There is a mid-week Communion Service in Black Bourton Church on Wednesday mornings at 10.00am.

Holy Marriage:

Langford Church September 7th Lionel David Hichens and Philippa Sergeant

Filkins Church September 20th Jack William Peter Puffitt

Dear Friends,

This month most of my letter will be taken up with the article written by Paul Burch, below - but still a few words from me! Each month I try to focus on the special services that lie ahead; in October there is the Group Eucharist at Kencot on the 20th, but we are also bidden by Church authorities to encourage attendance at joint acts of worship with the Methodist Church on the October 27th and to avoid having our own services at the same time. So do seek out where these are taking place - I know there is a service at the Methodist Church in the High Street in Witney at 10.30 a.m. and at the Methodist Church in Filkins at 3p.m. and unconfirmed rumour suggests there is one in Carterton at 10.30 a.m. and there is of course also an active Methodist community in Burford. For this reason we are having no 10 or 11 a.m. services in our Benefice that day. I would be pleased if someone who was able to attend any of the joint services might write about their experience for our next issue.

A last bit of advance planning: the Benefice Service for December will be on Sunday December 1st with a special Advent Service for everyone to attend at Broadwell at 10.30 a.m. perhaps with contributions from a reconstituted Benefice Choir. It would also be good to organise an 'All Age' act of worship with the lighting of Advent candles in the evening in the same church at 6p.m.: is there any chance that each parish could find somebody to make an Advent wreath containing the 5 advent candles, so that the first of these would be lit on that day and then the wreaths would be taken out to the parishes, and each Sunday more candles would be lit? This is an especially good way of involving children in our worship and would be a symbol of the way our Benefice is united in prayer and worship. Please contact me, if you think you could could help: it should not be difficult.

Your brother in Christ,

The Vicar has asked me to write a few words to reflect upon the time I spent in the benefice over the summer. My name is Paul Burch. I am an ordinand training for the priesthood in the Church of England at St. Stephen’s House, Oxford. As part of my course I spend three or four weeks during the long summer vacation on a parish placement, in order to learn more about parish life, particularly from the point of view of the Vicar. Several friends of mine chose to do their placements in parishes very similar to those they had already experienced. I decided to use the opportunity to experience something different - something very different! Being from Stockport and having been brought up in exclusively urban parishes I had very little experience of country folk and country life and also of how the Church operates in a rural situation. And what better way to rectify that than to choose a benefice of eleven parishes, which originally sent a shiver down my spine! I have always been used to a case of one parish, one vicar, or even one parish, one vicar and a curate, so I was very interested to see how eleven parishes, one vicar could possibly work.

Of course, although the benefice has only one vicar, he is assisted by several retired clergy, and I must say that I have witnessed that both he and they work extremely hard to ensure that there is regular worship in the twelve churches of the benefice, and to provide pastoral care for the people of the benefice. It is so easy for us to turn up at church each Sunday, whether in our own village or elsewhere in the benefice, without a thought for the time and trouble spent ensuring that the worship that morning or evening takes place. Just in case there are still those who believe that the clergy work only one day in the week, and that taking services is all that they do, let me tell you that they are very much mistaken.

Taking services is only a small part of what your clergy do, albeit a vital part. Certainly much of my time with Fr. Richard has been spent meeting people in their homes and places of work. Not all of those people are regular churchgoers, indeed many of them rarely attend church, and I have been reminded that a vicar is not the chaplain of those who come to church, but rather the man of God to whom all in the benefice can turn, in much the same way they might turn to the local GP. After all, the vicar is given "cure of souls" of all in the benefice. It has been a great privilege and delight to be invited into so many people's homes and to have people share with me their very personal stories of sadness and of happiness. It is also quite amazing how much profound discussion can emerge from the proverbial cup of tea with the vicar! It has also been a privilege to join many of you in your worship of God. It is good to experience different styles of worship, as it makes us question why we do things in a particular way (often it is because we have always done it that way!) and opens our eyes to other possibilities for our own worship.

When you read this I will be back in college writing essays and attending lectures and tutorials, and parish life will no doubt seem a long way away, but I am sure that I shall remember my time with you for a long time to come. I pray that God will continue to bless you all and strengthen you in his service.

Yours,

Group Service The October service will be a Group Eucharist at Kencot on Sunday 20th October. There will be a baptism as part of the service. The collection will be given to St. Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy.

Remembrance Parade and Service will be at Filkins on Sunday 10th November.

Poppies will be on sale between 26th October and 11th November. Each Village will have house-to-house collections during this period. Poppies will also be available at the Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Rusco’s,

the pubs and at St. Christopher’s School. Please support this important annual fund-raising event. The demands of ex-servicemen and their families increase through age and infirmity. The money raised helps to alleviate their many needs.

The residents of Kelmscott, Grafton, Radcot and Little Faringdon are invited to attend a Police Forum to be held at the Kelmscott Memorial Hall on Thursday 14th November 2002 at 7.30pm.

Come and hear how your police officers police your parishes, about local crime trends and figures, ask questions about local policing issues and express your concerns.

If you have any topics or concerns you would like discussed at the Forum please can you inform the Chairman of your Parish Meeting or contact PC Steve Patrick at Carterton Police Station on 01993 893951 before November.

General Contacts for Surgery Service and Hospital Appointments:

Mrs Banham - 860284 Mrs Assiter - 860545

(In case neither is available to answer queries, Lady Cripps - 860209 - will also help.)

IT comes to Carterton. Abingdon and Witney College have opened a new IT learning centre in September. The new Centre will deliver Information Technology training in a different way from the traditional classroom method. The main programme will be the new City & Guilds e-Quals qualification. Students can access IT education on a flexible basis, from 4 to 6 hours a week. The Centre - or Learning Shop as it will be called - will carry the Co-op branding to show the extent of the partnership between the College and the Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-operative Society. It will be in the former Post Office, adjacent to the Co-op car park, which may be used by the students. Students work at their own pace with pre-prepared materials, using up-to-date hardware and software and receive instruction from staff as required. The Centre will be open for 64 hours each week. To arrange an interview call Adrian Barradell on 01865 256280.

Changes to Invalid Care Allowance. From 28th October 2002 Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) will be re-named Carer’s Allowance(CA) and the rules for claiming it will change. The main changes are:

• Should the person being looked after by the carer die, CA will be paid to the carer for the following 8 weeks. (the previous earnings limits will apply)

• Carers over 65 can claim CA for the first time (it will not however be paid to people who get a state retirement pension paid at a higher weekly rate. If your retirement pension is less than CA, your pension is ‘topped up to the weekly rate of CA (currently £42.50 a week))

It is possible to apply now. Contact your Carers Support Worker if you need advice about any aspect of this change.

Changes to charging for services. Oxfordshire County Council intends to alter the way that it charges for home and day care in response to guidance from the government, which says that if the Council charges, it must make sure that people have enough money left to live on. This should be equal to income support plus 25%. The new charges are being worked out.

Composting. For the last few years OCC and WODC have offered reduced price composters to residents and over 10,000 have been sold in the last 5 months alone. This year they have gone a step further and are offering them for a 3 month free trial. See Page 10 for full details.

Real Nappies. Oxfordshire’s District Councils and County Council are offering a £30 cash contribution to families who start using modern washable nappies - you could save £600 by using them !

For more information please call 01235 812747

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

A delightful evening of "pampering" including hair and beauty demonstrations,

manicures & massage, organic food and wine, chocolate gifts, hand bags, floristry,

Bodyshop Direct presentation etc........

" What more can a girl ask for ? "

Tickets £5 per person including a glass of wine/soft drink.

Contact : Sue Ashford-Smith 01367 860229

Karen Fox 01993 840587

If you would like to take part in this evening as a stall-holder/presenter or would like

to book tickets to attend, please phone the above event co-ordinators.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Church Flowers 5 October Harvest Decoration

12 & 19 October Mrs Goodenough

26 October & 2 November Mrs P Molyneaux

The Harvest Festival will be on Sunday 6th October at 11.00am. Do come along! Gifts of flowers, fruit and vegetables will be welcomed the previous day for church decorating

Broadwell Village Lunch - Sunday 6th October in Paul and Annabel’s Barn at 12.15. It is not too late to book. Ring Steve or Hazel Smith on 860086

The Countryside March - London. A very BIG THANK YOU has to go to those who stayed behind on 22nd September to tend the livestock and to walk the many dogs whose owners were at the March.

Broughton Church Flowers October Mr & Mrs J Downes-Hall

November Mrs Maclay

Filkins Church Flowers: October 6th Harvest Festival

October 13th, 20th & 27th Mrs Cover

Do join us for a simple but delicious meal, fellowship and great entertainment!

For more details, call Barbara on 860195 or Mary on 860302.

The Women’s Fellowship will meet in the Methodist Church Schoolrom, Filkins at 2.45pm. A new speaker, Mrs Mouna of Lechlade will talk about "What Christianity means to me!"

FILKINS THEATRE: Advance Notice: PANTO - Western Style!

January 30th to February 1st 2003. Tickets available from November. Enquiries: 860229

A big "Thank you" from the members of Filkins Bowls Club to everyone who supported this event as competitors, helpers and visitors and made it an interesting, high standard and colourful show.

Vegetable Cup - Mr Doug Jackson

Flower Cup - Mrs Elizabeth Gidman

Cookery Cup - Mrs Arlene Moody

Advance Notice: next year’s show will include classes for hanging baskets and for bowls of summer-flowering bulbs.

NB: The game of Bowls is an established tradition in Filkins, and the village is fortunate to have its own bowling green and club house. We are always delighted to welcome new members to Filkins Bowls Club, and our experienced players are very willing to coach new players. If you would like to know more, contact Doug Jackson on 860340.

Filkins & Broughton W.I Helen Squire was our welcoming and jovial host in August, when we met for supper in her garden at Kencot. The weather was kind and we were presented with a quiz to encourage us to explore her ‘jungle’ as she calls it! An interesting, highly productive garden, not a jungle at all, with many ‘old’ things including a 1930’s shed, ancient trees, a tumbledown wall, fruit trees and canes, an asparagus bed and young Christmas trees, albeit of the ‘wrong sort’! One of the tasks Helen set us was to find the longest piece of bindweed we could - an ulterior motive here? Weeding and quiz-solving over, we enjoyed an excellent and varied supper provided by members, with entertainment from Kali, the performing Jack Russell! Our thanks to Helen for a most enjoyable evening.

A world of freedom and stimulation for under-privileged youngsters from Lewisham - this is what Richard Wilkinson, our speaker, revealed to us at the September meeting. He and his wife run the Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture in Macaroni Woods, Eastleach. Both utterly dedicated to their work and they cope with all the tasks at the Centre, from feeding the chickens to leading midnight walks. Walking in darkness is an experience new to the children of orange-lit London streets, and Richard commented that the macho adolescents lose their bravado among the trees, and stay safely close to him! The Venture provides a variety of activities. There are two horses to ride, and a pony carriage, a number of BMX bikes (regularly serviced), canoeing expeditions and above all, the safe and spacious location of Macaroni Woods. There are two main buildings for accommodation - Bazley House with 28 beds, and the newer custom-built Castree House for the disabled, with 14 beds. The groups with their own group leaders are self catering, with all facilities provided, and this keeps down the running costs. Nevertheless, much of Richard’s time is spent fund-raising - lots of well-meaning generous people in the area, he says - and he believes the work of Noah’s Ark is invaluable, both to the youngsters and to society itself, and offers a good return for the outlay. Helen Squire warmly thanked Richard and said she had been very interested to know what goes on so near at hand! Members, equally impressed, are keen to attend the next Open Day of the Venture in 2003.

The Exhibits that our WI sent to the OFWI "Treasures of 50 Years" Show at Didcot in August were on view - a fascinating variety, of high quality; Elizabeth Gidman, Diane Blackett and Anne Griffiths had worked hard to organise our entry. Helen Squire reported on the farm visit to a Dexter Herd; these friendly short-legged black or reddish-brown cattle produce delicious beef! Members had enjoyed the well-organised OFWI trip to Tate Modern; London looked beautiful in the sunshine. Ann Spiers had led a walk over the fields to Eastleach and the Victoria Pub - again a lovely evening added to the pleasure. The next meeting is on Wednesday October 16th when Barbara Gray will introduce "These you have loved - or not as the case may be!"

Church Brass and Flowers - Jean Dufty

Kelmscott Fund-Raising Committee will be holding their next meeting on

Wednesday 9 October 2002 – 8 pm at Home Farm. If you would like to join

this group of villagers who plan the fund raising for the whole village why not come

along. You will be very welcome – we need new ideas!!

Church Flowers 5 & 12 October Mrs Barstow

19 & 26 October Miss Squire

2 Nov Mrs Portergill

Harvest Festival at Broadwell - Sunday 6th October at 11.00am. Following a long established custom we are all invited to attend. Do go along and swell the congregation!

NGS Gardens Open on 26th August. Thanks to the hard work of the gardeners, the car park attendant sand the ladies serving teas, we had another succesful day, with an average attendance for this time of the year. 261 visitors came, raising £833 for the National Gardens Scheme. Teas made £315, divided between the Church and the Village Hall; maps and apples contributed a further £28.80 to the Village Hall. Well done!

The Bench given to the village by West Oxfordshire District Council to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee is now in position in the playground.

Heartiest Congratulations to Katy Ricks on being appointed Head of Sevenoaks School.

Church Flowers Oct. 6^th & 13^th Mrs. C. Johnston

Oct. 20^th & 27^th Mrs. M. Clack & Mrs. S. Reynolds

Church Cleaning Chancel and Porch Mrs. R. Range

Nave Mrs. G. Austen, Mrs. K. Lane &

Mrs. J. Pitkin

Brass Cleaning Mrs. J. Pitkin.

St. Matthew’s Church – Patronal Service – a special service led by Rec. Richard Harrison was held in the church on Saturday 21^st September to celebrate St. Matthew’s Day. The Fairford Silver Band accompanied the hymns and some of the children from St. Christopher’s school led the congregation in two rousing hymns, "Give me Oil in My Lamp" and "Peace, Perfect peace". The service was followed by supper in the Village Hall – our thanks to all the ladies who provided such a feast for us all to enjoy.

Our thanks also to all those who took part in the cycle ride to raise money for Oxford Historic Churches Trust, there were a whole group from Langford, all visiting more than 20 churches, thank you all. There were some very tired legs around after that.

Diamond Wedding – Congratulations to Stan and Ella Kibble who celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on August 29^th. They marked the occasion with a wonderful party for 80 guests in Filkins Village Hall.

Obituary – We would like to extend our sympathy to Tracy and Donald whose baby son Jack William Peter died in Great Ormond Street hospital on September 11^th. The funeral took place at St. Peters’ Filkins. Tracy and Donald would like to say thank you to all the people who sent them cards and flowers. Not forgetting the help and kindnesses they have received at this sad time.

Church Flowers October Mrs Maxine Ponsonby

Harvest Festival Would everyone please help to decorate the

church for this Service on 13th October?

Harvest Festival - Sunday 13th October? Everyone is encouraged to support this Service. It is one of the special occasions of the year for our rural community.

Fundraising Events Thank you to those who participated in - or helped in some way with - the Church Cycle Ride or the Clay Pigeon Shoot. The results of these events will be made known in due course.

• PCC Meeting - 6.30pm Monday 7th October in Dovecote House. The agenda will be circulated to PCC members in the next few days.

• Bonfire Night - Friday 1st November. Deatails will be circulated by Jamie Abdy-Collins in goor time.

• Remembrance Service - 10th November in St. Pewter’s Filkins

The building of the new classroom is well under way – with the walls up to the top of the window level. Since part of the playground has been partitioned to allow work to continue safely, playtimes for the children have been split with classes 1 and 2 playing together and then classes 3 and 4. For safety, the black metal gate is to be used by the children, who will enter the school, by the main entrance, and the wooden gates will only be used by the builders and teachers.

The school would like to thank Oxfordshire District Council, who have widened the road between the school and the turn off to The Elms. It does make passing so much easier when parents are dropping off children and picking them up at the end of the day. We hope that it makes it easier for all the residents of Langford too.

All the children and our new teacher have settled in well to the new school year. There are 103 pupils in the school, split into four classes. Miss M. Doyle teaches class 1 (Reception, Year 1 and 2) with the help of Mrs. D. Iles, Mrs. N. Simpson and Mrs. J. Lanham. Mr. P. Cameron teaches class 2 (Year 3) with the help of Mrs. J. Brownjohn. Mr. Wilks and Ms Nisbett teach class 3 (Year 4 and 5) with the help of Mrs. N. Simpson, Mrs. J. Lanham and Mrs. D. Iles. Mrs. F. Brown teaches class 4 (Year 5 and 6) with the help of Mrs. J. Cross.

After school clubs are now well under way too. Football, taken by Mr. Cameron and Miss Doyle takes place after school on Tuesdays until half term. Two groups of recorders, beginners and advanced, take place on Thursday. French is taught on Mondays, for continuing pupils and Tuesdays for beginners, during the lunch hour. Children must be in year 3 or above to take French. County music tuition also takes place during the term – flute or violin. To restart the flute group, a minimum of 4 children are required. The ten week session of swimming lessons has also started on Wednesday afternoon, two forms of children take part - mainly those in year 2 and 3 with some year 4 pupils, so that all pupils are able to swim before they go on to secondary school.

Some visits and trips have already been arranged. Year 3 and 4 children are to visit Sutton Courtney to study the environment and to take part in some "pond dipping". I do hope that no one falls in! Then the bi-annual residential visit to the Bluff Study Centre at Treknow, Nr. Tintagel in Cornwall will take place on the week beginning Monday 17^th March. All year 5 and 6 pupils will be able to go if they wish.

Harvest Festival will take place in the School Hall on Wednesday 16^th October, just before Half Term, which is the week commencing 21^st October.

We would like to remind you of our Annual BONFIRE PARTY that will take place at the school on Friday 1^st November. All the usual attractions; the bonfire and fireworks being set off in the field behind the school, so that all the children will be safe behind the school boundary wall. There will be hot dogs, hot drinks, and hopefully the usual very good mulled wine. Do come and join us; tickets will be on sale in the school, cheaper if you buy them in advance, but always available at the gate. Gate opens at 6.0pm.

Wednesday 16^th October Harvest Festival in School

Monday 21^st October to Friday 25^th October. HALF TERM.

Tuesday, 29^th October School Photographer – portrait and family photos.

Friday, 1^st November BONFIRE NIGHT – 6pm onwards.

Return to the top and the index