May09Newsletter

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 8th April was attended by all Councillors, the Clerk, the District Councillor and the County Councillor . The following are extracts from the minutes that the Council need to approve at the May meeting.

The Clerk explained that he had been in regular communication with SODC in an attempt to have the new contractor to visit the village before the new bins were delivered. The new system starts from 8^th June and the Council wish to ensure that as far as possible any hot spots are identified and a sensible solution found. The Clerk was asked to find out when the new bins are likely to arrive.

The Chairman read out a letter from Malcolm Bowler, an OCC Senior Traffic Technician, in response to the Council’s concerns about the speed of the traffic in the area of the school. It pointed out that there had been no recorded collisions in the last five years that had resulted in injuries. The County Council are not seeking to implement 20 mph in the vicinity of schools. However the situation will continue to be monitored.

The Clerk reported that he had received a response from Thames Water in respect of the flooding due to excess water escaping from a manhole. Thames Water is investigating the reason why their Sewage Pumping Station was overloaded and a report is expected at the end of April.

The Chairman distributed an analysis of the recent questionnaire that had been distributed to a number of households in the village. The number of completed questionnaires was just under 50%. The two areas of interest that generated most support related to a trip to a theme park or a cinema. The Council RESOLVED to explore the possibility of establishing a Youth Cinema Club that involved a high level of participation by the young people.

The Clerk reported that the Council was now registered for VAT and this meant that VAT would now need to be applied to advertising revenue. The Council would need to assess how it wished to deal with the income it received from the MUGA court hire and lights.

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

The Council noted the response from SODC Planning in respect of their letter in respect of electronic consultation on planning applications. The Council had suggested that their was an opportunity to provide only one set of plans for dual in respect listed building applications and this had been taken up by SODC on a trial basis.

The Chairman informed the Council of the forthcoming demonstration on paperless planning consultations at SODC Crowmarsh.

The Clerk informed the meeting that the lease between the Parish Council and the IPS had now been signed and exchanged.

The Chairman stated that the groundworks had been completed with the exception of the patio and ramp. The timber for the building is expected to be delivered week commencing 11 May and it is expected that completion will take a further six to eight weeks. The Council require to give the landlord of the current Post Office three months notice of termination of the current arrangement and it was RESOLVED that the IPS would advise the Council when the current premises would be vacated. The Council will liaise with the landlord to agree the reinstatement of the premises.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 13th May 2009 at 8.15 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

The Annual Parish meeting will take place in the Pine Lodge on Wednesday 13th May 2009, commencing at 7.00p.m. This meeting is not a Parish Council meeting but a meeting at which the Council and other relevant organisations report on their activities during the past year. It also allows villagers to raise any matters for discussion. The Parish Council cannot be bound by any decision of the meeting but would need to take note of the comments. This is a good opportunity to hear what has been happening in the village from traffic, planning, finance etc. Please come along and enjoy a glass of wine or a soft drink.

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 May are as follows:-Wednesday 6th, Tuesday 19th

The Oxfordshire County Council Waste Recycling Centres at Redbridge, Drayton (near Abingdon) 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.

APPEAL

As the person responsible for maintaining the churchyard I am appealing to the wider village to consider making a financial donation to allow the existing ride-on tractor mower to be replaced. The small group of volunteers work manfully with an aging machine and it is proving to be more challenging each week. If you would like to give me a call on 279150 I would be delighted to hear from you. Victor has referred to the challenge in his notes from the Rectory. Raymond Fergusson Churchwarden

On Sunday 29^th March the following young people were confirmed by the Bishop of Dorchester in Dorchester Abbey:- Sara Louise Fergusson, Katherine Anne Pennick, Emily Kathryn Jeffery and Leah Bethany Jones. Please do remember our young people as they progress along their Christian journey.

Didn’t our Church look resplendent on Easter Morning? It struck all of us as we walked in, and we thank all of those who clearly had taken a lot of time and trouble to make it so. Every where was gleaming, and the flower arrangements were such a delight. We have such wonderful people whose dedication and skill make our Church look so lovely, and all we owe them a debt of gratitude. Thank you indeed. We also need to thank our bell ringers for all that they do for us, as well. Bells are very important. It’s wonderfully encouraging to hear the bells, but their sounds fill the air and can be heard throughout the village, reminding us that God’s love fills all things, and that his message of love, of peace, of forgiveness, of new life are there for us all to hear and live by.

We held our Annual Meeting on the evening of the 29^th March. We chose Raymond to be our Churchwarden for a further year, and we elected our PCC en bloc, however Sally Ann Dennis who had served very loyally on the PCC for many years, asked that due to personal circumstances, she did not wish to stand for a further year. The meeting expressed their grateful thanks for all that she has done over the years as a member of the PCC, and assured her of its prayers.

The various reports were presented and it’s good to hear that we have made heartening progress. We were particularly pleased to hear of the work of our Sunday School, and also to hear that our finances were such that we ended the year in the black.

Behind all of this there are the people who worked tirelessly, diligently and quietly without theatricals, to ensure that the life, worship and witness of St. James’ thrives. We thank them all.

We are all very aware of the band of people who lovingly and carefully, look after our Churchyard, ensuring that it continues to be ‘God’s Acre’. To help them in their work, it behoves us to provide them with the best of tools. In recent weeks we have been concerned about the Churchyard mower. It is now very old, and will need replacing at some point. If anyone does know of, or hears about a good quality used mower which would be suitable, then we should be grateful to know or perhaps you would like to make a financial donation. If you can help in this matter please do speak with either Raymond or me.

This year Ascension Day falls on Thursday 21^st May, and their will be a Service of Holy Communion in St. Mary’s Great Milton at 7.30 p.m.. Every year the children of Little Milton School have an Ascension Tide Service in Church and this will take place on FRIDAY 22^nd May at 9.00 a.m. All are most welcome to join with our children for this Service.

Not so many years ago a visit to the Holy Land took us to the Mount of Moses, and nearby the sixth-century monastery of St. Catherine. The Bible tells us during the exodus the people of Israel camped there in the wilderness. The monastery is where Greek Orthodox monks still live a life of prayer. These days it's easier to visit when it once was, and the monks are overwhelmed by the task of conserving this precious jewel in the history of the human/divine encounter.

The monastery is steeped in history and houses some beautiful ancient manuscripts and icons which go to make the place priceless. People travel half way across the world to see such things, but there is another commodity which the travel industry does often register, the holiness factor.

The prophet Muhammad is said to have visited and given it a letter of protection. People have prayed there for twenty-five centuries and more. The mountain is sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, a reminder to our divided world that the three great faiths have roots in common. It was there Moses encountered the presence of God. The whole goodness of God passed close to him. He had seen the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments. The gate of heaven opened and Moses' face shone, reflecting the radiant light of God and the world changed. Our world is in many ways a wilderness not unlike the wilderness of the ancient people of Israel . Their lives were full of doubt, fear and cynicism. They too had a sense of foreboding. They had turned away from faith in the invisible God to more comforting idols-the golden calf on which they fixed their hopes and dreams. I wonder which more comforting idols we tend to fix our hopes and dreams. Sinai is a reminder to us of the holiness of God; it calls us to pray, to draw close to God, to wait for the whole goodness of God to draw near to us, to invade and radiate our soul. The mountain and the monastery are not a museum of a dying faith, but a witness through continuous prayer to the invisible God. Sinai can awaken in us the vision of the holiness of God in our contemporary world. In our busy and dizzy world we need to regain our poise, to draw close to God, to wait for the whole goodness to draw near to us, to invade and radiate our soul. We need to be still, and to know that God is.

I can only speak for myself, but what I have discovered over the years, that two things in particular help me. They speak to me and they speak to me of mystery. The two things of mystery are places and people, and each of their own way; they disclose the mystery of God, the holiness of God.

To restore our vision of holiness, I would suggest we go to a place which is for you holy, a special place, where God has always for you gathered up his presence in, as it were, a focus. Be still there, and allow God to draw near to you, allow him to invade and radiate your soul. Where would your place be I wonder? or me, it is when I go up to church in the early mornings, and sit quietly on the benches of the choir stalls. One morning recently it was cloudy and sombre outside, dark in here. But then all of a sudden the sun broke through the east window, transforming the entire holy space. As I sat there, trying to contrast the darkness we see and hear all around us, and the piercing of the light of Christ. I thought of that most testing facet of faith the belief that we all live under the judgment of God. I thought how sometimes I have feared it, but mostly, in the light of Christ, I have been thankful for its capacity to bring me back from what I regret. I thought of how God's is a judgment where every part of our story is known, where we can trust him as our judge, where in him, mercy and judgment are met together in love, and above all where penitence can bring forgiveness and the chance to bring about a change in us for the better. So, find a place which for you is holy, and let it speak to you. Place then, and then comes people. Might I suggest that we spend some time with a friend, who for you is holy, has a heart which pulses with love and prayer. A person who has the values of the cross in his heart and in his mind. They will mysteriously reveal to you the holiness of God, making him real and live for you. .Holy places, holy people are never far from us, if we have eyes to see them, and unstopped ears to let them speak to us.

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 11th May in the Common Room at Fullers Field.

We've just completed our Spring teaching programme "Guess How Much I Love You", based on the book of the same name, with a guest appearance by Paul Jeffery, telling the Easter story from the viewpoint of the disciple Peter, who learned how very much Jesus and God loved him. See our interpretations of Peter's story at the back of the church.

We look forward to seeing you - whether you've been before or not - at one of our meetings in May or June, to join us on our exploration of God's love in our lives.

Sunday May 3rd: 11.00 - 12.00 Holly Cottage host us again as we learn about baptism
Sunday May 17th: 11.00 - 12.00 In Church as we learn about communion and confirmation.

And very special congratulations to Sunday School graduates Leah Jones, Katie Pennick and Emily Jeffery, who together with Sara Fergusson, were confirmed by the Bishop of Dorchester on 29th March.

Christine Jeffery (278424)

This years Fete will be held as usual in the beautiful grounds of the Manor. Plans are moving rapidly ahead and it promises to be a fantastic day! For those that attended last year I am sure you will be back as it is such a magical day with a truly traditional theme and for those that have yet to attend come along you will love it. Once again Raymond Blanc will kindly be opening the Fete. Dave our lovely postman will be joining us with Watlington Concert Band. Benson Veteran Cycle Club and vintage cars will attend adding to the atmosphere. Little Milton School will be entertaining us with their dancing and delicious teas will be provided as well as plenty for the children to do and see.

Any help is most gratefully received, so if you can pledge support by way of donations or assisting the stall on the day here is a list of the stallholders who will be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Sarah Jones 278120 or Raymond Fergusson 279150 or the stallholders directly:

The scene is set and global warming permitting it should be an excellent day for the village to enjoy. Please put the date in your diary.

Sarah Jones & Raymond Fergusson

Work has commenced on the construction of our new outdoor environmental teaching area. The summer house is due to be installed shortly, and ground works have taken place over the Easter holidays. The raised beds are now in situ, and ready to be planted up by the children, and shrubs, new trees and a hedge will follow soon! The whole area will look much more attractive, and means that we are making use of every inch of the grounds around the school. Thanks again to everyone who supported the recent Auction of Promises, which has enabled this project to go ahead.

Ascension Day will soon be upon us – we would be delighted if you could join us in Church on Friday 22nd May for our annual service, which will be followed by a walk and picnic.

We celebrated Easter at The Orchard with an end of term concert of songs and rhymes to an appreciative audience of mums, dads and grandparents. They enjoyed a coffee (and yummy cake) whilst we took turns at the Easter egg tombola – everyone was a winner it seemed! Then we paraded in our Easter hats – homemade and decorated by us and our mums and dads. This gave the competition judge a very hard task to choose one winner from the many fabulous entrants. Thank you so much to Councillor Mabel Wood for taking on the judging task and choosing Poppy’s hat as the best in show. After finding that the Easter bunny had visited the Orchard garden, we went home for the Easter holidays clutching, cards, cakes and Easter baskets.

Now we are beginning the summer term with plans for more fun. Firstly some time out for our mums (and any other lady in search of some “me time”) with a Treatment and Treats Evening on Thursday 30^th April at The Pine Lodge. Contact Lesley 278244 for more details. Come and join us and experience a mini-facial, gorgeous goodies or simply time out with your girl friends!

Then it’s time for us all to burn up some energy at the annual Sports Day on Saturday 15th May at 11am. There will be fun races for all, family lunch and medals galore! Even if you’re not an “Orchard family”, you’ll be very welcome to join in all the fun!

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

SHOP & POST OFFICE PROJECT-UPDATE

SOS

Shirley has told me that she is hanging up her Post Office hat on 30^th June. If by then no one has come forward to help, your Post Office will become a part time

office. This would be a great shame since we would most certainly expect an increase in footfall in the new premises. SO if you have been thinking about offering

to help by being trained please contact me ASAP

Will those of you who were kind enough to offer your time or expertise to help the new shop, please call into see me or telephone me on 279001 in the next two

weeks. This is needed to allow us to compile a staffing schedule. I am sure that we can never have too much help so anyone new to the village or those who did

not express an interest before but would like to be involved………WE NEED YOU NOW

Annie Rogers

Next Meeting: At our May meeting we will discuss the National WI Resolution for improved research into declining bee numbers. Also, we will enjoy a Painting for Pleasure session with Joy Hawes. Visitors are very welcome to join us at 7:45 pm on Thursday 14^th May at the Pine Lodge, Little Milton.

On 23rd April we will be at Watlington to join other WI’s for a Group Meeting where the evening has a WW2 Land Army theme. We are lucky to have a talk by a former Land Army girl about what it was really like! Members can also go to see the Oxford Operatic Society’s performance of 42nd Street , a Midsummer Music Evening and a special celebration of Oxfordshire WI ’s 90th anniversary at Christ Church Cathedral. The new Denman College programme has just been published, with many exciting courses on offer to members.

At our April meeting Laurelle Rond introduced us to Sound Therapy which aims to help you be tuned up in your body, improving energy levels. We were intrigued by various vocal exercises that related to different parts of the body and were reminded of the power of resonance through examples such as the deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie. Laurelle used an amazing range of instruments to produce sound – from Tibetan Singing Bowls to singing while playing her harp. For more information see:

All the members of Little Milton WI would like to thank Lyndell Dixon for her many years’ service on the WI committee and as Press Secretary. All her valuable contributions over the years have been greatly appreciated. Many thanks Lyndell.

The allotment area is now looking very busy with all of the plots now being worked on. The well that is situated on the site has now been fully excavated down to the base slabs and is about seven feet deep. A number of finds were unearthed during the excavation including pottery, ironwork, fossils and two coins. One of the coins had been found at the base and is assumed to be the dating coin. The ha'penny is dated 1775, around the time of the American War of Independence and when George III was on the thrown. The well has been renovated and a hand pump will be put close by so that water can be drawn from it.

I recently attended the kick off meeting to this years BBOWT Water Vole survey. Two years ago, some were released on to the river Thame by Cuddeston Mill. It is hoped that one or two may have survived, although it is doubtful due to the population of mink seen regularly on the river. I will report back on the findings later in the year. If anybody wants to do a quick rabbit count this month on the reserve and let me know the results, we can then do another later in the year to see how much the rabbit population increases.

This month’s work party is scheduled for Sunday 3rd May from 10.30am where grass cutting and nettle control will dominate activities now. Anyone is welcome, even for half an hour. The date for the June work-party is provisionally the 7th

An epic and romantic action adventure, set at the brink of World War II. An English aristocrat travels to

Australia

where she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn local to save the land she inherited. With his new film, Luhrmann is painting on a vast canvas, creating a cinematic experience that brings together romance, drama, adventure and spectacle.

SATURDAY 16^th MAY

7.00 for 7.30pm @ The Pine Lodge

One Swallow does not make a summer, nor does the sound of a Cuckoo! I have been reliably informed that a swallow was sighted here earlier in the month and I am reliably informed that the Cuckoo has been heard. This of course usually does herald the coming of summer, leading ones thoughts to better weather and all that goes with it. Hopefully it will be a better summer than we have encountered of late. Even after the rather long winter and a wet year, we were starting to get worried that, although the wet areas of land are still wet, generally things were beginning to get a little too dry until it started to rain around the middle of the month. Having said that all the nice days we have had do seem better than usual.

I mentioned last month that it seems the Government were at last taking notice of our comments on food labelling seriously. We are now noting that the Supermarkets are claiming their support for local and UK produce. This I think is purely due to the fact that it is a current fashion although probably driven by the credit crunch. As part of this push Hovis have decided to try and source all their flour from the UK as soon as they can. This is great news to which we have responded by planting the variety of their choice, this is a Canadian Hard Wheat which we have planted on a small area of land, it will be interesting to see how it grows. I think I am correct in saying that most bread has to have a proportion of Canadian wheat to give it the quality we have come to expect.

The great bonus of this wheat is that it is a Spring Wheat (planted in the spring), and if it is profitable it will have great benefits all round. It is said that the continuous autumn planting practice of modern farming is what is having adverse affects on the farmland bird population, I tend to agree as there is no land, or very little, that is left bare over winter. As part of our countryside stewardship scheme we have about 5 hectares (for Anglophiles just over 10 acres), where we leave the stubbles untouched after harvest, until spring. This allows foraging area for birds throughout the winter. Then in the spring it is all cultivated and half planted, the balance being left for the ground nesting birds. It is in this half that we have planted this Canadian wheat. If anyone is interested in seeing its progress we have planted it on the triangular field on the corner of Sworford Lane and our road Windmill Hill. It can be seen over the hedge off Sworford Lane towards Great Milton village, or from the footpath that runs to the south of that field.

I am not a great one for coach travel but it is a great way of observing how other farmers and their crops are doing. Recently I took a coach trip west along the M4. I can recollect taking a similar trip at the same time last year, and commenting then how poor I thought the crops were looking, I believe my prognosis then was for a disappointing harvest. This shows how wrong you can be as we had the best Harvest for many years, although the quality was not as good as it should have been due to the wet weather delaying harvesting. Well this year the crops, apart from areas where they have obviously suffered from the wet, and a difficult planting season, look very well indeed but I will not make any forecast for harvest this year, for obvious reasons. Talking of growing crops, has anyone noticed how fast the rape grows at this time of year, while it is rushing up to flower.

Living as we do at the moment in a mobile home parked at the side of a field, we are experiencing wonderful views of wild life. Most days we have a Muntjak wandering past our window, during March we could observe the March hares doing their boxing, plus all the cock pheasants fighting close by, now all obscured by the growing Crops. We also have our bird table closer than normal and apart from the usual garden birds; we have the beautifully coloured gold finches out side our dining room window that joins us for Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.

Concert by the Great Milton Singers

Saturday May 9th at 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church

Don’t forget that the next concert given by the Great Milton Singers will be a performance of “The Creation” by Haydn. We will be joined by members of Cumnor Choral Society, with whom we sang the work in March. So we’ll have a bigger and stronger choir than usual. And a glorious orchestra!

Anyone who was at the previous concert will testify to the quality of the three soloists and the thrilling sound produced by the choir! When we complement this with our own splendid musicians, you’ll all be in for a breathtaking and exhilarating treat.

“The Creation” is an optimistic and uplifting work, perfect for the beginning of summer, so we hope that many of you will join us for this lovely musical event.

Tickets from Great Milton Post Office (£7.00; concessions £6.00),

or at the door (£7.50).

Proceeds to St Mary’s Church.

(Catch excerpts from ‘The Creation’ in advance on BBC One’s “All the small things” on Tuesdays at 9pm)

OTHER LOCAL VILLAGE EVENTS

GARDENERS@ QUESTION TIME in St Mary’s Church Chalgrove on Saturday 6^th June from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. Cost £5 includes light refreshments. Tickets in advance from 01865 400402 or cb@charlesbaker.org or on the door on the night.

OLD TYME MUSIC HALL in St Mary’s Church on Sunday 17^th May at 7.30 p.m. Tickets £7.50 to included wine and canapés. Tickets available from St Mary’s Church stall at the May Day Festival, on the door or phone Chris on 01865 891357 or Jeanette on 01865 890607

Saturday 2nd. Walk. Meet at Hambledon (Mill End Car Park) at 10:00am for a 10 mile walk along the river to Temple lock by way of the Thames Path, returning via Medmenham. Picnic lunch. Sorry, no dogs allowed. 01865 358905.

Saturday 9th. Walk. Meet at Wallingford Market Place at 09:30am for a 12 mile linear walk to Goring via the Ridgeway and Woodcote. Optional tea stop at the finish. Return by Heyfordian bus # 134. Pub stop. 01865 874300.

Sunday 10th. Walk. Meet at the Cherry Tree PH, Kingston Blount at 10:00am for a 6 mile circular walk. Some climbs and descents. 07767 647714.

Thursday 14th. Walk. Meet at the Clifden Arms PH at Worminghall at 10:00am for a 10 mile circular walk to Bernwood Forest and Waterperry Common. Picnic lunch. 01844 339352.

Sunday 31st. Special Ramblers ‘Get Walking Day’ event. Leisurely 3½ mile walk from Thame Upper High Street car park opposite Christchurch starting at 10:00am. To Moreton and Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve, followed by tea, biscuits and cake in Christchurch Hall. Dogs on leads please. 01844 215624.

A 20/20 Cricket Match has been organised for Thursday 16th July, starting at 6.30 pm, at Great Milton Rec. Ideally we could do with eleven players! - please ring me if you would like to be in the team.

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.

Things are really hotting up in the gardens now! Everything is growing fast with the warmth and the little rain that we have had. Your vegetable plots should be well under way now. It is safe to plant most seeds into the garden, but perhaps leave things like courgettes, cucumbers, peppers, runner beans and tomatoes to plant out until the end of the month. make successional sowings of things like carrots, spinach, radish, spring onions and lettuces to keep a continual flow of fresh veg and salads. All annual flower seeds should be in by now, to give a good show for the summer and to pick for showing at the horticultural show. Annual bedding plants can be planted out toward the end of the month, or when the last of the frosts are over. Keep staking herbaceous perennials, with hazel, birch or canes, to stop them flopping. Keep weeding in the flower beds, and hoe the vegetable garden. Dead head daffodils, and give a foliar feed to promote growth for next year. Check for aphid , and slug damage and take precautions. Feed roses and check for rust and black spot, picking off affected leaves and keeping the ground under the plants free of leaves, burn or dispose of them, do not compost.

Enjoy your garden, sit outside with a cup of coffee or a drink and listen to the birds sing, and survey all that is yours, and whilst doing so think about what you can enter into the show on August 29^th!

TO LET

4 ROOMED COTTAGE IN GREAT MILTON AVAILABLE TO RENT FROM AUGUST 1^ST AS AN OFFICE OR WORK SPACE.

CONTACT GRAHAM ORRISS 01844 279231 Email grahamorriss@talktalk.net

Happy’s Circus is coming to Great Milton Recreation Ground on Saturday 23rd May 2009. The Circus will be from 2 to 4 pm, with doors to the Big Top open from 1.30 pm.

It includes Clowns, Acrobatics, Magic, and more. Tickets are on sale now at £6 per person.

The Friends of Great Milton School will also be holding the school Spring Fete that day, from 11.30 to 1.30 on the Recreation Ground.

All proceeds go to The Friends of Great Milton School and will be used to benefit the children of the school.

Please complete the ticket slip below and return it, with your cheque made out to The Friends of Great Milton School, Great Milton School, The Green, Great Milton, Oxon OX44 7NT

www.great-milton.oxon.sch.uk and follow the links to the Friends of Great Milton School and Happy’s Circus.

_______________________________________________________________________ (name)

I enclose payment of ___________________ (amount, cheques payable to The Friends of Great Milton School )

Address______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

CHAMPAGNE & STRAWBERRIES

AT HASELEY COURT

LITTLE HASELEY

ON 4 JULY 2009

A unique opportunity to view these Historic Gardens

By kind invitation of Mr & Mrs Desmond Heyward

From 5.30 pm

Tickets £5.00 at the Gate, Children Free

In aid of St Peter’s Church

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.

JOHN HOWELL: Member of Parliament

John Howell holds regular surgeries around his constituency. You do not have to wait for a surgery to come to your area before booking an appointment. If you would like to book a fifteen minute appointment please ring the 01491 614393. The surgery in May will be held in

FARMER’S MARKET

GREAT HASELEY VILLAGE HALL

Sunday, 10th May 10am -1.00 p.m.

(2nd Sunday of every month)

Many different tables selling; eggs, fruit, vegetables, meat, cakes, wine, cheese, bread, flowers, plants etc. Easter raffle ! Easter bonnet competition

Why not have a bacon butty with a cup of tea or coffee whilst reading a Sunday newspaper!

Deirdre Mann 279334; Will Meadon 0771621619

Cornerstone is South Oxfordshire District Council’s new multi-millionpound arts and entertainment venue. Cornerstone comprises a seatedauditorium for drama, music, dance, comedy and children’s shows plus exhibition and workshop space, rooms for hire and a café, bar and restaurant.

The outstanding new programme of shows at Cornerstone from May to August 2009 is filled with a variety of superb entertainment. Highlights include warm up comedy gigs from national favourites Michael McIntyre and Alistair McGowan, music from the celebrated Fairport Acoustic Convention, The Peatbog Faeries and Orkestra del Sol, renowned theatre performances by Steven Berkoff, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (Tessof the D-Urbervilles) and the Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company (Dancing in my Dreams), as well as fabulous children’s entertainment, dance performances, exhibitions and much much more!

Cornerstone is a fantastic place to see a show, but we’re also a great venue to participate in arts activities. Our beautiful multi-purpose rooms are perfect for all ages to use for everything from ballet to creative writing to youth theatre. We’re here to support creativity and offer a variety of activities to inspire children and adults. We love to help people of all ages have fun and learn new skills. We offer a wide range of workshops and classes for adults, children and families.

Classes and workshops scheduled this season include: Acting, Art group, Ballet, Belly dancing, Book group, Ceramics, Contemporary dance, Creative writing, Dance aerobics, Drumming, Embroidery, Folk dancing, Flamenco, Games club, Jazz dance, Handmade paper, Indigo, Knitting, Lads’ dance, Life drawing, Mime and mask, Mixed media, Mosaics, Musical theatre, Parent and baby ballet, Pilates, Precious metal clay, Storytelling, Street jazz, Tap, Textiles, Watercolours, Weaving, Write your life story, Yoga and Youth theatre.

Citizens Advice report a three fold increase in people seeking advice on employment issues

Figures released by Thame & District Citizens Advice bureau, reveal a three fold increase in the number of local people seeking help with redundancies and job seekers allowance.

Undoubtedly a number of local companies are struggling financially and rarely a day goes by without another company announcing job cuts. Redundancy is normally the last resort and most employers will consider short term working as a preferred option. If you are affected it’s imperative to know your rights and be able to access free advice.

It’s particularly important to recognise that you can only be made redundant if your job disappears or your employer reduces its workforce. When an employer chooses who to make redundant, they should not discriminate against anyone because of their age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

The CAB has also noted a doubling of enquiries from home owners with financial problems. If you are struggling to pay bills as a result of redundancy it’s vitally important to speak to your lenders straight away.

For free confidential advice on redundancy rights and entitlements click on www.adviceguide.org.uk or telephone Thame Citizens Advise Bureau: 01844 217186.

Thame Citizens Advice is looking to appoint a new chair of trustees due to the illness of the current incumbent. To find out more, call Mary Stiles on 01844 213851.

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 CA

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.

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 June 2009 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th May 2009. 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 22nd May	Chalgrove	08.00 – 11.00
Sat 23rd May	Wheatley Primary School	08.00 – 12.00

3rd	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs. Jennifer Thompson
10th	9.30 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mr. Geoff Baker
17th	11.00 a.m.	Circuit Worship Group
24th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs. Betty Blake
31st	11.00 a.m.	Sacrament of Holy Communion led by Revd. Roger Lee

Stall	Contact	Items Required
Bottle Tombola	Jo & Chris Preston 279837	Bottles ranging from ketchup to champagne!
Plants	Joyce Inge 279538	Plants- indoor or outdoor.
Bric-a-Brac	Mary Davies 279471	Good quality items.
Tombola	Sarah Wakeling 278014	Unwanted presents, toiletries, etc.
Cakes	Jane Willis 279468	Cakes, pickles, jam…anything edible!
Home Entertainment	Jeremy Quested 278922	CD’s, DVD’s, Computer Games.
Books	Leslie McCaig 278244	Good quality books.
Children’s Tombola	Melissa Blake 279692	New or good quality toys.
Raffle	Sarah Jones 278120	Any prizes towards main raffle or golf raffle.
Refreshments	Theresa Quested 278922	Cakes and savoury bakes.

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

Sun	3rd	9.30 a.m. 11.00 a.m	Holy Communion CW – St James’ Sunday School meeting at Holly Cottage
Mon	4th	10.30 a.m.	Fitness/Yoga – Pine Lodge
Wed	6th	9.45 a.m. 8.15 p.m.	Babies and Toddlers Music Group Parish Council: Pine Lodge
Thurs	7th	10.15 a.m.	Great Haseley Baby and Toddler Group in Gt. Haseley Village Hall
Sun	10th	11.00a.m.	Family Service – St James’
Mon	11th	10.30 a.m.	Fitness/Yoga – Pine Lodge
Tues	12th	7.30 p.m.	Bell Ringing Practice – St James’
Wed	13th	9.45 a.m. 7.00 p.m. 8.15 p.m.	Babies and Toddlers Music Group Annual Parish Meeting in Pine Lodge Parish Council Meeting: Pine Lodge
Thurs	14th	10.15 a.m. 2.35 -3.00 pm. 3.05– 3.15 pm 7.45 p.m.	Great Haseley Baby and Toddler Group in Gt. Haseley Village Hall Mobile Library – Village Hall Mobile Library – Old Field WI Meeting in the Pine Lodge
Sat	16th	From 7.00 p.m.	Quiz Night in Pine Lodge
Sun	17th	8.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m.	Holy Communion – St James’ Sunday School in St James’
Mon	18th	10.30 a.m.	Fitness/Yoga – Pine Lodge
Tues	19th	7.30 p.m.	Bell Ringing Practice – St James’
Wed	20th	9.45 a.m.	Babies and Toddlers Music Group
Thurs	21st	10.15 a.m. 8.00 p.m	Great Haseley Baby and Toddler Group in Gt. Haseley Village Hall Cinema Club – ‘ Australia ’
Sun	24th	10.00 a.m.	Benefice Communion – St Mary’s
Mon	25th	10.30 a.m.	Fitness/Yoga – Pine Lodge
Tues	26th	7.30 p.m.	Bell Ringing Practice – St James’
Wed	27th	9.45 a.m.	Babies and Toddlers Music Group
Thurs	28th	10.15 a.m. 2.35 -3.00 pm. 3.05– 3.15 pm	Great Haseley Baby and Toddler Group in Gt. Haseley Village Hall Mobile Library – Village Hall Mobile Library – Old Field
Sun	31st	10.00 a.m.	Benefice Communion CW – St James’

LITTLE MILTON

GREAT HASELEY

Sarah Jones & Raymond Fergusson

SATURDAY 16th MAY

7.00 for 7.30pm @ The Pine Lodge

JOHN HOWELL: Member of Parliament

John Howell holds regular surgeries around his constituency. You do not have to wait for a surgery to come to your area before booking an appointment. If you would like to book a fifteen minute appointment please ring the 01491 614393. The surgery in May will be held in

SATURDAY 16^th MAY