Community & Leisure
Picture © J. Sanger 2008
Like any rural community, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell has its annual rituals: the village fete in summer, harvest festivities in the autumn and community carol singing at Christmas time. If there is any other excuse for a party - such as the Millennium, or a Jubilee - you can be sure villagers will celebrate in style.
However, as these listings should demonstrate, community spirit is alive all the year round. If you were that way inclined, you need never venture further than the Village Hall or the Pavilion and Recreation Ground for your entertainment. How about this for a week's activities?
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Monday Keep Fit, Toddlers, Brownies, Cubs, Badminton Tuesday Village Lunch (alternate Tuesdays), Beavers, Junior Badminton (year 6 upwards), WI (monthly) Wednesday Keep Fit, Yoga, Indoor Bowls Thursday Indoor Bowls, Cycling Friday Scouts Saturday Art Club Sunday Football or cricket, depending on season |
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And that's just for starters. The Community Association and various interest groups run a plethora of one-off events - and, of course, there is plenty of action elsewhere.
Although the village no longer has its own shop, there is a satellite post office at the Village Hall on weekday mornings (09.30 - 12:30). If reading is your thing, the mobile library calls on alternate Wednesday mornings.
If all this is not enough, a 130 bus will whisk you away to Wallingford, or Didcot for train connections to Oxford, Reading and London. (The National Rail Enquiries website has a useful online journey planner and live departure boards.)
For those unable to drive, or use public transport, there is a range of volunteer-run services. These include the Wallingford Surgery Car and Prescription Services, bookable through the main Parish Council number, 01491 826968. [For more details about health services, see under H.] The Wallingford Volunteer Centre 01491 836345 also provides general help for anyone in need, including transport for a nominal charge.
Alphabetic Listing
Below is a list of clubs and societies, as well as the various official and voluntary bodies supporting the community. Use the index on the left to search for a name and contact details, then follow the links for more information. Alternatively, switch to the Classified Listing to list organisations by type.
01491 839043
Under 8 – matches on Saturday morning
Under 9, under 11 and under 14 – matches on Sunday morning Boys and girls in under 8 and under 9
01491 836509
Pre-school - 01491 826387
Saturday morning art class with tutor, for adults
County Councillor for Wallingford and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell
Monday 8 pm in the Village Hall. New members 16+ welcome.
01491 836509
Tuesday 4-6 pm in the Village Hall. Year 6 upwards.
01491 834543
1st Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Beaver Colony
Indoor Bowls Club, Thursday 2 pm and Wednesday 7.45 pm in the Village Hall.
01491 836509
01491 837334
Sunday Morning Men's Football
Sponsored by Tom Cottrell Landscapes, Bell Garage and Mike Sharp Builders
01235 848545
Secretary : Jan Stevens
Tel: 01491 837024 Fax: 01491 834025
01491 833160
07748 022936
The 130 Wallingford-Didcot service passes through Brightwell approximately hourly on weekdays and Saturdays. There is also a 131 Friday market day service to Wallingford
Provides independent advice on your rights
01491 833118
web page
Secretary : Jan Stevens
Tel: 01491 837024 Fax: 01491 834025
Coffee, cakes and conversation in St Agatha's Church. Wednesday mornings 10-12 am. All welcome.
01491 836063
SODC Councillor
01491 824232 e-mail
Wallingford's Theatre and Cinema, Market Place, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0EG
web page
Lynda Atkins
(07909) 848098 or (01491) 834908
Groundsman: Steve Metcalf
(01491) 838266
01491 833194 or 07765 091359
1st Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Cub Pack - for 8-10.5 year olds
The aim of these walks, which are suitable for all ages and abilities, is to improve general fitness and wellbeing. They can provide good cardiovascular exercise, improve muscle and bone strength, lower blood pressure, help with weight loss, reduce stress and make you feel good. Meet on Tuesdays at 10 am at Willowbrook Leisure Centre car park, Didcot or Thursday at 10 am at Green Close, Didcot, outside Berkshire Court. Both are easy flat walks of about 2 miles, suitable for all abilities.
01491 823135
Sports coaching for children aged 3-9
08452 26 26 94
01491 837539
Charitable trust, named after Brightwell Victorian philanthropist, to help people within the parish "in need, hardship or distress"
01491 832460
01491 201399
Honorary Pastor: Neville Burt
01491 836823 e-mail
Village Fete
01491 836661
01491 838886
01491 835109
Charity which rescues unwanted and neglected donkeys, and provides disabled riding for children. Island Farm, Old Didcot Road
Christine Goodchild, 01491 652402
All welcome, regardless of experience
Eastlyn Horsfield
01491 832041 e-mail
Chairman Bob Howarth
01491 836746 email
Didcot - 01235 814991
Wallingford's Local Exchange Trading Scheme
01491 824255
Calls alternate Wednesdays. School 10.25 - 10.55 Datchet Green 11.00 - 11.20 War Memorial 11.25 - 11.45
01235 813103
Local branch of the National Childbirth Trust, the leading charity for pregnancy, birth and parenting in the UK. Offers antenatal classes, nearly new sales, and support for new parents. Under Ones Club meets at Mongewell Park Nursery School on Wednesday mornings from 10 am till 11.30 am
01235 556937
Conservation charity which manages Little Wittenham Nature Reserve and woods, and organises year-round educational activities.
Programme of Events
web page
(Didcot based organisation with monthly meetings)
Provides temporary accommodation for needy cats and kittens until permanent homes can be found for them
for children aged 11 years old and under
01235 511326
Details of Wallingford Surgery Car and Prescription Services are also available on this number
01491 826968
minutes of last meeting
Christine Goodchild, 01491 652402
Indoor Model Village and Railways
Monday evenings at St Birinus School, Didcot. A morning class could also be arranged if there is enough interest.
01235 814299
(Emergencies Only) 999
At the Stewart Room in the Village Hall 09:30-12:30 Monday to Friday
A friendly Sunday League Club, sponsored by the Red Lion and Cottrell Landscapes
Training every Thursday evening from 6 pm onwards at Brightwell Recreation Ground. Home matches Sunday mornings, 10.30 am
01235 555173
01491 833160
RCV finds ways for disabled people to take part in leisure or educational activities. Some people are paired with a volunteer who shares the same interest, while others are introduced to a local specialist club or college.
Julie Shorter
0118 9474827
01491 835988
Wallingford's own Amateur Dramatic Company, founded in Brightwell in 1848, and now based at the Corn Exchange
Celia Collett
Didcot-based charity that offers help for carers of the long-term ill, frail or disabled. Benefits advice, carer's breaks and other support available.
Church Warden: Roy Thorpe - 01491 837334
Church Warden: Olive Sutcliffe - 01491 836063
01491 835712
Campaigns to raise awareness of the need to reduce our demands on the planet's resources. Holds recycling swap shops about four times a year.
All welcome, regardless of experience
Eastlyn Horsfield
01491 832041 e-mail
Chairman Bob Howarth
01491 836746 email
Nearest stations Cholsey and Didcot
A world-wide network of organisations dedicated to lifelong learning for older people. The Third Age is the age of retirement.
Thameside U3A Audrey Maple - 01491 837659
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Chairman:
Hiring Clerk:
01491 837502
Shena Luck
01491 834543
Phone Monday or Tuesday evening before 9 pm
Published every other month and distributed free to all households in the the village
sally.dugan@gmail.com
01491 837396
Organises monthly talks in Wallingford.
Regal Centre (by the old Waitrose car park) every Saturday from 10 – 1. Café, fruit and veg, local meat, bread, cakes, crafts and plants. All produce sourced from within 30 miles of Wallingford.
Flint House, 52 High Street, Wallingford (next to the Library).
Features on famous Wallingford inhabitants, including Judge Blackstone and Agatha Christie. Entrance fee of 4 gives unlimited admission for the season; accompanied children free. Exhibition from March 2009, 'Raising the Roof: Wallingford's homes and their families'.
For latest publicity
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click here
01491 832177