Jan09Newsletter

I have been associated with the Newsletter for over twenty five years and have seen it develop into its current format. It is now very well supported by our advertisers that actually mean that there is a net financial benefit to the village. As editor I cannot make the news as this is down to all the contributors from the various organisations within the village as well as the articles and information I receive that give the newsletter a wider appeal than just Little Milton.

Our various organisations continue to flourish and that is due to the hard work and dedication of relatively few people and as I wrote last year “new blood is always needed to maintain its energy and enthusiasm as an organisation”.

The Church of St James has been a source of comfort to many villagers since 1844 and today it is well supported by the volunteers who clean it, maintain the churchyard, and make it look so beautiful with lovely flowers. Our younger people are looked after by a group of mums who run the Sunday School. The Church bells are rung most weeks to provide a reminder of its presence but hopefully also to bring a degree of pleasure….well to most people!! The church fete was well supported in 2008 and it provides the opportunity to bring our community together. A big thank-you to everyone involved.

The Pine Lodge (Village Hall too many) has continued to be a very successful investment and provides the focal point for many village activities and provides an excellent facility for the whole community.

The third pillar of our community is the village school. Under the leadership of Eve Hunter and the support of all the governors it continues to flourish.

When I wrote my editorial in January 2008 I expressed the concerns surrounding the survival of the Post Office and as we now know we were not included in the closure plans. The challenge for 2009 is to implement the plans to extend the Village Hall to incorporate a shop and Post Office. A considerable amount of hard work has already gone into the project by the Shop Committee and the Parish Council and I sincerely hope that it reaches a satisfactory conclusion as it will be another excellent facility for our community.

The Parish Council has attained Quality Status in 2008 and is only one of two Councils in South Oxfordshire , the other being Didcot. The Parish Council serves our community and by gaining Quality Status it demonstrates to the electorate its desire to perform at the highest level. It is supported by a few volunteers who maintain the recreation ground. I am sure that the village appreciates the contribution made by all the volunteers who assist the Parish Council.

There are numerous organisations that provide a wide range of activities for the village; W.I. The Orchard, The Music Group, The Friends of the School, Baby and Toddler Group and without them the community would be a poorer place.

The publication and distribution of our Newsletter is something that happens each month and I am sure that the Village would like to say thank you to all who are involved. I would like to thank Keith Hodges at Colourplus for his excellent service and support to me as editor. I also would like to thank my readers for their tolerance of my errors and omissions. I am sure that each month their must be the odd finger pointing going on but I trust that you appreciate my desire to give you a quality newsletter.

I would like to thank David Haenlein for maintaining and developing our Website. I know that the site is visited regularly and provides useful information on village activities as well as its history. If you have any old village photographs or would like to write about Little Milton in bygone times please let me know.

Finally, I should like to thank Dave our Postman and his team for delivering our mail so efficiently and to all the Post Office staff for providing such an excellent service to the village. I also would like to thank Mark Willis (and family) as well as Jenny Goodman and Megan for delivering our newspapers.

As we enter 2009 let us all make very effort to ensure that Little Milton continues to be a great place to live. If you have ideas on ways to improve our village let the Parish Council know or write to me. This Village depends upon community involvement so I urge you to feel part of Little Milton and help to sustain its future.

The Council meeting held on Wednesday10th December was attended by all Councillors, the District Councillor, the County Councillor and one member of the public. The following are extracts from the minutes that the Council need to approve at the January meeting.

The Chairman reported that the recent Youth Evening that was held on the 25th November attracted nobody to the Pine Lodge. The Council were disappointed with the response but they RESOLVED to follow up on the suggestion by Kevin Brophy to conduct a survey around the village with a prepared questionnaire.

The Clerk circulated papers in respect of the precept for 2009-10 and highlighted the Council’s underlying income and expenditure. The Council spent some time considering the likely additional expenditure in 2009-10 in respect of the car park and the re-instatement of the Post office. The Clerk was asked to try and ascertain a more accurate range of costs for re-surfacing the car park to meet the Council’s planning obligations.

The Council also discussed the replacement of assets that the Council currently own and maintain. The Council recognises the future liability but RESOLVED that this was best met by holding sufficient reserves that represented a proportion of the total replacement cost and the balance would be made up from grants. However the Council RESOLVED to obtain a quote for brushing the surface of the MUGA as this was considered to be good practice in maintaining the surface.

The Council sought clarification from the representatives of the IPS as to whether they anticipated requesting any funds from the Council in 2009-10 and the response from Cllr Stuart McGill was that this was unlikely to be the case.

The Council RESOLVED to determine the 2009-10 precept at the January 2009 Council meeting.

The Council noted that the appeal that had been lodged with the First Secretary of State following the refusal of SODC to grant planning permission had been upheld by the Inspector.

The Council noted the minor amendment to the plans but it felt that the changes did not materially change the Council’s position and it had still recommended a refusal of the planning application.

P08/W1117: Penn House; Single storey glazed extension conservatory. First floor extension over existing utility.

The Council noted that the resident had withdrawn this planning application from the register.

The Council noted that planning permission had been granted by South Oxfordshire District Council.

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

At this point in the meeting Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton declared a prejudicial interest and vacated their place at the Council table.

The Chairman briefed the meeting on the recent Bi Lateral meeting that took place on Monday 8th December 2008. He highlighted that the meeting had agreed all of the Heads of Terms including a framework for the Rent and Service Charge clauses. The framework for the rent had been agreed, subject to ratification, as follows:

2. Rent would then be reviewed after five years and thereafter at a period of three years.

3. Rent would be determined as a small percentage of turnover on a scale that reflected the growth of the business, but also recognised that no rent in addition to the peppercorn would apply if turnover did not reach an agreed figure which reflected financial viability.

4. There was also a capping such that the rent would never exceed an open market rent.

The Chairman advised that Little Milton Village Shop Ltd had since requested that the turnover figures and percentages discussed at the Bilateral meeting be reviewed again. The Council were supportive of this and wished to see the matter concluded as soon as possible. Chairman had suggested that a further Bilateral meeting take place as soon he was advised that the shop project were ready to meet.

On the matter of the service charge, it was finally decided that it would reflect a 40% recovery of actual expenditure on the car park after year five and it too would be subject to review at the same time as the rent.

The decision to give the IPS a 92 year lease had created the difficulty of determining a rent and service charge clause that provided fairness to both sides. The Council had agreed the principles but the detail had not yet been finalised. The Council RESOLVED that it agreed the structure of the service charge and rent but the details were to be finalised with flexibility from the Council to ensure the success of the project. The Council concluded that it had formally given a green light for the project to proceed.

The Chairman outlined the likely legal costs that the Council would incur and these would include the costs of addressing the existing leases with the Village Hall as well as the Orchard.

The IPS asked if it could place contracts although the lease had not been signed. The Council stated that it would require a legal contract, a signed lease, before the IPS occupied the site as it would protect both parties.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 14th January 2009 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.

The Freedom on Information Act 2000 (FOIA) provides rights of public access to information held by Public Authorities. The Parish Council adopted a new publication scheme on 1st January 2009. A version of the Publication Scheme will be available on the Council Website www.littlemilton.org.uk

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

For a charge of £68 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £20 for up to three bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. and a further £6.35 for each additional item. 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 January are as follows:-Tuesdays 13th, 27th

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.

Please note the new schedule for Community Waste Collection has been greatly reduced in line with the reduced demand.

The latest information received from UK Highways indicates that there will be no work on the bridge before the summer/autumn 2009 and that the scale of the work will be significantly less and is unlikely to involve the closure of the bridge itself. UK Highways have carried out extensive work and are satisfied that the deterioration of the structural elements are not as advanced as first feared. UK Highways are now content that they are safely able to delay the proposed works as no immediate repairs are necessary.

A great night out was had by all on December 3^rd….So much so that a further date is already fixed for our next celebratory meal at the Lamb. If you feel that you really can’t afford to miss such great party nights then telephone 278029 to check whether we have any vacancies available on the Rota …

I am writing these words as Christmas is just a few days away. On our televisions we have been given ideas on how best to celebrate and enjoy the festive season. Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson are showing us how to cook amazingly delicious meals, for instance. I’m convinced that through a lot of what seems to have very little to do with it, we are being given hints of what the real meaning of Christmas is.

Take the Christmas dinner, for example. For weeks, we have been bombarded with the timetable for Christmas Day: when to do this and that. An hour by hour count-down to get us to the table at the right time. But that’s the point. It gets us to the table, and that is apparently very rare these days. I have a friend who is writing a book about food and religion just now. And he tells how one day a teacher he knows had returned after some time to work in an inner city school. She was annoyed that some of the class weren’t doing their homework, and so she said that school isn’t just a matter of turning up for lessons. ”When I give you homework I expect you to sit down at a table at home and get on with it.” “Please miss”, came the reply, “we don’t have a table in our house”.

So many of us eat our meals on a tray watching the television, and which one of us doesn’t know of some child who takes theirs to their room. The Christmas dinner is a protest against thinking of ourselves all the time as individuals. Conviviality is a way of establishing community. And because the Christmas dinner for many of us is an annual gathering of friends or family, it is the place where news is exchanged and stories are told and distance is overcome. It is the time when what binds us together matters far more than what separates us. And it becomes a symbol of our connectedness to each other and to God.

In Jesus’ time meals together meant so much more than the kind of casual way that they often are today. When people sat down together to share in a meal, it meant that those who shared in the meal belonged together, were connected together, and in the Christian context, belonged and connected with God.

As we enter the New Year when much seems uncertain and worrying, may we capture again the recognition that we all do belong together, that we need each other , and under God, discover, that one with another, together, it is in sharing that we receive.

We should like to thank everyone who went to make Christmas such a wonderful occasion in all our parishes. There was some superb music, amazing flower arrangements and all manner of other things. All these things came together in a special way adorning the birth place, so to speak, of the new born King. There are undoubtedly many very gifted people in our parishes, and they deserve and get our congratulations.

Special congratulations, if I may so put it, go to the children of our schools and parishes who gave us so much of themselves. The Christingle Services were simply amazing, both Little Milton School and Great Milton School . In both Services our little ones sung, read and acted their hearts out and lit up spectacularly our Churches when they held up high their lighted tapers. All pointed to the truth that when God speaks through a child he speaks a language we can all understand. So very well done, all our children.

At the services with our children and at the other Christmas Services, as we all went to Church, the air was filled with the sounds of the bells pealing out their message of welcome, love and peace. Bell ringers have a special vocation and we thank them for their reminding us of eternal truths. After all that is why they practice each week so that the message of the Love of God is heard throughout the parish. It’s always lovely to hear our bells pealing out over our village on a Sunday morning, and we miss their sounds when they are not rung. There’s certain emptiness when we go to church and there are no bells. Our children, in particular, said how thrilled they were to think that the bells were being rung for their special Christmas Services.

This always takes place on the second Monday in the month in the Common Room at Fullers Field, Great Milton at 6.00 p.m. and lasts about 35 minutes. The service is a simple one of hymns, readings and prayers. If you are available then do come along and a warm welcome will always await you. There will be a service on Monday 12th January in the Common Room at Fullers Field at 6.00 p.m.

On December 14^th eight of Saint James’ Sunday School ‘Graduates’ each received a copy of the Youth Bible marking their ‘Graduation’ from Sunday School. The young people received their copy each signed by Victor and inscribed with a personally chosen scripture by our guest Jenny Hyson who presented the Bibles together with the Reverend Story. George played the organ and Leah and Katie shared the Easter Gospel Reading specially chosen for the occasion by Victor. We all shared together in the last Teaching Session on the Lords Prayer – Godly Play style – and then ‘partied’ and the children created their own individual Lords Prayer Bracelets. Many of our old photographs brought back happy memories for the following young people: Emily, Leah and Bridie, Jennifer, George, Amy, Katie and Megan.

We hope to begin Sunday School teaching sessions again in January 2009 – possibly on January 18^th. All regular attendees will be contacted but if you’re a first timer and interested please telephone 278029 for further information.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Xmas lunch this year such an enjoyable event for all those who attended. The food was excellent and then great fun was had enjoying vintage photographs and naming some of the characters! Thank you also to those who donated wine and gifts.

As last year, the meal was paid for from the profits of the Pine Lodge so thanks to all those who attend quiz nights etc-we need your support again in 2009!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came carol singing and caroused so happily around Little Milton’s festive streets under a starlit sky. Thanks also to our chaps in fluorescent jackets who did an admirable job in keeping us safe on the streets. The children were perfect little angels throughout and entertained us with Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and a beautiful rendition Away in a Manger at the Manor. Indeed, an extra large thank you to Sarah and Simon who provided such warm and welcoming hospitality for nearly fifty of us at the Manor. A heroic feat!

We raised just over £200 which will go to help feed children at Little Milton’s “twin school” in

South Africa

. The head teacher of the Caesar Mlumbi school noticed that many of the children were not bringing a lunch with them to school because their parents couldn’t afford to provide a midday meal. A vegetable plot was set up to grow vegetables which could be cooked for lunch, with any surplus being sold at market. The school has a kitchen but no stove, fridge or utensils. The money we raised will therefore go towards providing these essentials.

After tremendous fund raising efforts last year, including 2007’s carol singing donation, a sick bay has now been built at the school with a clinic attached.

Many, many thanks to everyone who helped to make this year’s event such a success making a profit of over £1,500 to be shared between the Pine Lodge, the Orchard Pre-School and St James’s Church.

Thanks for all those who cooked, knitted, sewed, painted, donated prizes and bought raffle tickets-your support, as always, has been much appreciated.

SATURDAY 31^st January

7.00 for 7.30pm @ The Pine Lodge

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

Last month the BBOWT work party completed the digging of the pond on the allotment. We managed to find a receipt to seal under the liner so that the pond can be dated in years to come. As it begins to fill up we will have the opportunity to study the species of pond life that find their way there. Watch out for "Pond Dipping" invitations later next year...

This month, BBOWT are running a hedge laying course on Wells Farm, continuing the work done last month as part of a training course. There are very few places left now, but if anyone is interested, please contact me and I will contact the coordinator.

By the time you read this the festive season will have passed and we will hopefully be back at work. All thoughts and predictions as to whether we will have a “White or Green Christmas” will either be vindicated or not as the case may be. I do find it difficult to reconcile the fact that, here we are in the middle of a financial crisis, yet in some of the essential trades where there is plenty of work to be done they are still taking 2 weeks off over the Christmas period. Anyway I hope all had a good restful and peaceful time and now feel regenerated and fit to face anything that 2009 can throw at us.

As far as agriculture in general is concerned, we are in a very topsy-turvy world at present. Last year food shortages were predicted and now with one good harvest worldwide, food supplies seem to be in a surplus. This has had a dramatic effect on cereal prices which almost doubled last year but are now back down almost to the levels of 2006. Add to this the effect that the current financial situation has had in dramatically lowering the demand for the more expensive and organic end of the food market. Only a year ago the dairies were urging us to convert to organic and importing European organic milk to make up the short fall. Now they are cutting our price and forcing producers to look at ways to put their organic status on hold until the market recovers. This is a situation the certifiers faced a few years ago when the government actively encouraged farmers to convert, thus over cooking the supply and demand balance of the market, resulting in an over production of milk. These circumstances, coupled with the rapid increase in our costs without any redress as yet, has left British agriculture almost in a worse financial position than it was a few years ago. Has the cost of food fallen? Of course not! This is basically why there is antagonism between farmers and the supermarkets and can anyone wonder? It makes forward planning almost impossible. I have heard it said that it is probably not worth growing anything at all and just walking away from the land. This I might add is not something that farmers would really want to do, as they feel too much for their land and the environment, but all said and done we have to live. So what’s happening on the farm at the moment? Well, nothing particularly productive as traditionally this is the time of year when “in theory” we tidy up all those little jobs that never got done when we were busy through the summer, the trouble is that we now seem to be busy year round, consequently the tidying up never gets done!

We have a new flock of laying chickens coming in soon that will hopefully start producing sometime later this month. We should then have enough eggs to supply all those who find the cupboard at Views Farm bare, if this is the case do get in touch. The reason why our eggs are so much better than those from the big shops is freshness; they are never over 2 days old whereas they have to be at least 10days old by the time they reach supermarkets.

The other noticeable task to be completed this time of year is hedge cutting. We leave this as late as we dare to allow the wildlife to take advantage of the fruits of the hedgerows for as long as possible, but do not leave it too long so as to clash with the nesting season. Added to this we only cut the farm hedges once every two years.

The time has come when the oil seed rape crops appear particularly attractive to the marauding flocks of pigeons which appear to have become a particular problem over the last few years. With the levels of losses we incurred last year is it any wonder we have bangers and bird scarers going throughout the winter? There is little else we can do to keep them off. As we only have one field this year and that is at the Little Milton end of the farm, I think if we do have to take this action the disturbance will be minimal, however please let us know if it is a problem to you. If we have a hard winter they then will not be so much of a problem. What I find strange about pigeons is where do they go other times of the year? They never seem to be so much in evidence during the warmer weather.

Whilst on the subject of birds, I have noticed, and commented on, up until about the end of November there were an incredible amount of seagulls around. You often see them following a ploughing or cultivating tractor that is turning over the soil but not so obviously around week after week. At least they are not doing any damage, just picking up grubs and worms. Now they all seem to have disappeared. The good news is that on a bit of land where we have a problem with a drain, and therefore a lot of standing water we seem to have quite a large flock of pewits (lapwings). These birds have definitely been on the decline lately so this is very heartening; also I think there are golden plovers with them. This is the same field that has been home to these plovers in the past but certainly not for about four years, it makes for an interesting time.

If anyone is wondering where the Children’s Pantomime has got to this year, it’s moved to a more traditional after-Christmas date. The Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company will be presenting Hansel and Gretel at 5-00pm on Friday the 13^th of February. This is the same company that previously performed The Firebird and, last year, The Delicious Revenge of Ruby Slippers, both of which received good reviews from people who attended. More details of the production can be found on the OTTC website, www.ottc.org.uk, including gingerbread recipes and a Design a House Competition. Tickets are on sale at the Post Office.

Thanks to everyone who has come along and supported the Pine Lodge during the year. Best wishes to all for 2009 from the Village Hall Management Committee and we hope to see you at events next year.

If you would like to receive the alerts from Neighbourhood Watch by having your e-mail address added to the those currently in receipt of the information, please contact Mr Mark Willis on 01844 279468.

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 or require transport to the surgery or hospital.

Saturday 3rd. Meet at Redbridge Park & Ride entrance ( Oxford ) at 09:30am for a 12 mile walk via North Hinksey , Wootton and Boars Hill. Pub stop. 01865 874300.

Sunday 4th. Meet at Marsworth Car Park at 10:00am for a leisurely 6 mile walk via Tring reservoirs, parts of the Aylesbury and Wendover Arms and the Grand Union canal. 07767 647714.

Saturday 17th. Meet at Tiddington village hall at 10:00am for a leisurely 6½ mile walk to Albury, Waterstock and Waterperry. Café available midway and pub stop at the end. Alternatively join a shorter (3½ miles) circuit of Waterstock golf course in the afternoon starting at 2pm at Tiddington village hall. 01844 339352.

Sunday 25th. Meet in Cookley Green (park carefully in the village) at 10:00am for a 6 mile snowdrop walk with nice views both sides of the valley around Swyncombe Church . Well behaved dogs on leads please. 01844 208517.

Sunday 1st. Meet in Stokenchurch (public car park at the Kings Hotel) at 10:00am for a 7 mile walk via Bennet End and Radnage Church . Sorry, no dogs allowed. 01865 358905.

Saturday 14th. Meet in Piddington (layby by the Dashwood Arms PH) at 10:00am for a leisurely 5 mile walk to Wheeler End and Studley Green. Café available midway and optional pub stop at the end. 01844 339352.

Thursday 19^th. Meet in Stokenchurch (public car park at the Kings Hotel) at 10:00am for a 6½ mile walk in the Chilterns. Sorry, no dogs allowed. 01844 215624.

Saturday 7th. Meet at Thornhill Park & Ride ( Oxford ) at 09:30am for a 12 mile walk through Shotover House grounds, Horspath, Garsington and Brasenose Wood. Pub stop. 01865 874300.

Thursday 12th. Meet in Tetsworth (west end of the village green) at 10:00am for a 7 mile circular walk via Adwell and Stoke Talmage. Optional pub stop at the end. 01844 213608.

Saturday 21st^t. Meet in Horton cum Studley (park at the Millennium Hall) at 10:00am for a 10 mile walk to Otmoor and its seven towns. Pub stop. Sorry, no dogs allowed. 01865 358905

Saturday 28th. Meet at Hambledon (car park at the rear of the Stag and Huntsman PH) at 09:30am for a 13 mile walk via Henley . Hills and woods. Pub stop. 01844 339969.

Have you Time to Spare to Meet Someone New and Help them?

Our scheme to train and place volunteers is gathering speed, and we already have a terrific team in the field. But here at the South & Vale Carers Centre in Didcot we would like to recruit more: would you be interested in helping out someone caring for a relative in their own home? You would be introduced to a household where the carer and the cared-for person are living, and asked to stay in the home while the carer took some time off: perhaps an hour a month, perhaps an afternoon a week.

This would all start off with an interview for you, and references sought, and then a short training course to equip you for any situation and send you free from anxiety into your future as a volunteer! We will take care in matching volunteers and cared-for people, and you would have constant support by phone when you need it as well as ongoing face-to-face meetings with colleagues and with Chris Elliott, the co-ordinator of the scheme.

Chris is waiting to hear from anyone interested, and has much more information to give. Please email her at the Carers Centre on chris@svcarers.org.uk, or phone her there on 01235 510212. She will be delighted you’ve called!

AT THE PINE LODGE

Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company

Will Smith explodes onto the screen in this action-packed comedy as Hancock, a sarcastic, hard-living and misunderstood superhero who has fallen out of favour with the public.

Do you want to make a difference and give something back to the people in your local community when they need you the most?

You could make a difference by providing emergency life saving skills to a member of your community until an emergency ambulance arrives.

Community First Responders are volunteers that are trained and equipped by the ambulance service to answer certain types of medical emergencies in their local communities while the ambulance is on its way. There is good evidence to suggest that if people are trained to help someone while the ambulance is on the way, more lives are saved, and because the volunteers operate in their neighbourhoods there is every possibility they will arrive before the ambulance and these seconds and minutes can make all the difference.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the UK ’s single biggest killer. On average, 150,000 people suffer a SCA every year. Every minute that passes after someone has suffered SCA the chance of a successful resuscitation reduces by about 10%. The UK national average chance of survival is 4%. In areas where this is an active Community First Responder scheme, this increases to 20%.

When the ambulance service receives a call in an area where there is a volunteer available and if the call suitable for a volunteer to attend, the responder receives a message on a mobile phone alerting them to this job. If the responder wants to attend, they call the Ambulance Service control room and make their way to the incident. This means that help is on the way within seconds of a call being made. Responders can arrive at the incident while the person is still making the 999 call!

Responders are not sent to all the 999 calls in their area, only the life threatening calls where time can make a difference. Also, your safety is our priority, so you won’t be sent to fights or car accidents.

The initial training is done over 2 days, normally a weekend, and gives the responder

the skills to use in real life situations. We hold monthly update and refresher training both at Oxford and Didcot and there is always the liaison officer if you want to talk about something, so you are never alone.

Most responder schemes work in groups with a volunteer coordinator to arrange an “on call” list so all the responders within that scheme do as much time on call as they want to commit to, without affecting their work and family life and their other commitments. There is no compulsion for the volunteer responder to attend any incident and there are no minimum requirements for being on call, although, the more calls you attend, the better your skills become and the more confidence you build up. The personal rewards are great, the knowledge that you have helped save a life are almost indescribable. All we ask is that you are assessed in performing resuscitation and using a defibrillator every six months, although lots of the existing volunteers do lots more.

All you need to join is to be over 18, have a full driving licence and pass an enhanced criminal records’ check and be willing and able to give up some free time to help your community.

We are currently looking for volunteers throughout Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire but especially in Great and Little Milton and the surrounding villages, and, not only to become Responders but also to assist in fund raising, and profile rising throughout the County.

If you would to help in this literally life saving and very rewarding project please e-mail david.england@oxamb.nhs.uk for an information pack or call David England, the local liaison and training officer on 07970 490 519

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

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.

Dr A Harnden and Partners

Morland House Surgery, London Road , Wheatley , OX33 1YJ

Telephone: 01865 872448

The Surgery and Dispensary is open

Monday to Friday 8am – 6.30pm and Saturday mornings

Surgery appointments times:

Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 11.00am and 3.30pm – 5.50pm

Saturday: 8.30am – 11.20am

On Saturday mornings we have a limited number of pre-bookable appointments and emergency ‘walk-ins’ until 11.00am on the day.

Please telephone 01865 872448, call at the reception if you wish to book an appointment, make an enquiry or register with the practice. Alternatively, visit our website www.morland-house.co.uk for further information on appointments and the full range of facilities and services that we offer.

The surgery is situated on London Road (just off the roundabout at the top of Holloway Road ). Car parking available.

The surgery is currently accepting new patients from the local area.

FARMER’S MARKETY

GREAT HASELEY VILLAGE HALL

Sunday, 11th January 10am -12noon

(2nd Sunday of every month)

Many different tables selling; chicken, eggs, fruit, vegetables, meat, cakes, wine, cheese, bread, ready-made meals, flowers, plants etc.

Why not have breakfast as well? Enjoy a bacon butty with a cup of tea or coffee whilst reading a Sunday newspaper!

Deirdre Mann 279334; Will Meadon 0771621619

Advice line 01844 214827 Appointment Line 01844 217186 thamecab@cabnet.org.uk for more information and advice on consumer rights go to www.adviceguide.org.uk or contact your local CAB

EDDIE - OUR INVALUABLE CAR MECHANIC AT WARREN BARNS

He disappeared – but not entirely. He’s just not very good at blowing his own trumpet! Now he’s operating a brilliant MOBILE UNIT, bringing his expertise to your door (as well as having his own workshop). All you have to do is ring him on his mobile (078157 47258) and he can help you

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 February 2009 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th January 2008. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication and to edit those items, which are published.

Councillor Stuart McGill ( Chairman)	01844 279092
Councillor Barry Coward (Vice Chair)	01844 278970
Councillor Mabel Wood	01844 279670
Councillor Alison Shelton	01844 278144
Councillor David Wakeling	01844 278014
Councillor Tim Robinson	01844 278343
Parish Clerk Raymond Fergusson	01844 279150 fergie.milton1@btinternet.com

Friday 30th January	Chalgrove	08.00 – 11.00
Sat 24th January	Wheatley Primary School	08.00 – 12.00

4th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs. Jennifer Thompson
11th	9.30 a.m.	Covenant Service led by Rev Derick Chambers
18th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mr. Bill Parkinson
25th	11.00 a.m.	Covenant Service led by Rev Derick Chambers

Luxury Christmas hamper and crackers	Abbotts Close	278337
6 bottles of wine	Sarah Sadler	Chiltern View
Coffee Machine	Jo Mitchell	c/o Orchard pre-school
Tin Quality Street	William	9 Old Field
Miniature Vacuum	Val Connelly
Baileys chocolate cups	Jeffrey	1 Chiltern View
Bottle Rose	Goodman	8 Chiltern View
Pizza Board and cutter	Taylor	17 Chiltern View
Chocolate Santa	Morgan	10 Chiltern View
Advent Calendar	Victor Storey	The Rectory
Woods of Windsor gift set	C Howlett	279329
Child’s Rock Guitar	Hoban	279975
Spa candles	Preston	Coopers Cottage
Kitchen Notice Board	Sarah Jones	278120
Cheese Dish	Bill Willies	01865 400241
Box Roses chocolates	Oddie	The Manor
Brace of Pheasants	Phil Jones	278120
Hanging wash bag	Jenny Taylor	27 Old Field
Electric can opener	Tina	c/o Quested
Rose candles	Jeffrey	1 Chiltern View
Tin Quality Street	Morgan	10 Chiltern View
Sake set	Preston	Coopers Cottage
Blank cards and envelopes	Mary Davies	Spring and Well Cottage
Fridge Photo Magnet	Pennick	31 Chiltern View
Lavender Gift Box	Joyce	Old Field
Lion King Hand Puppet	Karen Fido	c/o Stacey
2 bottles of wine	Wendy Hart	279305
Cappuccino Set	Alex Lynch	16 Chiltern View

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

SATURDAY 31st January

7.00 for 7.30pm @ The Pine Lodge

AT THE PINE LODGE

Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company

SATURDAY 31^st January