February/March 2006

John Butterfield 1930 - 2006

It is with great sadness John died suddenly on 2nd January 2006, having spent Christmas and New Years Day happily with all his family. He will be remembered as a young boy attending the old Village School. At the age of 17 years John joined the Household Cavalry. Among his duties he was on Ceremonial and Garter Celebrations with King George VI. He was very proud of his Regiment. Continuing his love of horses and dogs, he bred Paliminos from his brood mares. John will also be remembered for bonfires on Brightwell Beacon, organising the Brightwell Horse Show and Gymkhanas for 12 years. He was actively involved with RNLI, Scouts, British Legion and CAB.

When Sotwell Hill House came onto the market, this became his major task to renovate the old house, opening the house for “residential care” in 1981. Since then, the family have achieved a remarkable transformation over the past 25 years. We, the family, would like to thank all our friends for their kind messages of sympathy, also for donations to the British Heart Foundation. The support and compassion we have received is greatly appreciated. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement.

Joy Butterfield

Betty Johnstone 1925 - 2005

I first met Betty, and Dickie of course, forty years ago. They were our nearest neighbours on the High Road. We became neighbours again 12 years ago when we moved into 2 Fairthorne Memorial. Betty was a life long and very active member of the Sinodun Players. She was also very involved with the village “Evergreens”, a monthly meeting for retired people. Though this group ceased to meet some time ago Betty kept in touch with the remaining members. Betty was for many years a staunch member of St. Agatha’s church where, at various times, she was Sacristan, Chorister and a member of the PCC. Although Betty had to give increasing care to Dickie she always had time to help others and for friends to visit.

In spite of the fact that her own health was deteriorating and the difficulties in caring for Dickie, Betty nearly always found something to be cheerful about. She moved to Wallingford in April 2005, when Dickie required full nursing care. Dickie died in August 2005 and Betty died just four months later on the 14th December. She will be much missed.

Janice Chilton

Community Association

Village Carol Evening – 12 December
Last year we reported the retirement of Anthony Finn as co-compère with Andy Lewis. This year Andy took on the role single-handedly, although Anthony made a cameo appearance to show you can’t keep an old trouper down. Able assistance was provided by Malcolm Sutcliffe, who led the singing, Chris and Helen Baines on the production side, and, of course, Norman Large on piano.

Brightwell School’s choir group gave us a wonderful medley of seasonal songs. Penny Kane delighted us all with her rendition of ‘Nobody loves a fairy when she’s 400’. Alec McGivan showed us why he can rightly claim to be Brightwell’s bard. And the one act panto exercised the talents of too many villagers to mention.

Someone we should never take for granted is Derek Brooker, who slaves all evening over a hot stove, producing mulled wine that keeps us all warm and happy.

As ever, the evening’s proceeds paid for Christmas hampers for the elderly of the village. We are very grateful to Caroline Annets and Hilary Rogerson of the Brightwell Scouts, once again this year, for packing and distributing the hampers.

Village Quiz Evening – Saturday 11 March 2006
The Village Quiz Evening will take place in the Village Hall on Saturday 11th March at 7.30 p.m. True to tradition, last year’s winning team, Jubilee Pavilion will set the questions. We will be sending entry forms to the teams who took part last year. Anyone else who would like to enter a team should contact me, on 824232. All entry forms will be sent out at the same time. Numbers are limited because of the event’s popularity and the fire regulations, so all applications will be dealt with in strict order of receipt.

Hugh Roderick

Environment Group

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Group, we are holding an Environment Evening on 28th March in the Village Hall. From 6.30pm - 7.30pm there is a “drop in session” when you can come to see what is happening locally. On display will be presentations of the work of the Group, work on the Millennium Wood and St James Churchyard, for example, and the activities of others in the village such as the School. There will also to be displays from outside bodies, such as the Environment Agency, SODC and the Northmoor Trust. If you want to stay, then at 7.30pm there will be a short Annual Meeting, followed by a talk on Ponds by Dr Steve Head, Director of Pond Conservation. After the talk there will be the usual glass of wine and nibbles. If you want to learn more about the Environment Group’s plans, or if you are just interested in the environment and want to find out more, please come along.

Surveys of hedgerows, garden birds and traffic on the A4130, publishing the Parish Conservation Plan, establishing the Millennium Wood, St James churchyard management, talks in the Village Hall - since it was formed in 1996, the Environment Group has been responsible for a range of projects and activities in the Parish. Most have been undertaken with the support of the Parish Council, the School, the Parochial Church Council, the farmers and the Fairthorne Trust, with assistance from a number of outside bodies and also with the help of numerous parishioners. Their aim has been to try to understand our environment, and what is happening to it, through the collection and analysis of information. Some of this information has been contributed to projects being carried out at the county and the national level.

Wellsprings Pond
As reported in the last two issues of The Villager, the Group with residents of the Wellsprings and the Parish Council are following a management plan for the Pond devised by Rod d’Ayala of Pond Conservation. A major part of the plan involves moving earth at the edge of the pond and realigning the ditch, work which is to be carried out in early February. Some of the £500 grant awarded to the Parish Council by SODC is to fund this work, the remainder will be spent on native shrubs and wild flowers including species such as ragged robin and purple loosestrife. Some of the shrubs will be planted in the area where the County Council recently cut down the willow which was dangerously overhanging the footpath.

John Rodda

News From Brightwell School

Well done to Miss Shinner (Class 1), Mrs Welton (Class 2), all our Early-Years Teaching Assistants and parent helpers for staging yet another wonderful nativity production. The children ages 3 to 7 years old, acted and sang their hearts out. A special mention goes to the three children from Allsorts Pre-School who took a full part in the proceedings. We made a musical contribution to village festivities when our choir, specially formed for the occasion, sang at the Village Carol Evening. Other seasonal activities included Class parties and a Christmas Hat competition. On the last day of term, the Revd Jill Chatfield led us in a reflective act of worship on the meaning of Christmas at St Agatha’s Church.

In November a theatre group presented an amusing interpretation of A Christmas Carol to the whole school. Mr Clive Ceiling provided an entertaining cello demonstration for our older pupils to encourage some of them to take up the instrument. The children (and mums and dads) did sterling work on the fund raising side: our School Christmas fete was held in the evening for the first time and was a resounding success (big thank you to the Friends of Brightwell School), £104 was raised for Children in Need through donations and a Cake Sale, and 55 boxes were donated to the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoe Box Appeal. They were part of a consignment of 13,000 boxes sent to underprivileged children in Belaruz in December.

For a small school we run a surprising array of school clubs, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, parents and other members of the community who provide these extended opportunities for the children.

I end on a wonderfully happy note and inform you that one of our teachers, Mrs Evans, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Christmas Day. Florence (Florrie) and mummy are doing very well and we wish them both (and daddy) every happiness for the future.

Roger Grant

Allsorts Pre-School

2006 promises to be a very exciting year for Allsorts. We have placed the deposit on the new building and going on faith (!) that we will raise the rest of the money needed (about £20,000). We have received some very generous donations and particular thanks must go to the Community Association.

We are also trying to set up a pay roll giving scheme with local businesses. If anyone in the village has contacts or indeed experience of this, could you please contact the Pre-School.

Our big fundraiser this year is a Valentine’s Party on Saturday 11th February 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Tickets £15 per head to include wine, food and a live band. There will be an auction of promises, managed as ever by the inimitable duo of Antony Finn and Andy Lewis. For tickets and further information please contact Kay Webber on 824562.

This will be my last piece for Allsorts in The Villager, as I am stepping down as Chairman. It has been a busy and fulfilling time, and it has been great to see such an important service within Brightwell-cum-Sotwell grow and flourish. The staff work so hard for the good of the Pre-School children - Allsorts really is the best start for any child.

For more information call Hilary on 826387.

Lydia Cook

Shillingford Hill Park Homes

Mrs Paddy White, our eldest resident passed away on 16 December 2005. Paddy had reached the age of 99 years and would have made the 100 in March this year.

When one of our residents passes away we make a collection in their memory and the sum collected is donated to a cause or organisation chosen by the next of kin. Paddy in her younger years was a keen motor cyclist, often taking part in motor cycle trials, up hills, through woods and over rough ground. She was also very fond of animals so following our suggestion the collection - £80 - has been donated to the Donkey Sanctuary at Island Farm.

Lionel Cooper

Parish Council

Village Square
The Parish Council has received comments on the posts in the Square suggesting that they are not in ‘keeping’ with the area. The Council considered this matter and decided to put it to the village as a whole. If you have any suggestions as to the style and type of posts that may be suitable, please speak to one of the councillors and these will be put forward to the Highways Authority.

Roads in Greenmere
The Oxfordshire County Council has advised the Parish Council that they intend to take over some of the un-adopted roads in Greenmere. This means that these roads, which at the moment are no-one’s responsibility, will be taken over and maintained by the Highways Authority.

Affordable Housing
The consultation recently held in the Village Hall was well attended. One of the points emerging from this consultation was that there were people not on the housing register who were interested in the planned project for Greenmere. If you wish to be considered for one of the proposed flats it is essential that you become registered on the housing list now. This means going to the SODC offices and filling in the required form. The staff at SODC will give you all the help you may need to fill in this form. If there are insufficient village residents, or people who have the relevant village connections, applying for these properties they will go to people from other local parishes.

Brightwell Garage
This business has been purchased by Mr P Galloway, his intention is to continue with the business, to retain the existing staff and offer the same level of service that was available under Mr Jackson. The Parish Council wish Mr Galloway every success in his business venture, and thank Mr Jackson for allowing the Council to consider this as a possible site for a new village shop. However, the economics of redeveloping the site would have made this a non-viable undertaking.

Kings Meadow
The Council has agreed to extend the pathway from Kings Orchard into Kings Meadow for a short distance and is seeking tenders to have this work carried out.

Lionel Cooper

A Matter of Convenience!

The Parochial Church Council has been investigating the possibility of building a small extension on to St Agatha’s church to house a toilet and washing facilities. The need for this, after centuries of managing without such conveniences, has come about as follows:

Why we need this!
Church expenses continue to rise year by year for just the basic running costs. But before we get round to paying the heating bills and keeping the roof in good order, there is the annual parish share to be met which this year will amount to £19,861.

As a reminder, and for the benefit of those who perhaps do not know how this works, the parish share is the sum we pay to the Oxford Diocese to help pay clergy stipends and pensions, and maintain the vicarages.

If St Agatha’s is to continue being here, at the heart of the village, providing a place not only for worship, baptisms, weddings and funerals, but also a very special environment in which all can find comfort in times of need or trouble - then it is clear that we need to find ways of increasing church income.

We feel that this could be achieved by making more use of this historic and very beautiful old building. Centuries ago, long before the advent of village halls, the church would have been the only building big enough in which to hold any kind of meeting or get-together for the villagers. Back then, the rood screen (no longer there) kept the altar and chancel area separate from the nave, which would have been used as necessary at the time.

We are not proposing to return to using the church as a market! - but musical events, concerts, small art exhibitions - all could be suitable in a church venue, if handled correctly. In the past we have indeed held quite a few concerts at St Agatha’s, but we have to keep the duration down to about one hour as the need for a toilet often arises. Better facilities would also enable us to expand the work we do with the children, for instance full days of creativity, music and drama during the school holidays. A ‘pram’ service for mums with babies or toddlers would also be good.

Nowadays, many of the people attending baptisms, weddings or funerals will have come a fair distance and this highlights another reason for having a toilet within the church area. Even during our regular church services, the ‘need’ can arise. We cannot always rely on the kindness of Janice Chilton to throw her own house open, nor is it always convenient to use the Village Hall.

We have also identified the need for a small but improved kitchen area. There are a number of options as to where this would be sited. The existing oil tank (outside) is nearing the end of its life. Changing from oil to gas heating would free up a good-sized space in the north-east corner, where the boiler is currently housed inside a cupboard.

There are obviously many decisions yet to be made as to the best way of achieving all the above, but the PCC felt it important that the village should be aware of our plans at this stage.

What we have done so far!
A few months ago we had a meeting at the church with representatives from English Heritage, the Diocesan Advisory Committee and SODC Conservation Office. It was quickly established that we would not be able to knock through any of the medieval walls but that we stood a good chance of getting permission for a small porch-like extension off the existing south door. We also involved the Oxford Diocesan Archaeological Advisor who had no real concerns about our extension and was very helpful in suggesting ways of construction that would cause the least ground disturbance.

Subsequently, we received a letter of support from the Diocesan Advisory Committee, subject, of course, to any final drawings and plans. This was very encouraging.

Now we shall have to seek further advice from various experts and get some idea of costs. This extension and the other alterations will obviously be a major undertaking for us and although there will be (hopefully!) some grants available, we shall still have to raise a very large sum ourselves. To this end, and when we have finalised our plans and have costings available, we sincerely hope that we will be able to gain the support of the village, to help us with this major project.

The Parochial Church Council of St Agatha’s and St James’, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

Save the Children

The Christmas Eve Carols raised £370.00 - many thanks for such wonderful support. Our apologies for not having enough carol sheets to go round. We will try and make sure there are more next year plus improvements to the sound system!

Thanks go to the hand bell ringers for joining us again. They also donated a further £90.00 from other events they attended over the Christmas period. It was lovely to see how many young people have joined their ranks.

I was pleased to be able to read to everyone the e-mail I had received from Helen Sutton. This was very poignant, as Helen has read the Save the Children poem for us in previous years. Helen’s e-mail gave us some insight into how things are progressing in Thailand and the work she and her boyfriend James are carrying out in the Khoa Lak area on a rebuilding programme - such an achievement and experience.

Thanks also to Ollie for playing the flute, Lizzie and Jenny for reading the poem and Alex and Xana for choosing the carols.

We are very fortunate to have in our community an abundance of caring, talented and enthusiastic young people.

Celia Collett