Children from The Orchard will be joining us – please do come along if you have an hour to spare that morning. We are busy learning new songs and writing poems and prayers for the service. This year, we are supporting Mary’s Meals, a charity whose aim is to school children in poverty stricken areas in the developing world a meal every day. So far, they feed 200,000 children on a daily basis.

Now is the time of year that the admissions process for entry into school during the academic year 2008/2009 commences. If your child was born between 1st September 2003 and 31st August 2004, you should be looking at schools, and filling in your application forms! Applications can be made on line, or if you would like to call in, we have the admissions booklets and forms in school.

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

Under the Parish Council news there is reference to an organisation called Active 10/20. The Parish Council have invited them to bring their “Activity Bus” to Little Milton in November. The precise date will be in the November Newsletter. This organisation engages with young people between 13 – 19 years old and has an excellent team of professional staff. If the venture proves to be of interest to the young people then it will help the Parish Council to work out whether this type of activity is worth supporting in the future. At the moment I have provisionally organised a session between 5.00 – 6.30 pm. I would be interested in hearing from parents or youngsters if they think this is a good time or to hear other proposals

Coffee Morning, Bring and Buy and Cakes

Saturday 6^th October

10am until 12 noon at The Pine Lodge

All profits towards the over 50’s Christmas Party

If you have any items to donate please contact Janet Betts or Teresa Quested.

FRIENDS OF WELLS FARM

We plan to meet on Sunday 7th October, when we continue to do jobs on the Allotment site.

There is one Allotment still available, if anyone is interested, or it can be split in half if a whole one is too daunting. Now is a good time to take one on to prepare the ground for planting during the winter months.

We welcome anyone who would like to come along and get some fresh air. We meet on the Allotments at approximately 3 pm.

Phil Jones 278120

Oxfordshire 2007 is a celebration of 1000 years of Oxfordshire through special events, anniversaries, festivals and cultural highlights. Oxfordshire 2007 showcases the remarkable array of talent that exists in every corner of the county and represents collaboration between hundreds of cultural organisations, individuals and communities. The year is an endorsement of Oxford ’s status as a European Centre of Culture and Oxfordshire’s reputation as one of the county’s most prized visitor destinations.

I understand from reliable sources that Stuart successfully completed his “Home to Rome ” sponsored cycle marathon. If you have not yet supported his cause of “MacMillan Cancer” you are not too late. I am sure Annie still has a few sponsorship forms in the Post Office. Well done Stuart ….a GREAT EFFORT. Ed

The Fireworks Regulations 2004 prohibit anyone under 18 years old from possessing fireworks and anyone except professionals from possessing display fireworks. These regulations also prohibit the use of fireworks at night between 11.00 p.m. – 7.00 am with extensions on November 5^th until midnight.

· Use appropriate fireworks – when buying fireworks, try to avoid really noisy ones. Your supplier should be able to tell you what they are selling.

· Consider timing. If you are using fireworks for a celebration, a Friday or Saturday is preferable, and make sure they are over by 11.00 pm at the latest.

There has been an excellent response across the whole village with 37 villagers now receiving e-mail information on any crime within our area. I hope that more villagers will see the value of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and join. Please contact me on 01844 279468 for any information.

Unfortunately I have been unsuccessful in arranging a match against Great Haseley but after the very enjoyable match against Great Milton I hope to have more matches in 2008. Please keep your bats in good order over the winter!

Oh Dear, it’s happened again!!! We farmers are blighted once more by foot and mouth disease and this time it will prove a real problem for some. As we are going to be away at the time that I would usually write these notes, it is too early to make any comment. It is all too easy to jump to conclusions as to how this crisis occurred and whose fault it is. We were just beginning to relax when this next devastating news broke, although as I said last month an FMD outbreak in the summer never seems to take hold for long. I also think the actions of the authorities in clamping down on all livestock movements had a dramatic effect in preventing any further spread of this disease.

The farmers who are most seriously affected are those who traditionally sell their stock at this time of year, as it is effectively their harvest time. You may well ask, why, in this day and age do some farmers still follow tradition? Well it is simple, farmers in upland areas do not have the climatic conditions to enable them to make hay or silage and thus to conserve winter fodder for their stock. Nor do they have the facilities to keep them over winter. Therefore stock from these farms would normally be sold at one of the many sheep fairs that are held at this time of year. Indeed this is the origin of most fairs held over the next couple of months. So with current stock movement bans in place, you can see that these farmers are really up against it, they cannot sell, so do not receive any income. But of course still have to buy in food for these animals and then at inflated prices due to shortages after to the bad summer.

Last month I also wrote about the prices that cereal farmers are getting for their produce, and why, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has not been silent on the issue. One of the points made in an NFU publication did try and illustrate the position in real terms. The article says that 30 years ago it took Britons 69 days to pay for their food bill – now it takes only 31. In comparison, house prices are now 7 times the average disposable income, compared to 1977.

This has all been possible by adopting modern techniques i.e. all the sort of things that none of us really likes, big machinery, big fields, use of chemical pesticides, you name it they are all there. But farmers have only responded to what they are led to understand is the demand of the consumer. Having said that, had we not employed these techniques, we may well have had a job to feed the world.

Nature seems almost in sleep mode at the moment with all creatures just going about their business, feeding themselves and I guess preparing for winter. We have a second hatching of swallows in our garage at the moment, a lovely sight but they do not enhance the paintwork on a car. Some trees are showing signs of the coming season with a distinct change in leaf colour starting. I have also noticed that when mowing the lawn there are more leaves than grass in the grass box, there are also gaps in the trees where the leaves are beginning to shrivel.

After having had such a wet summer it is extraordinary how dry the last month has been, though it may not seem like it as it has not been that hot. They say you never meet a satisfied farmer or a dead donkey, but I have to say we really could do with some rain, as you would not believe how dry the soil is. It may be wet below the surface but it is the top soil that is critical for seedlings. The problem when it is like this is that seeds will germinate then not have enough moisture to carry on. When these plants then die it is known as “malting” as it is a similar process.

At last the electricity company are going to connect the electric to the “Jack Peers Centre” this will mean that we can hopefully make more use of it and even have a few more village functions down there. It is wonderful to see the school making more use of it, what would be even better would be to able to rent it out for many more events so that perhaps the revenue could help support the finances.

Saturday 13^th October sees a glittering evening of local stars at the Pine Lodge at 8 p.m. Come and support your star-struck neighbours and enjoy an evening of good wine, bistro food and talented entertainers. Tickets on sale at the Post Office and from Alison Shelton , 7 Chiltern View 278144, priced £10 adults, £6 OAPs/under 16s (including dinner and entertainment). P.S. It’s not too late to book your slot on stage – speak to Alison asap!

WHEATLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP – open meeting – Merry Bells 6^th November 7.30pm

Wheatley Community Action Group was set up 2 years ago to “promote waste reduction, re-use, recycling and the sustainable use of resources.” So far, the main activity of the CAG group has been to organise the "Swap Shops" which have become a popular part of village life.

At the last one, on Sept 15^th 2007, 293 people came to the Merry Bells and between them took home 1273 kilos of assorted items - that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

We would welcome more help to keep these Swap shops running. (The next one will be on January 12^th 2008).

With your help we could also broaden the scope of our activities and start to make Wheatley an even better place to live. The CAG group will be having an open meeting in the Merry Bells at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 6th November - we want your ideas of what we can do for Wheatley, and would like to share some of our ideas. All are welcome – just turn up.

AT THE PINE LODGE

Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company

“There’s a wealth of things to do and see. Make this the year to discover Oxfordshire: its treasures, its beauty, its history and its exciting future. The county’s special character will be highlighted throughout the coming months.”

Next month: We will be welcoming Beverly from ‘Posies’ in Chalgrove to talk about flowers and various ways to arrange them. Visitors are very welcome to join us at 7:45 pm on the 11th October at The Pine Lodge, Little Milton.

On the 17^th October our WI will host other local WI’s at our Group Meeting. The speaker will be Tony Brown with ‘A Touch of Glass’, a Victorian Magic Lantern Show.

Members can opt for a great range of Oxfordshire events and activities this autumn – interpreting ideas on climate change through art in a ‘Window of Opportunity’ competition, Tai Chi, an Autumn Walk from Wolvercote to Eynsham Lock via a pub, a Scrabble Competition, an informal singing event, a poetry afternoon, the Heritage Health Lectures and – thinking ahead to Christmas – a hessian Christmas Angel Workshop or a German Christmas Market and Day Out in Southampton.

In September, WPC Abi Darbyshire talked to us and answered our questions about local issues. There will be Police Community Support Officers responsible for this area as part of a move to give WPC/PCs like herself more time to investigate, detect and prevent crime. These Community Support Officers have a target of being visible nearly all of the time - including on pushbikes – so we will see a lot more of them in and around our villages!

* No Cold Calling Zones being put in place locally (helping to protect against distraction burglars).

President: Pam Assiter, 278228; Secretary: Heather Peers 279352; Press Correspondent: Lyndell Dixon, 279275

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

Thank you Anne for hosting the Group in September! This month in October we’re moving further up along the Haseley Road to Spring Cottage….We’ll be meeting on Monday October 15th from 11.00 onwards and anyone will be made welcome. The only think you need to do before coming is to telephone 278029 by Sunday 14th October so that enough lunch can be provided for everyone who comes….If you’ve hesitated but never come along then now is the time to try us out!

Thanks to a fabulous Pampered Chef evening, we can add almost £150 to the Post Office and Village Shop fund and the cooking standard of Little Milton has been raised once again with wonderful gadgets and kitchen kit. Watch out for even better cake stalls!

A big thanks you to Henrietta Bullard for opening her beautiful home (and for unnecessarily scrubbing the oven!) and to all who attended the evening. Enjoy your purchases and thank you for being so generous.

The level of demand for the service is relatively low in Little Milton but to those who need support it is vital and very much appreciated. Please give it some thought and ring me to find out more information if you are interested in helping.

OXFORD INSPIRES

Oxford Inspires is the county’s cultural development agency and is providing coordination and practical help to put on the celebration. It receives financial support from Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the University of Oxford , Oxford Brookes University and Arts Council England. It is also supported by a number of corporate members. www.oxfordinspires.org

Halloween will soon be upon us and generally is a great time for children, youths and some adults to dress up as ‘ghouls’ and ‘witches’ and go out into the night to knock on doors to play “Trick or Treat”. The majority of your callers will be harmless and will be happy even if you say “no thank you”. However there are a handful of callers who may throw eggs or flour at you home, if they don’t get what they want.

This action causes alarm and distress for people who live on their own and for those who are elderly or vulnerable; if this has happened to you in the past you know it can be a very unpleasant experience. Thames Valley Police in South Oxfordshire are working with local shop keepers and schools to reduce the incidents of nuisance and criminal damage that happen at this time of year. Please help us by not sending your children along to the local shops to buy items that may cause a nuisance to others over Halloween e.g. eggs, flour, tomato sauce. Some shops will be displaying posters this year stating that they reserve the right not to serve persons under the age of 16 years with such items. We are also urging parents to prevent their children taking these items from your kitchen.

Thame s Valley Police in South Oxfordshire have set up an Operation over the Halloween and Bonfire night period, which involves extra patrols employed specifically to target those people who cause criminal damage and antisocial behaviour.

Always remember that those intent on going out at Halloween or Bonfire night to throw eggs and other substances at houses and on cars, could be committing an act of criminal damage which is an arrestable offence. Fireworks are extremely dangerous and anyone intent on using them to cause damage or distress or alarm to others will be dealt with.

Ø Display a Thame s Valley Police Card that says “no trick or treat” available from local police stations, libraries, and many local shops or download it from www.thamesvalleypolice.co.uk

Ø Don’t open your door if you are unsure who is there. Use your spy hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you decide to open your door.

Ø Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour to hand by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.

Ø If you are in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme let your co-ordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween. Likewise if you are a co-ordinator you can identify people within your scheme that may be vulnerable, and offer them some reassurance.

We also recommend that Children out Trick or Treating follow the safety guidelines:

Ø If someone says no thank you or doesn’t open the door to you they are probably frightened, so walk away and don’t be a nuisance to them.

Ø Don’t disturb someone displaying a notice that says “no trick or treat”.

Sunday 14th. Walk. Meet at Kingston Blount (Village Hall car park) at 10:00am for a 6 mile circular walk via Crowell, Kingston Wood and Aston Rowant. Optional pub stop at end. 01844 353296.

Thursday 18th. Walk. Meet at Haddenham (Village Hall/Library car park in Church Way ) at 10:00am for a 6 mile walk to Westlington, Dinton, Ford and Aston Sandford. Sorry, no dogs. 01844 215624.

Saturday 27th. Walk. Meet at Dorchester Bridge car park, 10:00am. 11 miles to Marsh Baldon via the Thames Path and Nuneham Park . Pub stop. Sorry, no dogs. 01865 358905.

Sunday 4th. Walk. Meet at Wheatley (car park at the rear of the King and Queen PH), 10:00am. 6 miles to Forest Hill and Stanton St John. 01865 874300.

Thursday 29th. Walk. Meet at Tetsworth (west end of the green) at 10:00am for a 7.5 mile circular walk via Great Haseley. Optional pub stop at end. Sorry, no dogs. 01844 213608.

The summer holidays were shorter for some of the staff as they elected to run a very successful Holiday Club at the beginning of the holiday. Many village children enjoyed 2 weeks of “Going to the Zoo” and “Messy Week” and have the tie-dyed T-shirts to prove it! This is all tidied away for the start of a new Pre-school term when we welcome Tally, George, Tom and Megan from our 2-3 year old afternoon session into our morning sessions. We will be studying transport throughout this term from cars and boats to hot air balloons. We will also be joining the school in their Harvest Festival service on Thursday 4^th October and we look forward to seeing the 7 children who left us to go to Big School in the village now settled into their new school.

The autumn term is always busy in an orchard and our Orchard is hectic! Saturday 22^nd September saw the Family Fun Day in full swing at the Pine Lodge and Recreation Ground, hoping to raise lots of money for the Pre-School including a much needed new kitchen. This will be followed very shortly by the wonderful Hollywood Orchard Ball on Saturday 6^th October – there may just be chance to get a last minute ticket if you call the Orchard now! This glamorous evening is not to be missed. The social season will continue well into next year as we have special birthday celebrations for the Pre-School. Please put 21^st January 2008 in your diaries now, if you would like to come and celebrate (especially if you are a former pupil or member of staff).

We meet our City & Village Tours in time for lunch at the Natural History Museum followed by a coach tour of the City of London with animal connections. On to London Wetlands Centre for a guided tour, where we should be able to see autumn migration. We shall have supper before heading home. Cost £13 + cost of supper and coach.

If you are interested in this outing please contact Mrs Cope, Woodbine Cottage, Great Milton or telephone 01844 279459

Didcot Leisure Centre is launching a new comedy club night on Saturday the 13^th of October. Promised to be a fantastic evening of entertainment, comedians from midlands comedy circuit are headlining this launch event.

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

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

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

Contact Membership Secretary Sally Orriss at: The Old Stores, Great Milton OX44 7NL or on 0184427323

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.

LITTLE MILTON 200 CLUB

Many thanks to all of you who registered with the 200 Club last year. This letter is to remind you that we are rapidly approaching our renewal date of 1st October.

For those of you who are unaware of the 200 Club, it is a scheme that raises funds for the school, with a similar amount being paid out in prizes.

Each month, a draw takes place with a minimum of two prizes. The number of members determines the value of the prizes. Presently the prizes are £18, £11 and £7. Fifty percent of all income is given out each year in prize money, and the remaining Fifty percent is given to the school. As membership increases, so the prize money increases, to a maximum of £50, £30 and £20.

As previously, we will be requesting annual payments. The only exception to this will be the senior citizens, who will be given the option of paying monthly and they should mark the relevant box on the application form. Everyone needs to re-register in order to be entered into the monthly draw. New numbers will be allocated to all members on a first come first served basis.

We hope you will be able to support, or continue to support our village school by joining the 200 Club. Please complete the attached form, and return with payment to the Post Office, Little Milton School , or Sarah Sadler. Additional forms are available from the Post Office.

Remember!! You have a much better chance of winning with the 200 Club than with the National Lottery!! Thank you for your support.

2. Cost: £1 per number per month paid annually (except Senior Citizens who may pay monthly).

5. Every participant is allocated a ticket number that will remain constant throughout the year.

8. Payments will be made annually on the 1^st October each year (monthly payments due by 14^th of each month).

9. The draw will be held on the 19^th of each month at Little Milton School at 3pm. If the 19^th falls on a weekend the draw will take place the following Monday. During School holidays the draw will be held at a committee member’s house in the presence of at least two committee members of the Friends of Little Milton School and a member of the Little Milton 200 Club.

10. Any allocated tickets defaulting in payment will be excluded from the draw. Payments for tickets not received by 12^th October (14^th of each month for monthly payments) will be judged as defaulted.

12. Prize-winners will be announced each month in the village newsletter and will also be advised individually by a committee member.

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

DEADLINE REMINDER – Please note that unless articles are in the hands of the Editor by the 20th 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 November 2007 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th October 2007. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication and to edit those items, which are published.

Friday 5th Oct.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 12th Oct.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 12.00 pm
Saturday 13th Oct.	Wheatley Primary School	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 19th Oct.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 26th Oct.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Sat 27th Oct.	Wheatley Primary School Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 12.00 pm 8.00 – 12.00 pm

7th	9.30 a.m.	All age worship led by Rev Charlotte Collins
14th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs Betty Blake
21st	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mr Colin Watts
28th	11.00 a.m.	Sacrament of Holy Communion led by Rev Derick Chambers

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

LITTLE MILTON

GREAT HASELEY

FRIENDS OF WELLS FARM

Phil Jones 278120

WHEATLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP – open meeting – Merry Bells 6th November 7.30pm

AT THE PINE LODGE

Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company

OXFORD INSPIRES

LITTLE MILTON 200 CLUB

LITTLE MILTON 200 CLUB

WHEATLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP – open meeting – Merry Bells 6^th November 7.30pm