Jun10Newsletter

Cllr. Stuart McGill presented the Chairman’s Report that embraced the key activities and achievements of the Council during the past year. The Annual Report will be distributed to all village households.

The Clerk presented the key aspects of the Council finances for the year ended 31st March 2010 and a summary of the financial statement will be included in the Annual Report. A copy of the Council’s finances was provided to all in attendance. There were no questions from the floor.

Mr John Nowell Smith reported that the main business of SODC during the past year had been the Joint Responsibilities Agreement with the Vale of White Horse. It is anticipated that the benefits will be reflected in operational efficiencies. He also commented upon the new waste collection system and changes to the planning system in respect of referral of applications to the planning committee. The Chairman thanked Mr John Nowell-Smith for his support of the Council.

Mr David Turner reported to the meeting his work on the Oxfordshire County Council. It covered a number of issues including the County Council budget, highway and pavement maintenance, education, children’s centre at Great Milton, new public transport guide, County Council review of speed limits, older people’s homes, youth service, housing and Neighbourhood Action Groups.

Mrs Teresa Quested, Chairman of the Village Hall, gave a report on a number of aspects of the Village Hall including hall bookings, finance and she thanked all the committee members who have contributed to another successful year as well as those villagers who have supported events during the year.

The Chairman expressed the Council’s thanks for the work done by the Village Hall Committee and a special thank you to Teresa for taking on the Chairmanship as a result the resignation of David Ponting.

Cllr. Alison Shelton reported that the Little Milton Shop had had a successful trading period since its opening in September 2009. She thanked the village for their support as well as the volunteers who have provided essential support by giving up their time. The coffee shop had proved to be very successful and had provided a hub for the village as well as passing motorists. The Post Office has thrived in its new surroundings. She stated that she was looking forward to the car park being re-surfaced as it would enhance the site and eliminate a lot of dust! All in all it had been a very encouraging start for Little Milton shop and Post Office in its new location.

A report from the Governing Body of Little Milton School was read out by Cllr David Wakeling. The report highlighted how the governing body is structured with a number of sub-committees and had welcomed five new members. The report also covered the intake of children into the school and that from September 2010 the school was obliged to offer full time places to all children starting school that year when previously it had been the policy to delay this until the term of the children’s fifth birthday. The heavy snow in January caused the school to be closed for three days although the build up of ice in Gold Street resulted in the school being closed for an extra day. The governors appreciated the support of staff and parents in clearing the ice as well as the Parish Council for addressing the issue with the County Council Highways. The school welcomed the new gazebo that was opened by Bishop Colin and Mr John Howell MP after the Harvest Thanksgiving service

A report from the Chair of Orchard Pre School was read out by Cllr Alison Shelton. The report covered a number of issues including EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), the impact of four year olds leaving for school at the beginning of the school year, the Management Committee and major fundraising that has allowed the purchase of a new computer and the revamping of the garden with a new playhouse. The report also covered the OCC funding arrangements as well as grants that the Orchard has benefitted from. The report concluded with an appreciation of the hard working staff and the retirement of Linda Lovegrove in July.

Mr Raymond Fergusson gave a brief report on St James’ Church and stated attendance numbers were constant and it was encouraging to see the strong school links. He also referred the strong community links through the fete as well as the number of church members involved in other village organisations and therefore playing a full role within the village. He expressed the gratitude of the Church for all those who volunteer to clean the church, provide the flowers, maintain the churchyard that all makes the church such a welcoming place. He stated that the Church was an important part of the community as it provided help and support for everyone for a number of personal occasions.

Mr Charles Peers raised the issue of gravel extraction and whether the Parish Council would find it helpful if someone from PAGE (Parishes Against Gravel Extraction) attended a Council meeting to update the Council and perhaps seek their support. The Chairman welcomed the offer and stated that the Council would consider the point at the Council meeting.

Mr Charles Peers asked the Parish Council to consider installing a kissing gate into field off the Wheatley Road that would allow the use of a permissive footpath to Great Milton.

Cllr. Tim Robinson proposed Cllr. Stuart McGill as Chairman and this was seconded by Cllr. Mabel Wood. There were no other nominations for chairperson. Cllr. Stuart McGill was elected as chairman until the 2011 Annual Meeting.

Cllr. David Wakeling proposed Cllr. Barry Coward as vice-chairman and this was seconded by Cllr. Alison Shelton. Cllr. Barry Coward was elected as vice chairman until the 2011 Annual Meeting.

The Clerk reported that the grass cutting was now being carried out by Berinsfield Community Business and that they had been asked to apply a weed and feed application.

The Clerk reported that the Council had received a request from the Recreation Ground Committee to top up the bark in the play-area. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk would liaise with the recreation ground committee to purchase an appropriate quantity of material for the play-area.

The Clerk reported that he had made enquiries with Digley Associates in respect of the Annual inspection of the play-area and the MUGA to ensure that the Annual Inspectors had been certificated by the RPII (Register of Play Inspectors International) and that he had received confirmation that any inspector would be suitably accredited. The Council RESOLVED to accept the fixed price from Digley Associates. This would result in an annual saving of around £35 in the first year and £55 by the end of the third year.

The Clerk reported that the second springer in the play-area had been removed for repair by Broadleaf.

The Chairman referred to Cllr. Barry Coward’s report that had been circulated prior to the meeting.

The Council RESOLVED to accept the cost of £20,500 from SpadeOak for the surface and drains and deferred a final decision on any work for the skip enclosure, 5 bar gate & fence and the re-marking of the disabled bays as there was uncertainty over a number of factors and the work was not necessarily dependant upon SpadeOak. The Council also RESOLVED to obtain a further quote for the re-building of the meter box.

The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should deal with SODC to obtain the necessary approval to discharge the planning condition attached to the original approval for the village hall.

The Council reviewed the possible dates when the work could be completed and subject to planning consent it was likely to be when the Orchard is closed in the summer and the availability of SpadeOak to complete the work.

The Clerk reminded the Council that it had a borrowing approval up to £15,000. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should confirm with the Public Loans Board the implications of an early repayment of any money borrowed and also what flexibility there was around drawing down the loan. The Council RESOLVED that the level of reserves after the project has been completed should be at least one times precept.

The Chairman read out a letter from Jackie Hutchinson in response to the Council’s letter of 16^th April in respect of a financial contribution to the governor’s term newsletter. The Council fully appreciated the importance of the school to Little Milton and have a strong desire to encourage and support the Head and governors but it did not believe that giving a financial contribution to this project made a significant difference to the school. The Council had a major concern over the long term viability of the newsletter and were keen to explore the use of the village newsletter and the school’s weekly newsletter to meet the objectives of the governors.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 9th June 2010 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

including minutes, financial information and responses to planning consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk.

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 .

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

It is with profound and deepest regret that we record the very sudden and unexpected death of Fran on the 27^th April, at the age of 49. Fran was a remarkable person, and all who came to meet her knew that they were speaking with a very kind and generous person. Her ways were sincere and gentle ways. Her friendship with us all was filled with compassion and understanding, and was centred on peace and calmness and serenity, even if things around us seemed uncertain and worrying. Sunshine would come to every room she entered. Fran took us as we were, but never leaving us where we were, and when we left her company, we all felt better for being with her. Because of all that, the influence of Fran stretched far and wide. For me the most moving part of Fran’s funeral, were the contributions given by Steve, Hannah and Amy, and our hearts and our prayers go out to them at this time. Fran was a good lady and we loved her.

We congratulate Edward Stephen Wildblood and Stacey Ann Southward who were married in St. James’, on the 1st May. We all wish them every happiness in the big adventure of married life.

I read the other day, that the first week in June is designated “Volunteers’ Week”. When I read that I thought of three people. Heather bakes cakes, Adrian answers the phone for the Samaritans, and David keeps an eye on his elderly neighbour. They are just three people out of the 22 million volunteers in Great Britain whose contribution will be acknowledged and celebrated as Volunteers’ Week proceeds.

In many ways, to do something for nothings, goes rather against the spirit of our age, where materialism, market forces, monetarism and consumerism seem to dominate. But ask anyone who’s done a spot of volunteering why they do it, and they talk about how much they get out of it themselves as well as what they are able to give. A huge amount of community and social care is provided by volunteers, and they report a real sense of satisfaction, companionship and personal value from the voluntary work that they do.

Voluntary work is also a fantastic way to learn a new skill or see another part of the world, come to understand and appreciate a different culture other than our own. Insights come to those who stoop to serve. There is many a gap year student giving their time in this way and if they allow it to be so, it will be a true life-enriching experience.

Service is a fundamental expression of our faith. We come to our lord, and fed by him, and then we are sent by him, to work and think and speak for him. Worship and work, go together, a constant rhythm between the two. Without one you can’t do the other properly.

We, as Christians, are called in one way or another, to feed the hungry, care for the distressed, shelter the vulnerable. Nothing is too lowly for us to do, nothing too humble, we are simply doing what we are called to do. If we have a God in Christ who stoops, so must we. However we choose to serve, we are fulfilling God’s plan for ourselves and our community, and expressing a true humanity.

And so each table wiped, each hug given, each door opened becomes something precious, a holy deed. The every –day and mundane is turned into an expression of our deepest values, revealing the holiness of God in our all so serious a world.

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Lord you call us to be your presence amongst our fellows, sharing your love in a needy world. We ask your blessing on all volunteers, and pray for the opportunity to say, “Here I am, Lord. Send me”. Amen.

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

The summer is just around the corner and so is one of Little Milton’s most traditional events: our Church Fete. Sarah and Simon Oddie are once again generously letting us use the beautiful grounds of their home: The Manor, Gold Street .

This annual event is one that makes every visitor appreciate the amazing area and community we live in.

This year it will be an opportunity to see a spectacle that has sadly been missing from our village for too many months, Dave our ex postman, who will be bringing along his ‘Watlington Concert Band’. I imagine this will be quite a ‘crowd-puller’, but I sadly cannot promise Dave in his shorts, something I am sure many of us would love to see (I will send a special request).

The afternoon will offer something for all, from our traditional stalls to the children’s entertainer and pony rides. There will be children’s dancing from Little Milton School , amazing refreshments and much, much more. Please put the date in your diaries and come along, we guarantee an extremely pleasurable afternoon.

As we approach the fete all the stall-holders will be looking for your support. Please contact them with your pledges.

The fete is an inclusive day, so just because there is a list of stallholders there is a need for villagers to offer their help and support on the day as well. Please contact Sarah Jones 278120 and she will delighted to hear from you.

$C:\Users\Jeremy Quested\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\XW6XNT8I\MC900331544[1].wmf$ DESPARATELY SEEKING BOTTLES

We would be grateful for any bottles that you could kindly give us for the Bottle Tombola at the Fete on Saturday 19^th June. These could be wine, soft drinks, foodstuffs, cosmetics etc. Please leave at 38 Chiltern View or I will collect if you phone Jeremy Quested on 01844 278922. Many thanks.

Please contact me if you have any plants for my stall as I would be delighted to receive them or simply bring them on the day. I know that Little Milton has a large number of dedicated gardeners.

Last month we managed to treat two sides of the shed before the weather turned against us. Next month’s work party will be at the allotments from 2.30pm on Sunday June 13^th, where we will complete the shed treatment and paint the water pump (weather willing). If there are enough people we will also tackle the nettles and some of the brambles that will begin to overrun certain areas.

On the reserve we should now see more and more insects about with the rapid growth in the grasses. Towards the end of the month the butterfly population should increase rapidly as July approaches. We have many varieties here, some of which are hard to tell apart. You should be able to spot small orange moth like “skippers”, marbled whites, gatekeepers, ringlets, and meadow browns as well as those you would normally see in your garden.

On the allotments the planting frenzy should be over now, so it is hoe-hoe-hoe and in dry spells water-water-water!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this week such a success…those who distributed envelopes, those who collected envelopes, those who listened to ‘the two Catherine’s stories in Nairobi’ and all those of you who gave money to this years appeal. The total for each village together with the grand total will be printed in next month’s Newsletter/Bulletin so watch this space!...The date of the ‘Christian Aid Thank you Party’ will be individually notified to all organizers, distributors and collectors.

PS. Did you see the bunting fluttering from the trees alongside the A329?...a new innovation for 2010!

Future Meetings: Our next meeting will be a Safari Supper on Thursday 10^th June when we will hopefully enjoy a warm summer evening strolling around Little Milton and eating various courses at members’ homes.

In July ‘A Light Entertainment’ will be presented by our speaker, Thelma Sanders. Visitors are very welcome to join us at The Pine Lodge, Little Milton at 7:45 pm on Thursday 8^th July.

At our May meeting we voted unanimously to support the resolution aiming to label foods according to the country of origin of the produce. For example, meat could only be labelled as UK meat if it had been produced and packaged here and not just packaged in the

. In discussion, we felt that it was important to support our farming producers and not to allow false perceptions about country of origin to affect the food we buy and eat.

We were updated about our own residential WI College, Denman in Oxfordshire, by Barbara Gray from our Oxfordshire Federation of Women’s Institutes. With an exciting range of courses, Taster Days and Visitor Days, plus an impressive range of new facilities following a modernisation programme, Denman was now more popular than ever.

If you would like any further information the above or any W.I. aspect, do not hesitate to telephone any of the following: Anne Hawkins 279526; Heather Peers 279627 or Shirley Thomas 278976.

We are happy to announce that the new ‘Children’s Centre Mobile’ is up and running! Catherine Gregg, manager of the new service, and her assistant Cheryl Scott, have been taking the vehicle out and about to visit children’s centres around the county. Children’s centres were invited to ‘bid’ for a regular weekly or fortnightly session in their local area, and these started in April 2010.

Catherine said: “This new service, jointly developed by the Rural Children’s Centre Project and the County Library Service, will help to make young families living in rural areas feel less isolated. As it is such an innovative and unique service we hope that we will be able to assist Oxfordshire’s Children’s Centres in extending their projects and drop-ins, with rhyme and story times, information and ICT, as well as a full library service.

It will be possible for other professionals, such as Health Visitors, to give talks and presentations as well, which will help to meet the needs of the local community. We hope that everyone who comes onto the mobile will be as excited as we were when our little one arrived, and will watch it grow with us!”

Catherine and Cheryl are able to give information and advice to parents and carers, and there are two laptops with internet access. They can also issue library books to both adults and children.

Family Week Picnic on Thursday 3^rd June - Being held at the Garsington Sports and Social Club, Denton Lane, Garsington from 12:30pm – 3:00pm. This is a nationally run event and we will be running lots of fun activities where everyone is welcome. Bring a picnic and refreshments will be available.

If you require a copy of our current programme which runs up until 23 July 2010, please contact Sarah Lowman on 07988 159041. We have lots of fun sessions running around the local community from Stay & Play, Buggy Walks, Bumps to Babies and Baby massage, so come along for a coffee and a chat while the children play.

At last we are having some gorgeous weather, so the freezer cabinet is being stocked up with Ice Lollies, the cooler with cold drinks, and the Meat shelf has included Beef burgers from Calnan’s the Butchers for the first time. We are also stocking fresh cream cakes again, which are firm favourites during the summer, plus cooked ham.

We have been without our till for two weeks, after a motherboard failure, but it is now back in situ and working again. It was an interesting exercise in mental arithmetic, as each of us tried to work out each sale in our head, plus the change-and often, sadly, failed!

I’m afraid I had to go to another wine tasting on behalf of you, dear customer. A tough 200 wines to get through this time, although it was made rather easier by meeting John Duval, the most famous Winemaker in

Australia

. Very modest, considering he was the winemaker who established Penfold’s Grange as one of the best wines in the world, and put

Australia

firmly on the Fine Wine Map.

The result of my recent explorations are 10 new wines, most of which recently won an Experts Choice Award from Wine Experts including Hugh Johnson, and all between £5.29 and £9.99!We are still developing the range, with less popular wines being kicked out and new lines introduced on a regular basis. The Wine Club is a very good method for this, where different wines are compared and the best highlighted- you will find the Wine Tasting favourites listed by the side of the Wine Rack

The Next Wine Club Tasting (including Cheeses!) will be on WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE at 8.00pm at the Shop, featuring Sparkling Wines!!!!

Oxfordshire Advocacy

Wanted! Volunteer Advocates! Help others get their voices heard.

Reg. Charity No. 1131403 Co. Ltd. by Guarantee No. 6845465

Tel: 01865 741200 Email: oadg@oadg.org.uk Website: www.oadg.org.uk

Advocacy at its heart is really very simple. It is making sure people get their wishes and choices heard and taken into account on matters of importance to them.

This can be difficult due to comprehension difficulties, health problems etc. However as a volunteer for Oxfordshire Advocacy, through frequent training and support, you can ensure that their voices are heard!

We run three schemes- OSTAS for people who need help with a short term issue, CAPOLD for those with learning disabilities and ADAPT for people with dementia.

Volunteers attend a training course which leads to a formally recognised qualification with the Open College Network. They also receive expenses. Oxfordshire Advocacy provides a service throughout Oxfordshire therefore there is flexibility over where volunteers are required to travel.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer advocate or want more information, please contact us.

We would love to hear from you!

VOICES OF OXFORD

MOZART’S REQUIEM

Bring & Sing

SATURDAY 5^th JUNE

Oxford Town Hall

700 voices joining together to celebrate the wealth of musical talent in Oxfordshire and raise money for a fantastic cause.

Do you love singing? Voices of Oxford are looking for singers of all abilities and backgrounds to join together in the largest choral event to happen in Oxford , with all proceeds donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

All you need is enthusiasm… and a pencil.

The concert will be conducted by David Lawrence, Guinness World Record Holder for conducting the largest choir in the UK and a regular conductor for Songs of Praise

We also have a fantastic line-up of international soloists which will include James Bowman, Giles Underwood, Bonaventura Bottone and Rebecca Bottone.

Further details available at www.voicesofoxford.com

‘Up in the air’

With a job that has him travelling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

Starring George Clooney & Anna Kendrick

After 18 years of service, Linda Lovegrove is leaving The Orchard at the end of the Summer term in July to take on a more active role supporting her family (with another grandchild on the way!). Linda has been a pivotal member of staff since the early days of The Orchard and her childcare expertise and experience will be hugely missed by all – children, committee and staff. Linda began at The Orchard as an unqualified assistant, dedicated herself to training to qualify in child development and education and then took on the role as Supervisor. Latterly she has worked as a member of the Pre-school Assistant Team and been generous with her time and expertise to make The Orchard such a fabulous pre-school. Linda has always been our gardening expert and has shared her enjoyment of the garden with many children. She has also involved most of her family in The Orchard (Yvonne – former Supervisor, Jim as our valued handyman and Helen who will continue to keep the Lovegrove name in Pre-school).

To mark her departure we plan to celebrate with her at a BBQ party on Friday 9^th July from 7:30p.m. at the Orchard (BYO drinks, food provided!). We’d love you to join us to celebrate in style. Please contact Lesley McCaig for more details and let her know if you’d like to come along! (Lesley McCaig, Penn House, Little Milton, OX44 7PS 01844 278244, lesley.mccaig@btinternet.com) Hope to see you on the 9^th!

The next meeting of the sewing group will be on Monday 28^th June but at the venue has not yet been agreed. Mary Davies will be contacting all those that are involved but if you have not attended before contact Mary on 279471.

I think the concept of living in a mobile home, (which we did for 6 months last year whilst we refurbished our house), must be catching at No 2! I looked out from an upstairs window following a loud shout from “the boss” below to witness a pair of blue tits flying in and out of the air intake of my car which has a grill on the offside front wing. Rapid camera action has secured this fact for posterity and a lump of wood saved them from having to live in a very mobile home.

In spite of the extended cold weather I think now that spring is about on cue, no cuckoo as yet though. Winter sown barley came into ear first week in May, we always used to reckon that winter barley should come into ear “Oxford Show” week, traditionally held in the first week in May, most other growth is about the same. The birds seem to be getting on with their nesting and all that goes with it. A rather sad tale is, as a farmer friend of mine related to me the other day, he was very pleased to see a pair of lapwings nesting in a field about to be cultivated, so he marked the spot so that all operations would go on around this spot. Subsequently 4 lovely chicks were hatched, and then the next day they were gone. Was it the buzzards that are frequently overhead nowadays and protected or some other cause? Whatever, very sad and shows there are two sides to every conservation issue.

For those interested in Great Milton, I previously mentioned that we were thinking of cutting down of the thick hedge alongside the forties, from the vicarage up the hill to the bend opposite the Romeyens court entrance. Well the first plan did not come to fruition but this is just to inform everyone that it is still our intention to drastically reduce this hedgerow, as it is getting to the stage where we are worried about the safety of road users. Please be aware we will make sure there is some sort of vegetative barrier there when the operation is finished. A little history of this thicket is that when we bought Views Farm in 1974 we ground this hedge to the ground so as to fence the field. Since when it has not been managed, cut or trimmed save once by the council.

I noticed in the press recently that it appears that the outgoing government at last understood the part that water power could play in producing energy; this has always been my pet subject. It seems that now they are thinking, if I understood the article I read, of subsidising water power as well as wind. The only reason that wind power is viable is the vast government subsidy it receives, otherwise who would be so daft as to suggest a wind turbine in a hollow like Horspath, right in the middle of the country. Let’s hope the brave new coalition continues this understanding. On the same subject I

could not help noticing in the paper (17^th March) an article stating that the government is about to remove the subsidy for those using bio-fuels. As all fuel now has to contain a certain amount of so called eco-fuel and this will, as stated add about 1.5p to a litre of petrol. I always understood that they were going to issue “carbon certificates (or credits) that could be traded, to anyone using these bio-fuels. This was to have the effect of offsetting the extra cost of the more expensive fuel, instead of subsidising it. Just another way we the public/motorist have been duped.

Those of you that have been reading View from Views for some time now may remember some years ago I reported that DEFRA were remapping the whole country digitally. This was said to be more accurate than the old O.S. system, and as subsidy payments were based on this data it really ought to be accurate. I mentioned at the time that this showed up all sorts of anomalies and irregularities, and as you may imagine, the officials made a complete “Horlicks” of setting the problems straight, and turned out to be a complete nightmare for us farmers to sort out. Well believe it or not, 5 years down the line and these maps are again not good enough for whatever reason, so we have had to go through the whole process of remapping again. We at Views were one of the so called 10% lucky ones, who had their farm inspected, measured, and all areas agreed and finalised on the spot... or so we thought! When we received our maps some 9 months later, low and behold there were even more mistakes than on the previous issues, added to which, according to the ministry, we now have some 30 acres of someone else’s land, and a parcel of land we sold 10 years ago also added to our property. Our bright new government, on which I cannot yet comment, says it wants to save money, I think perhaps I could make a suggestion or two!

On the subject of saving public money, on the radio the other day it stated that the proposed coastal path around the country is going to cost the taxpayer some £50m. Surely with the country’s finances as they are this at least one luxury we cannot justify.

Visit the new Science Oxford Networks website for more information about our activities and initiatives supporting the science & technology community.

Jobs for June, in the vegetable garden. Protect ripening fruit from birds, put matting or straw around strawberry plants, to protect from slugs and to keep the berries clean. Thin gooseberries, to give a larger desert quality fruit. Thin the fruit on peaches and nectarine trees, again to give better fruit. Prune blackcurrants at the same time as picking the fruit, cutting out the oldest fruited wood. Also wall trained plums and cherries can be pruned now, cutting back to 6 leaves and taking out mis-shaped branches.

Continue to sow salad crops, and herbs such as basil and coriander to give a continuous supply. Sow Florence Fennel and oriental vegetables such as Pak Choi, Mustard greens and Chinese cabbage. Early potatoes might be ready to harvest, when the plants have come into flower.

In the flower garden, thin out the annual seedlings sown last month, and keep the weed down in the borders. Dead head flowers as they finish, and cut back plants such as geraniums when the have finished flowering, you might get a second flush of leaves and flowers in the autumn. Divide Bearded Iris once they have finished flowering, remove the old rhizome and replant a healthy looking piece, adding a little bone meal, and making sure that the rhizome is sitting on top of the soil, with roots in the soil, so that it get a good amount of sun, this will give you a good show for next year. Cut back the leaves by about 1 third. Sow spring flowers for next year, Bellis, Wallflowers, and Violas. Prune spring flowering shrubs, Weigela, Deutzia, Philadelphus, when they have finished flowering.

Over the past year, Little Milton’s Community choir has flourished and people have discovered voices they never thought they had. We have also had a wonderful time socially and dressed up to sing to the films “Mamma Mia” and “The Sound of Music”.

The choir has made some fantastic progress over the past few weeks so we have decided to merge with the larger choir at Wheatley. Rachel and Corinne are delightful and have run "Around the Piano" for some time now with great success, offering concerts and fun. They also run the policy of words up on a screen so there is no need to read music.

The choir runs on Monday evenings in school term time at 7.45pm at the United Reform Church in Crown Square in Wheatley OX33 1XY. The cost is £3 per session (drop in, not pre-booked) including a hot drink and biscuit. Corinne's telephone number is 07982 729701 and her email address corinnevams@btinternet.com.

May I take the opportunity of thanking all of you who have supported Little Milton's Community Choir. It has been a privilege to sing, laugh and dance with you all. Keep singing and I look forward to hearing you sing at Wheatley and beyond.

I would be delighted to run occasional Saturday singing workshops at the Pine Lodge in the future. Please let me know if you would be interested.

We would like to thank all our friends and neighbours in the Haseleys and Miltons for your kind thoughts and commiserations, for your cheerful cards, your generous gifts and offerings and for all the help and support you have given and offered.

We are devastated to lose our home and extremely sad to leave the village while the house is restored to its former glory. We hope it won’t be too long before we are able to return.

Saturday 12th Meet at Hambleden (car park behind the Stag and Huntsman PH) at 10:00am for a 10 mile walk to Medmenham for a riverside break before heading north for the Chiltern woods for interesting orchids and butterflies. Bring a picnic. Sorry, no dogs allowed. 01865 358905.

NEW RIDGEWAY CIRCULAR WALK
A new circular walk in the stunning Oxfordshire Chilterns countryside east of Wallingford has just been established in time for some fine spring sunshine.

Starting from the small village of Nuffield , the 4-mile Ewelme Park circular walk (roughly 2-hours) provides glorious views of wildlife-rich countryside that was once a royal Tudor deer park . It travels through a rolling landscape of woodland and arable farmland and includes a quiet stretch of The Ridgeway National Trail.

Developed by the National Trails Team and Oxfordshire County Council’s Countryside Service, together with the help of local landowners, this walk complements others along the length of The Ridgeway.

The county council’s Countryside Service has installed six new signposts along the route to help walkers stay on track and carried out some clearance work to help make the trail easier to navigate.

Jon Beale, Field Officer for Oxfordshire County Council said: “This is a beautiful walk in a glorious area of the county and now that the necessary access and information work has been done we are hoping that people will get out and try it this spring."

Further information
Information about this walk, including a map and route directions, can be downloaded for free from the ‘Planning a trip’ pages of The Ridgeway National Trail’s website at www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway where you’ll find information about many other Ridgeway walks.

Unless otherwise stated, booking is essential for all events.
Please call 01865 407792 to reserve your place. For more information visit www.northmoortrust.co.uk

A fascinating day looking at the uses of plants for food, medicine and folklore.
Adults £75, Friends £60

Join a local bat expert to learn how to use a bat detector and recognise different species in flight. Adults £4.50, Children £1.50

Enjoy family fun day down on the farm and free entry to Project Timescape. No need to book.

Enjoy a walk around the reserve to learn more about the wildlife living in the heart of Didcot. Adults £4.50

Join professional landscape photographer David Hall for an enjoyable day to improve your landscape photography. Adults £45, Friends £36

Lots of fun practicing bush cooking techniques from around the world! Adults £75, Friends £60

Join a local bat expert to learn how to use a bat detector and recognise different species in flight. Adults £4.50, Children £1.50

On the 22nd April our speaker was a charming gentleman with the equally charming name of Dusty Roades! He is very knowledgeable about Country Customs going back hundreds of years. Apart from speaking to clubs like ours he has done quite a lot of television work and is obviously in great demand. He took us through the year with a custom for every month, including taking the plough to the church to be blessed (and also to the pub - much to the distaste of some) and, of course, May day with the maypole and well dressing in some parts of the country. Dusty stayed to have tea with us and declared our traditional bread pudding another country custom! On the 6th May it was a somewhat subdued gathering of 17 members, having been told that Norma was seriously ill in intensive care in the John Radcliffe. We all wish her well and do so hope she makes a good recovery and will be able to join us again. Our thoughts are also with Norman at this very worrying time. We held a bring and buy sale which raised a total of £13.90 for club funds. On Wednesday, the 12th May, thirty-one members and friends set off on our outing to Stondon Transport Museum at Henlow near Hitchin. This is the largest private transport museum in the country covering over 100 years of motoring from 1892 with over 400 exhibits including cars, motorbikes, fire engines, military vehicles and even pushbikes and lawnmowers. There was also a full-size replica of Captain Cook's ship "Endeavour". The gentlemen had a whale of a time whereas some of the ladies, by the end of the day, felt they had seen enough old cars to last them a lifetime1111 Today, the 20th May, was our Bring and Share lunch with 21 members enjoying the usual magnificent spread which, as always, rapidly disappeared and we were left with 21 smiley faces.

Wed 9th - Outing to Lacock Abbey and Fox Talbot Museum of Photography plus 2 hour cruise on Bradford-on-Avon Canal .

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.

SWAP SHOP

Sat July 3^rd 2010

9:30am – 11:00pm

Merry Bells, Wheatley

Bring useful old stuff that you no longer need; take away FREE stuff that is useful to you.

*If you are bringing stuff it needs to be in the hall by 10:15am.

You can now bring (small) electrical items!

We have a notice board to advertise any items too big to carry easily

Bringing is not compulsory – call in and see if there is something you want to take.

RECYCLING: You can also bring used printer cartridges (not Epsom, please), old mobile phones, plastic milk bottle tops, batteries and foil milk bottle tops for us to recycle.

Refreshments available (small charge)

Run by Wheatley Community Action Group

(www.wheatleycag.org)

This will be the fourth year running that we have gone into battle against Great Milton Cricket Club. They are 2 : 1 up in this titanic struggle between the villages! We are hoping for large partisan crowd to cheer on our brave lads.

The match is arranged for Wednesday 7^th July 2010 at Great Haseley Recreation Ground, 6.00 pm for a 6.30 pm start.

Anybody who can lift a bat or bowl one over and wishes to be selected is welcome to apply! Please ring the chief selector, Mark Willis on 01844 279468. Bar snacks will be served at The Plough following the game.

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. In an emergency please call 999 to talk to the ambulance service.

Despite improvements in the economy, the risk of redundancy still remains a fear for many people. “How can I pay the mortgage?” is often the first thought in this situation. Therefore, it is reassuring to learn that measures to help people who lose their jobs hang on to their homes have been introduced.

The rules about help with housing costs for owner-occupiers on benefits have changed. You can get help towards paying the interest on your mortgage – known as Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) - if you are on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. Payment now starts13 weeks after you make your claim and in most cases SMI can be paid for up to two years on loans up to £200,000.

There have also been a number of announcements with the aim of helping homeowners who are at risk of being evicted because of mortgage arrears. Some mortgage lenders have agreed they will not start court action to repossess homeowners for at least three months and at least two have said they will not begin repossession action until borrowers are six months or more in arrears. This is so that borrowers and lenders can have time to explore other alternatives.

The government has also announced a new Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme. It will allow borrowers who experience a significant and temporary loss of income as a result of the current economic climate to delay paying a proportion of the interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years. Eight major lenders have agreed to support this new scheme. For more information go to the Directgov website at:

www.direct.gov.uk.

There is also a new mortgage rescue scheme to help vulnerable homeowners to stay in their home. The scheme will not help you if you have taken out a second charge on your mortgage or if you are in negative equity, and there will be other eligibility conditions too. You can get more information from the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:

www.communities.org.uk. If you are interested in the scheme, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for more information about whether you qualify.

In the meantime, a leaflet has been published about mortgage arrears. It's called 'Are you worried about your mortgage?' To see a copy, go to:

www.nhas.org.uk.

For more information about mortgage arrears and contact details of your nearest CAB go to the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk

‘SOUL IN THE SUMMER’

From Jazz to Soul

Harcourt Arboretum, Nuneham Courtenay, near Oxford

Saturday 31st July 2010

Niamh McNally with the Tim Dawes Band

Bring a picnic, your friends and family and

Enjoy jazz and soul in the lovely meadow

Gates open 6pm, performance 7pm

Tickets: adult advance £12, on the day £14; child advance £6, on the day £7; family (2 adults & 2 children) advance £30, on the day £35

Info and credit card booking: 01865 341576 / postmaster@obg.ox.ac.uk

Or send a cheque to FOBG, Oxford Botanic Garden , Oxford OX1 4AZ

Local homeowners could start pocketing savings within 12 months of taking up the Council’s new home insulation offer.

Under the deal, local homeowners and private tenants can get cavity wall or loft insulation fitted for a standard price of £99 each. At this price insulation pays for itself fast in reduced energy bills. The low price has been made possible by a performance related grant from central government.

The £99 deal is subject to funding and offered on a first come, first service basis. If you are 70 or over, or receive means-tested benefits, you may get the work done free.

The Council’s insulation offer is being managed exclusively by Cocoon, a long standing partner of the Council. Cocoon offers a fast on-line self-referral option at www.cocoonyourhome.co.uk

Dr A Harnden and Partners

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

Telephone: 01865 872448

The Surgery and Dispensary is open

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 July 2010 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th June 2010. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication and to edit those items, which are published.

KEY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Age Concern 01844 279238 Janet Betts

Citizens Advice Bur. 01844 214827 Thame & District

Church: St James 01844 279498 Rev Victor Story (Rector)

01844 279150 Raymond Fergusson

(Churchwarden)

Doctors 01865 872448 Morland Surgery

0845 345 8995 NHS Helpline

999 Medical Emergencies

Little Milton Shop 01844 279978 Alison Shelton (Manager)

Milk Deliveries 01865 792221 Dairy Crest

MUGA Bookings for the courts are made at the Post Office

Neighbourhood Watch 01844 279468 Mark Willis

Newsletter 01844 279150 Raymond Fergusson (Editor)

OCC 01865 792422 All enquiries

Parish Council 01844 279092 Stuart McGill (Chair)

01844 279150 Raymond Fergusson

(Clerk)

Pine Lodge 01844 278922 Teresa Quested (Chair) 01844 279535 Linda Lovegrove (Bookings)

0870 770 6880 24/7 Call out service

Police 0845 8505 505 Thames Valley Police

Post Office 01844 279001 Annie Rogers (Postmistress)

Public Transport 01869 241500 Heyfordian Travel

01296 399500 Red Rose Travel

0870 6082 608 Arriva

SODC 01491 823000 All enquiries

Southern Electric 0845 770 8090 Emergency Number

Thames Water 0845 9200 800 Emergency Number

Verdant 03000 610610 All enquiries

For all other numbers go to website www.littlemilton.org.uk

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

	Garden	Non Recycle	Recycle	Food
2 June *	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
8 June	No	Yes	No	Yes
15 June	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
22 June	No	Yes	No	Yes
29 June	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

6th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by: Mr. Colin Watts
13th	9.30 a.m.	Morning Service led by: Mrs. Jennifer Thompson
20th	11.00 a.m.	Sacrament Service led by: Rev Shameela Jameelee
27th	11.00 a.m.	Chapel Service : led by : Rev Derick Chambers Followed by lunch at 12.30 p.m. in Fullers Field Community Centre

3 June	Garsington Sports & Social Club
10 June	Tiddington Village Hall (including the Toy Library)
17 June	Garsington Sports & Social Club (including the Toy Library)
24 June	Tiddington Village Hall
1 July	Garsington Sports & Social Club (including the Toy Library)
8 July	Tiddington Village Hall
15 July	Garsington Sports & Social Club (including the Toy Library)
22 July	Tiddington Village Hall (including the Toy Library)

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

‘Up in the air’

With a job that has him travelling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

Starring George Clooney & Anna Kendrick