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Serving the communities of Aston Magna, Blockley, Bourton on the Hill,<br />
Dorn, Draycott, Northwick Park and Paxford<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong><br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2023</strong> – <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Christmas Abroad<br />
Horticultural Society 75th Anniversary<br />
Father Brown Convention<br />
£1
THE VOICE<br />
“<br />
Our key differentiator is our exceptional team.<br />
Experience, local knowledge and the skills<br />
to create and see deals through<br />
Tom Hayman-Joyce MRICS MNAEA MARLA<br />
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SCAN ME<br />
Moreton-in-Marsh<br />
Sales: 01608 651188 | Lettings: 01608 653606<br />
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THE VOICE<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong> Team<br />
Nigel Moor, Cheryl Jones,<br />
Graham New, Leslie Packer,<br />
Carolyn Willott<br />
contact us<br />
Editor<br />
VACANCY<br />
Articles/News in Brief/Letters<br />
Nigel Moor (Chair)<br />
nigel.moor2015@gmail.com<br />
Parish Diary<br />
Carolyn Willott<br />
carolynwillott@hotmail.com<br />
01386 700677<br />
Subscriptions<br />
Brenda Williams<br />
Wessington.w@btinternet.com<br />
01386 701844<br />
Advertising<br />
Nigel Moor<br />
advertsthevoicenews@gmail.com<br />
07778 207034<br />
Cover<br />
Blockley Church in Winter<br />
Photograph by Sarah McKenna<br />
Next edition February<br />
<strong>2024</strong><br />
Copy deadlines<br />
Articles/Parish Diary/News in Brief<br />
12 <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong> online:<br />
blockley.org.uk<br />
(select News)<br />
ASTON MAGNA • BLOCKLEY • BOURTON ON THE HILL • DORN • DRAYCOTT • NORTHWICK PARK • PAXFORD<br />
THE<br />
VOICE<br />
Welcome to this edition<br />
from Nigel Moor<br />
This edition is the tenth since our relaunch in February. <strong>The</strong> past<br />
year has seen a number of innovations including the setting up of<br />
the editorial team who meet regularly to discuss with the editor each<br />
edition. We changed our printer to Vale Press who have helped us<br />
introduce our digital edition which can be viewed on the Blockley<br />
Parish Council web site. <strong>The</strong> parish council has been hugely helpful<br />
in facilitating this. We have introduced more pages and more in<br />
colour. A drive to attract more advertisers has been successful. It has<br />
been an exciting year.<br />
One thing that has not changed – and not for some time - is our<br />
cover price. <strong>The</strong> editorial team have agreed that from our February<br />
edition <strong>2024</strong> we will charge £2 for each copy. We do need to improve<br />
our financial base, particularly as in the New Year, we anticipate<br />
recruiting a new editor. Carol Willott, who has been our acting<br />
editor for the last four editions, is stepping down. We owe Carol a<br />
huge gratitude. She has taken this magazine to new heights of which<br />
I am very proud. I am so pleased that Carol has agreed to continue<br />
compiling the parish diary each month.<br />
It remains for me to thank our editorial team for their support<br />
and advice, our fantastic band of magazine distributors, Blockley<br />
Parochial Church Council and the Village Shop for their continued<br />
support, and our advertisers, together with Vale Press, who have<br />
been so supportive of our relaunch.<br />
To you - our readers - I wish you a very happy Christmas and in the<br />
New Year we look forward to bringing you again our magazine that<br />
keeps you in touch with all the wonderful communities in the North<br />
Cotswolds.<br />
Nigel Moor (Chair, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong> Editorial Team)<br />
nigel.moor2015@gmail.com)<br />
4 A Dog is for life<br />
5 News from the villages<br />
7 Allen & Son<br />
News in Brief<br />
Blockley Sports Club.<br />
8 Community Events<br />
9 State of Parish: Address<br />
Quiz<br />
11 Christmas Abroad<br />
Blockley Community Fund<br />
12 Nostalgia Street<br />
Book Review<br />
13 ‘Bedroom Farce’ review<br />
In this issue<br />
14 Society’s 75th Anniversary<br />
16 Father Brown Convention<br />
Flying High<br />
Blockley Women Connect<br />
17 Medical Matters<br />
Cooking with Celia<br />
19 Church News<br />
Leisure Time<br />
23 Parish Diary<br />
25 Village Organisations<br />
26 Church Contacts<br />
27 Gardener’s World<br />
Young Readers<br />
3
THE VOICE<br />
A Dog is for life: but please<br />
not for Christmas<br />
from Stow Veterinary Surgeons<br />
Has someone in your family spent this year trying to<br />
convince you to get them a dog for Christmas? Have you<br />
been presented with a list of pro’s (never any cons) as to<br />
how having a dog in your family would bring nothing but<br />
joy and happiness, and a written commitment that they<br />
will do all the walking and clearing up and looking after<br />
(trust me on this one, that commitment has been broken<br />
before the decorations even come down!).<br />
Whilst the idea of giving a cute animal as a Christmas<br />
present might seem heart warming there are so many<br />
reasons why we advise people not to do so.<br />
Christmas can be hectic with lots of activities and travel.<br />
Introducing a new pet during this time may not provide<br />
the necessary attention and settling in period that a new<br />
pet deserves. Christmas can be stressful for pets due<br />
to changes in routine, noise, decorations and guests.<br />
Whilst you are busy channelling your inner Mary Berry to<br />
produce the perfect Christmas dinner the last thing you<br />
want to hear is “have you see Grandma’s hearing aids,<br />
she’s sure she left them on the coffee table”. Here at the<br />
vets we can always be pretty sure that over the Christmas<br />
period we will treat several dogs who have consumed<br />
chocolates, mince pies, Christmas pudding, decorations<br />
etc. With so much going on it’s easy to get distracted. And<br />
dogs love an easy steal.<br />
Instead of surprising someone with a pet on Christmas<br />
day why not give pet-related gifts? Books on pet care, a<br />
gift voucher for the local pet shop to go and buy baskets<br />
and all the necessary items they will need for when they<br />
do get their dog and a date in the diary for when the<br />
search will begin.<br />
And please remember, rescue centres are full of lovely<br />
animals looking for their forever homes. So when your<br />
search begins, do consider rehoming a rescue, many of<br />
whom will have been unwanted Christmas presents.<br />
Have a happy Christmas and we look forward to meeting<br />
your new dog – just hopefully not on Christmas Day!!<br />
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Stow Veterinary Surgeons are<br />
dedicated to treating the small animals of the surrounding area.<br />
<strong>The</strong> practice is run from the main premises in Stow-on-the-Wold and also<br />
has branch surgeries at Burford, Milton-under-Wychwood, Moreton-in-<br />
Marsh and Northleach.<br />
We offer emergency out of hours care 24-hours a day, 365 days of the<br />
year. Our aim is to provide gold standard veterinary care to both animals<br />
and their owners. We offer same day appointments and we are always<br />
happy to register new clients!<br />
If you have any queries regarding the services we offer or if you would<br />
like to book an appointment then please don’t hesitate to contact us.<br />
Telephone: 01451 830620<br />
www.stowvets.co.uk<br />
4
THE VOICE<br />
News from the villages<br />
Quiz and Casserole in Paxford<br />
by Robert Burch<br />
Following a very successful quiz and curry evening in<br />
October where the competition between teams from<br />
Blockley and Paxford was intense, we are planning to<br />
hold a Christmas quiz on Saturday 2nd <strong>December</strong>.<br />
We will continue to have a vaguely alliterative title and<br />
serve it up with a delicious casserole. Tickets are available<br />
on the Paxford.org.uk website as usual.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n, a week later, on the 9th we will have our annual<br />
Christmas coffee morning in the village hall at 10:30am<br />
with all sorts of attractions which the committee will<br />
doubtless dream up in the next few weeks. Everyone<br />
from Paxford and the surrounding villages will be very<br />
welcome.<br />
Work on the reinstatement of the Churchill Arms still has<br />
not started despite planning consent being given on 1st<br />
September.<br />
Christmas Joy at Bourton<br />
by Anne-Gaelle Lacondemine<br />
As the holiday season approaches, Bourton is ready<br />
to embrace the festive spirit with three heartwarming<br />
traditions.<br />
First, Jane Sked’s Christmas wreath workshops on 8 and 9<br />
<strong>December</strong> at <strong>The</strong> Old School, offer a creative opportunity<br />
for the community. Guided by Jane’s expertise, participants<br />
create unique, handmade wreaths for their doors.<br />
Next, the Blockley Blokes Choir fills St.Lawrence Church<br />
with Carols on 15 <strong>December</strong> at 7.30pm. <strong>The</strong> ticket includes<br />
mulled wine and a mince pie for a no-to-be-missed<br />
performance.<br />
On 16 <strong>December</strong>, our village hosts a Christmas party at<br />
<strong>The</strong> Old School. This event is a chance for the community<br />
to come together, celebrating the season with neighbours<br />
and friends. Tickets include a hot meal, a drink and<br />
entertainment, promising a delightful evening in a festively<br />
decorated hall.<br />
Visit: www.bourtononthehilloldschool.co.uk for tickets<br />
for these events. Warm wishes from the Old School Team.<br />
Draycott Doings<br />
by Hilary Gilbert<br />
Despite <strong>The</strong> Draycott Knowledge quiz having to be<br />
cancelled on 17 September, due to atrocious weather,<br />
many villagers had fun participating in their own time.<br />
Copies of the quiz were left in the telephone-box-cumlibrary<br />
for people to collect and wander round the village<br />
solving clues. It was enjoyable and educational! <strong>The</strong><br />
winners were Rob and Diane Dewbery.<br />
Hallowe’en saw several of the children out and about for<br />
Trick-or-Treating. Happily, there was more treating than<br />
trickery. We held a Tramps’ Supper on 18 November at<br />
the Mission, with baked potatoes, Trampola and Karaoke.<br />
Appropriate attire was required. A report on how it went<br />
will be in the next issue.<br />
Christmas will be celebrated with gusto and in true<br />
Draycottian style on Saturday, 16 <strong>December</strong>, at the Mission.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Children’s Tea Party will start the merry-making<br />
at 3.00pm and include a visit from Father Christmas –<br />
providing everyone has been good! <strong>The</strong>n, at 7.00pm, the<br />
mulled wine and mince pies will magically appear for<br />
further jollifications and the Christmas Carol Sing-Along.<br />
Information from Sophia Foster on sophfost@icloud.com<br />
or call 01386 701092.<br />
Draycott sends warmest wishes to everyone in the Parish<br />
for a joyful Christmas and happy New Year.<br />
‘Dogley’ : Blockley dog group<br />
by Marion Janner<br />
Blockley is a dog-loving village, and our dog group,<br />
Dogley, has almost 200 members. We do four main things<br />
at the moment: there’s a Facebook page where we post<br />
information, requests – and the inevitable cute photos!<br />
Many of you will have seen our booklet of walks in and<br />
near the village on sale in the shop.<br />
This is also downloadable free from the website:<br />
www.helpily.org/dogley. Each walk has a video, photos<br />
and a link to the Ordnance Survey route. Big thanks to all<br />
our members for contributing to Blockley being such a<br />
great place for dogs, their humans and others who enjoy<br />
being around dogs.<br />
Christmas Cheer<br />
An extract from ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas<br />
‘For dinner we had turkey and blazing pudding, and after dinner the Uncles sat in front of the fire, loosened all buttons,<br />
put their large moist hands over their watch chains, groaned a little and slept. Mothers, aunts and sisters scuttled to and<br />
from bearing tureens. Auntie Bessie, who had already been frighted, twice, by a clock-work mouse, whimpered at the<br />
sideboard and had some elderberry wine. <strong>The</strong> dog was sick. Auntie Dosie had to have three aspirins, but Auntie Hannah,<br />
who liked port, stood in the middle of the snowbound back yard, singing like a big-bosomed thrush.’<br />
5
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THE VOICE<br />
Local Business: Allen & Son<br />
by Nigel Moor<br />
In the first of a regular series, we talk to the<br />
owners of a local business who have been<br />
regular advertisers in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong>. Allen & Son are<br />
an independent, family-owned and run funeral<br />
directing company, serving Moreton-in-Marsh<br />
and surrounding areas since 1928. Diane and<br />
James Drury took ownership in June 2022, having previously been employees<br />
of the company and having many years of experience in the funeral industry.<br />
Diane explains: “Through this, and our own personal losses, we know that<br />
suffering a bereavement can be one of the most distressing and sad times in<br />
people’s lives. Even though a death may be expected, it can still come as a huge<br />
shock and bring great stress and worry. We want you to know that you are not<br />
alone and that we will be there to support you throughout this difficult time.”<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a long association with the North Cotswolds. “We have an excellent<br />
relationship with Peter Allen, the third generation of the Allen family, who served<br />
the local community and surrounding villages for over 90 years. Peter still cares<br />
very much about his family business and the local community. He still comes<br />
out of retirement to help, if he is able to, when specially requested by families.”<br />
Maintaining that community link Allen & Son hold regular coffee mornings to<br />
raise funds for local charities, and all are welcome to come along to enjoy home<br />
baked cakes. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for details.<br />
If you are an existing advertiser and would like to talk to us about your<br />
business please contact us at: advertsthevoicenews@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Sports Club update<br />
by Sally Mayo<br />
<strong>The</strong> football and netball sections continue with their winning ways.<br />
Good number of players and good team spirit. Junior hockey section has<br />
seen an increase in numbers and now has enough girls under 12 to raise<br />
a team to take part in forthcoming tournaments.<br />
Sad news for the senior hockey teams. Our second team has had to cease<br />
to be, to be able to help out with the first team. It’s league rules that if<br />
you have to withdraw a team, it has to be the one in the lower division.<br />
We aim to try to restart the second team next season. So, we’re calling<br />
out for anyone out there to come and join us.<br />
Thank you for your warm, friendly welcome Blockley! We<br />
moved in early September and are enjoying living in such a<br />
great community. Our neighbours have been most helpful<br />
– especially with the recycling! We love the shop and go<br />
in there most days; we have been amazed at the range of<br />
stock, far more than in many village shops. <strong>The</strong> cafe was<br />
immediately a great attraction; delicious cappuccinos and<br />
scones, and many treats on their fascinating menu.<br />
At Church we were made to feel welcome from our very first visit. A range of services<br />
and always something interesting going on, including not only the Communion services<br />
but also Second Sunday at Six, with its reflective mood, and the lively First Sunday Open<br />
Door, with the finest Bacon Butties.<br />
In addition to all this, we have also enjoyed several village activities such as the Forum,<br />
Discussion Group, Blockley Chamber Concerts, and the very entertaining ‘Bedroom Farce’.<br />
What a special community, and how fortunate we are to live here in this beautiful place.<br />
Charles and Felicity Masheder<br />
News in Brief<br />
Blockley Food Bank<br />
<strong>The</strong> staff at the shop thank everyone<br />
who has donated to the foodbank<br />
collection basket. <strong>The</strong> basket will be<br />
a permanent fixture in the shop and<br />
any donations will always be gratefully<br />
received. At Christmas time especially<br />
genuine help can be given to those in<br />
need in our local community. On the<br />
basket there is a list of items needed by<br />
the Foodbank.<br />
Unusual Visitors to Blockley<br />
Five little Egrets have taken up<br />
temporary residence in the deer field at<br />
the back of Park Road. Very unusual to<br />
see them there. Egrits are long legged<br />
wading birds with milky white plumage.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y hunt and live in both saltwater<br />
and freshwater marshes. <strong>The</strong> field is<br />
currently very boggy with lots of flies<br />
and ticks which they like to eat. Home<br />
from Home perhaps.<br />
World Challenge trip<br />
Chipping Campden School student,<br />
Dominic Luff, held a Chilli and Quiz<br />
evening in October in the Jubilee Hall.<br />
He raised £410 towards his <strong>2024</strong><br />
World Challenge trip to Vietnam and<br />
Cambodia. More fundraising evenings<br />
to follow over the coming months.<br />
Hibernating Hedgehogs<br />
If you accidentally disturb a hedgehog in<br />
your garden who was peacefully hibernating,<br />
cover it over with a thick layer of<br />
dry leaves and perhaps leave some dog<br />
food and water nearby. <strong>The</strong>n if he wakes<br />
up he can then easily find something to<br />
eat before he rebuilds his nest RSPCA<br />
advice: never feed hedgehogs milk or<br />
bread.<br />
All change at Blockley Church<br />
Don’t forget that throughout the winter<br />
months when the church is particularly<br />
cold, services will be held in the Jubilee<br />
Hall. Second Sunday@6 will be in the<br />
Little Village Hall. Special Christmas<br />
services will be held in the church.<br />
More information can be found on the<br />
Church News page.<br />
Blockley Bell Bank Produce Stall<br />
<strong>The</strong> stall has now closed for the winter.<br />
In addition to money sent off in the<br />
summer, a further £600 has been sent<br />
to the Britain Nepal Medical Trust for<br />
their essential work in Nepal.<br />
Disco for Type 1 Diabetes Awareness<br />
Callum and Amanda Sollis Family Disco<br />
in in St.George’s Hall in October raised<br />
£1046. Divided between Glos.Paediatric<br />
Diabetes Trust and the Juvenile<br />
Diabetes Research Foundation.<br />
7
Community THE VOICEEvents<br />
THE ARTS SOCIETY BLOCKLEY<br />
a lecture<br />
Courtly spectacles<br />
of the Renaissance<br />
with Tobias Capwell<br />
at 2.45pm on 4 <strong>December</strong><br />
in St George’s Hall, Blockley<br />
Please contact Elaine Parker<br />
(01386 840326) for booking guests<br />
(which is essential) and more details.<br />
www.theartssocietyblockley.org<br />
THE ARTS SOCIETY BLOCKLEY<br />
New Year lunch<br />
Hot Twenties jazz!<br />
with Hot Fingers<br />
at 11.00 on 24 <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
at <strong>The</strong> Manor House Hotel<br />
Please contact Naomi Brookes<br />
(01608652763) for booking<br />
(which is essential) and<br />
more details.<br />
www.theartssocietyblockley.org<br />
Festive Flower<br />
Demonstration<br />
Jane Sked-Connop a<br />
local Blockley florist will<br />
be demonstrating how to<br />
create your own<br />
seasonal garland<br />
Wednesday<br />
6th <strong>December</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Jubilee Hall Blockley<br />
GL56 9BY<br />
Refreshments served<br />
7.30pm<br />
Demonstration 8pm<br />
Non members/visitors<br />
welcome £3<br />
Get into the festive spirit early this<br />
season!<br />
Jane will be demonstrating how to<br />
create an exclusive festive garland<br />
with seasonal horticultural material<br />
that can also be used as a table<br />
runner. Subject to time, Jane will<br />
also demonstrate an alternative<br />
door decoration to a wreath.<br />
<strong>The</strong> garland created by Jane will<br />
be be the raffle prize that evening.<br />
Christmas Fair<br />
Christmas<br />
Tuesday Tuesday 12 th 12<strong>December</strong>, th Fair<br />
10am 10am – 3pm – 3pmFair<br />
Lapstone Tuesday Lapstone Tuesday Barn, 12 Barn, th Westington Tuesday <strong>December</strong>, Westington 12 th <strong>December</strong>, 12Hill th 10am Hill <strong>December</strong>, (B4081), (B4081), 10am – 3pm Chipping Chipping – 10am 3pmCampden<br />
– Campden<br />
Lapstone Lapstone Barn, Lapstone Barn, Westington Advance<br />
Westington Barn, Advance Westington Hill tickets tickets (B4081), Hill<br />
(£6.50) (£6.50)<br />
(B4081), Hill Chipping available: (B4081), available:<br />
Chipping Campden Chipping Campden Campden<br />
buytickets.at/christmasfair/1010304<br />
Advance or or from Gina Blomefield (07711 686384)<br />
Advance tickets from Advance Gina<br />
tickets (£6.50) Blomefield tickets (£6.50) available: (£6.50) (07711 686384)<br />
available: available:<br />
buytickets.at/christmasfair/1010304<br />
Tickets Tickets buytickets.at/christmasfair/1010304<br />
available available on on the the door door (£7.50) (£7.50)<br />
or from or Gina from or Blomefield Gina from Blomefield Gina (07711 Blomefield (07711 686384) (07711 686384) 686384)<br />
Ample Ample parking parking | Light | Light refreshments available available<br />
Tickets Tickets available Tickets available on available the on door the on (£7.50) door the (£7.50) door (£7.50)<br />
In aid In of aid Blockley of Blockley Conservatives Conservatives<br />
Ample Ample parking Ample parking | Light parking | refreshments Light | refreshments Light refreshments available available available<br />
In aid of Blockley Conservatives<br />
In aid of Blockley Conservatives<br />
In aid of Blockley Conservatives<br />
BLOCKLEY<br />
BOOKWORMS<br />
Our next meetings …<br />
Wednesday 6 <strong>December</strong> When we will share a<br />
(light) poem, reading, book excerpt or similar at our<br />
Christmas party<br />
Wednesday 10 <strong>January</strong> When we will be<br />
discussing ‘<strong>The</strong> Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />
We would welcome new members!<br />
For further details or, if you would like to attend,<br />
please contact Jane Scott-Henderson on<br />
01386 700303 or via e-mail at<br />
blockleybookworms@gmail.com<br />
8
THE VOICE<br />
THE VOICE<br />
IMAGINARY<br />
GEOGRAPHY<br />
1. Who lived at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam?<br />
2. Ambridge’s parish church is dedicated to which saint?<br />
3. Which two doctors lived in and practised from<br />
Arden House?<br />
4. ‘All Gas and Gaiters’, classic BCC sitcom, was set in<br />
which imaginary cathedral?<br />
5. Which engaging 7 year old continues to live at 44<br />
Scotland Street, Edinburgh?<br />
6. Everyone knows that Bertie Wooster’s club was the<br />
Drones. But Jeeves also had a club. What was it?<br />
7. Which Edinburgh school did Miss Jean Brodie<br />
teach in?<br />
8. Which imaginary country did Sir Thomas More create?<br />
9. If you rang the operator and asked to be put through<br />
to St Mary Mead 235, which amateur sleuth would<br />
answer?<br />
10. Which famous writer’s imaginary perfect pub was<br />
<strong>The</strong> Moon Under Water?<br />
Answers on Page 21<br />
Clare Turner talks at<br />
the Blockley Forum<br />
by Ptolemy Junior<br />
So - what has the Parish Council been up to this year? And<br />
what is coming down the track in <strong>2024</strong>? <strong>The</strong><br />
Blockley<br />
Blockley<br />
Parish<br />
Forum<br />
Council<br />
Clare Turne, Chair<br />
invited the Parish Council to report on both at its final <strong>2023</strong><br />
session - a ‘State of the Parish’ address, and everyone’s<br />
opportunity to feed in questions, comments and ideas.<br />
I’m delighted to be sharing Parish Council news in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong> following unce<br />
whether the magazine would continue into <strong>2023</strong>. My thanks go out to the vo<br />
made this possible. Not only is it a great way for us to share news, the magaz<br />
important role in recruiting our latest co-opted Councillor, Steve Neill, who j<br />
A good success, said Deputy<br />
<strong>December</strong>.<br />
Chair Clare Turner, was to grow<br />
the Council to a near-full complement of nine members,<br />
when a year ago we were at risk of falling below the legal<br />
table with a group of people who can facilitate change”.<br />
minimum. It means the Council can now do more things,<br />
and better. And Blockley’s Council is much younger than<br />
most - a majority being working age.<br />
Steve told us that “Whilst casually browsing through <strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong>, I spotted the<br />
the Parish Council and immediately put myself forward. I’ve had a taste of<br />
before, and the best place to openly discuss these matters and residents’ con<br />
We look forward to working alongside Steve but four vacancies remain; pleas<br />
you would like to get involved or find out a bit more about the role of a paris<br />
schedule 10 meetings annually but held an additional Extraordinary Meeting<br />
2022 to finalise our <strong>2023</strong>/<strong>2024</strong> budget, after a lengthy review of our finances<br />
meeting. An increase on the existing precept of 5% was agreed, setting the bu<br />
£118,965.00. <strong>The</strong> majority of Council felt that 5% was a conservative increase<br />
inflationary pressures since 3% was added at the previous budget review. Cou<br />
mindful of future capital expenditure on critical maintenance projects in the<br />
Standout village initiatives in <strong>2023</strong> either by the Council,<br />
or financially supported by it, included the weekly Souper<br />
Mondays in the Little Village well as the Hall need through to secure a new the burial winter ground. months;<br />
and the Council’s additional support for the Toddler Group’s<br />
rent at the Jubilee Hall, so that the volunteer parents could<br />
focus on the toddlers, not on fund-raising. <strong>The</strong>n Council’s<br />
relentless pressure on the County Council over roads and<br />
potholes; and pressure on the Police on speeding on the<br />
roads into the village, where we now have a speed camera,<br />
with volunteer training in hand.<br />
At the <strong>January</strong> meeting we discussed a range of community activities and init<br />
exploring the possibility of facilitating a “Time Bank” (where people are able<br />
time, without any financial outlay), there’s a community litter pick planned in<br />
we’re pleased to report that we invested in equipment for our Community S<br />
Group. You may have seen the team of volunteers out and about monitoring<br />
traffic in the village. Thank you to everyone who has given up their time for t<br />
also approved a £500 grant to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Voice</strong> magazine, to help them transition to<br />
sustainable business model, so the community can continue to benefit from<br />
publication for many more years to come. <strong>The</strong> next council meeting is the 16<br />
Paxford Village Hall. Members of the public are warmly invited to join us.<br />
Coming up in <strong>2024</strong>:<br />
• winter coffee mornings at Draycott – rather like Souper<br />
20<br />
Mondays, • an initiative to strengthen networking<br />
between Parish-based businesses, • a maintenance<br />
programme for historic gravestones in the churchyard – a<br />
Parish Council responsibility, • continued search for new<br />
space for burial plots as the cemetery will shortly run out<br />
of space, • work to put in place a statutory Neighbourhood<br />
Plan – a key tool for resisting inappropriate development,<br />
pushing up quality of proposals, and showing developers<br />
that Blockley is not a pushover.<br />
Questions from the floor included:<br />
• Can we prevent the uncontrolled 11 metre internet masts<br />
being put up in Broadway and Willersey.<br />
Answer – it’s on the Council’s radar; • <strong>The</strong> persistent water<br />
flow and resulting slime on the road below Orchard Bank.<br />
Answer – the Council are on to the County about it, and<br />
will follow up on a resident’s suggestion of a volunteer<br />
clean-up; <br />
• What oversight is there of the operation of St George’s<br />
Hall?<br />
Answer – it’s rather opaque, and the Council are on to the<br />
matter.<br />
It was a good exchange of information and views. We asked<br />
Clare to thank all her fellow councillors for the time and<br />
energy they devote to the villages’ care. In return Clare<br />
invited volunteers to fill the remaining two seats on the<br />
Council – or to get involved in the environment and other<br />
sub committees. No special qualifications or specialisms<br />
needed – just a commitment to public service.<br />
Speak to Clare or Nikki Holt on<br />
parishclark@blockley.org.uk<br />
9
THE VOICE<br />
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Christmas Abroad<br />
Christmas in France; by Anne-Guelle Lacondemine<br />
Christmas in Britain is truly a special affair! Across the Channel in France, the festive spirit kicks off in <strong>December</strong><br />
with the Christmas markets. <strong>The</strong> pinnacle of our celebrations unfolds on the 24th evening with Le Reveillon, where<br />
families gather for a colossal dinner before attending Midnight Mass. Before stepping out, children excitedly place<br />
their shoes under the tree, anticipating the joy of discovering Father Christmas’ surprises upon returning from<br />
Midnight Mass.<br />
Unlike our British counterparts, we forgo Christmas cards; a simple “Joyeux Noel” suffices. Instead, we extend our<br />
New Year wishes throughout <strong>January</strong> with “Bonne Année” cards to friends and family. Interestingly, in “Dordogneshire”<br />
the arrival of British families reportedly brought a delightful surge in the local postman’s duties - a testament<br />
to our ability to blend the best of our cultures during this festive season!<br />
Christmas in South Africa: by Catrina Popham<br />
I grew up in Durban, when South Africa was still a British colony. We celebrated Christmas in very much the same<br />
way as Britain, the major difference being that it happened in the middle of a very humid summer. In that subtropical<br />
climate there were no chimneys, so Father Christmas filled our stockings from the veranda. On Christmas trees, Zulu<br />
beadwork mingled with traditional angels and robins. We believed that snowflakes fell like tennis balls, just as they<br />
did on Christmas cards – what an anti-climax when we came to England and discovered that they just looked like<br />
dandruff!<br />
Flying ants, sudden torrential rainfalls, all part of the Christmas season. On Christmas day we dressed up smartly and<br />
went to the Country Club for a day of colonial luxury – elegant table service, decent air-conditioning, a magnificent<br />
traditional Christmas feast with all the trimmings, crackers and organised children’s games, a toast to the Queen and<br />
then the time we really looked forward to – a swim in the pool.<br />
Christmas in Zambia: by Hilary Gilbert<br />
We lived in Zambia for 3 years back in the 1970s. Christmas is warm at that time of year. In those days, there were<br />
always shortages in the shops. I remember great excitement and a long queue, when an import of After Eights was<br />
available in Lusaka’s big store, only to be disappointed on opening the precious, expensive box, to find they were<br />
in a congealed white lump. We still ate it with gusto! We had a small spindly would-be conifer in a pot on our step,<br />
which we tended with great care and brought indoors for Christmas.<br />
Christmas in the Netherlands: by Will Knight<br />
In Holland, the children’s celebration is not during Christmas, but Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) on <strong>December</strong> 5th.<br />
Sinterklaas arrives four weeks before by boat from Spain, and this is broadcast on national television, and a daily<br />
Children’s news broadcast. Normally something is off, which has to be fixed, or nobody will receive any presents!<br />
On the Saturdays between his arrival and <strong>December</strong> 5th, children put out their shoe before going to bed hoping for<br />
something to be put inside overnight. On <strong>December</strong> 5th the family gathers, and Sinterklaas leaves presents at the<br />
door. Most presents are accompanied with a poem about the receiver and often creatively disguised. <strong>The</strong> preparation<br />
takes time and effort, but is an elaborate tradition celebrated by most of Holland.<br />
Blockley Community Fund explained<br />
by Sally Mayo<br />
For those who can remember when the present Blockley<br />
Shop and Cafe were opened, the then BCA committee had<br />
applied for and got a large Lottery Fund grant. As part of the<br />
remit for getting this grant a Hub Committee was formed to<br />
operate alongside the Shop and Café in organising village<br />
events to help all ages in the Blockley community and<br />
parish, e.g. pensioners’ lunches in the cafe, pottery making,<br />
and the library bus for the children.<br />
It was always the intention for the shop and cafe to be a<br />
community non-profit making organisation. As we all know<br />
this unfortunately did not prove viable. Instead, the shop<br />
and cafe have been leased to Sam and Craig and the Hub<br />
Committee has ceased to operate.<br />
Sam has been keen to continue helping groups and<br />
organisations within the Blockley parish and community,<br />
financed by monies that can be raised from May Day, Raffles<br />
and Bingos to become <strong>The</strong> Blockley Community Fund.<br />
This Fund has already helped the Blockley Toddler group<br />
with a donation in the summer towards food for their<br />
Summer Group days held in St.George’s Hall.<br />
A donation has been made to Calum Sollis who organised<br />
a Halloween Party to raise money and awareness for<br />
diabetes. <strong>The</strong> Community Fund also covered the cost and<br />
the fitting of the Defibrillator at Orchard Bank in Blockley<br />
High Street.<br />
Future events planned are a Christmas Bingo on 12<br />
<strong>December</strong>, to raise money for the North Cotswold Food<br />
Bank and the Air Ambulance. On 15 <strong>December</strong> a Family<br />
Christmas Party is planned. Both events to be held in<br />
St.George’s Hall.<br />
11
THE VOICE<br />
Monthly Book<br />
Review<br />
from Jane Elliman<br />
‘Everyone Brave<br />
is Forgiven’<br />
by Chris Cleave<br />
Novels often examine<br />
the effects of time<br />
and place upon perception, attitudes and<br />
behaviour. More than any other, novels<br />
set in a context of war present polarities<br />
of human responses to terrifying threats<br />
upon existence and freedom. We see, as the<br />
narrative voice in William Goldsmith’s novel<br />
‘Lord of the Flies’ comments, extremes of<br />
both sick and heroic behaviour: human<br />
responses to fear and personal suffering in<br />
conflict situations.<br />
As we see in our current world, conflict<br />
scenarios evoke both the best and the worst<br />
of human nature.<br />
Chris Cleave is an acutely intelligent writer<br />
who has been described by critics as<br />
‘captivating, shocking, exciting and deeply<br />
affecting’. His novels are psychologically<br />
insightful: his characters are finely drawn<br />
and credible. <strong>The</strong> reader is challenged to<br />
consider the ways in which human beings<br />
are shaped by the prevailing spirit and<br />
attitudes of an age.<br />
His descriptions of place in his novel<br />
‘Everyone Brave is Forgiven’ evoke vivid<br />
scenes of the blitz in London and during<br />
the siege of Malta in World War 2. Individual<br />
responses of triumph and courage in<br />
terrifying scenarios are depicted.<br />
His character Mary is inspired by his<br />
grandmother who drove ambulances during<br />
the blitz. He researched his novel on Malta<br />
in order to understand the experience of<br />
his grandfather, who was ‘assigned to mind<br />
Randolph Churchill… to keep him out of<br />
trouble’. Churchill was recruiting for the<br />
SAS on Malta as the Axis maintained a twoyear<br />
stranglehold on the island.<br />
He explores racial prejudice, attitudes<br />
toward different social classes in Britain in<br />
the 1940’s and the extraordinary passion<br />
and commitment of individuals who served<br />
their country in the military and as civilians.<br />
It is a powerful combination of heartbreak<br />
and humour and the power of the cauldron<br />
of adversity to either destroy or build<br />
character and fortitude.<br />
Nostalgia Street –<br />
Christmas in the Cotswolds<br />
by Joan Hicks<br />
As Christmas nears, I have often thought that the long build up to<br />
it, starting in October in the Supermarkets and large stores, gives<br />
a false impression of why and how we celebrate Christmas.<br />
My Grandparents always gave me a lovely book, undoubtedly<br />
purchased by my Mother for them from Miss Stenning at the paper<br />
shop. As a young boy, the reason my Father went to both Chapel<br />
and Church in the weeks before Christmas was to get invited to<br />
the Christmas celebrations held for the children in both places.<br />
Mr. Joyner, at Chapel, used to hand out pennies to the children<br />
(who he knew did not have pennies of their own) so that they<br />
could put them in the bag when brought round. I think of my<br />
Grandmother, born on 31 <strong>December</strong> 1883, just before the turn of<br />
the year and of those who have left us at that time.<br />
It is surprising how, without thinking why, the ‘old Celtic customs’<br />
infiltrate our modern lives. <strong>The</strong> Winter Solstice meant that the year<br />
was turning, the sun returning and the days would get longer and<br />
warmer. All essential factors in farming communities. Mistletoe<br />
was gathered from oak trees at the Winter Solstice to ward off<br />
the evil spirits and was also believed to have healing properties.<br />
Holly was collected because it was thought to offer shelter to<br />
fairies and therefore gave hospitality. Candles in the window lit<br />
the way to hospitality for strangers and friends alike. Following<br />
the introduction of Christianity, the Holly came to represent the<br />
Crown of Thorns and the Ivy, Christ’s Mother, the Virgin Mary.<br />
During WW2 families were encouraged to welcome American<br />
Soldiers into their homes. Food rationing was in force and<br />
particularly welcome, were the extra ration packs that the American<br />
GI’s brought, not to mention chocolate and nylon stockings.<br />
English children who had been evacuated and separated from<br />
their families were also the recipients of American hospitality as in<br />
many areas parties were held by the American GI’s, rare delicacies<br />
like cakes and jellies were served and halls decorated.<br />
Just as fashions have changed, Turkey was not the fare for<br />
Christmas past. <strong>The</strong> population enjoyed what they could afford,<br />
be it goose, pork or simple pottage - a kind of thick broth. As of<br />
today, some tables will be laden and some will be sparse of food.<br />
Regardless of religion, sharing of food and hospitality to friends<br />
and strangers alike is central to many beliefs. Anyone of any<br />
religion can, for example, go to the Gurdwara in a Sikh temple<br />
where there is a langar (community kitchen) where anyone of any<br />
religion can sit and eat.<br />
So, Christmas is not about giving expensive presents or serving up<br />
food one cannot afford. Like the Hooper family who in 1919, gave<br />
my Grandmother a bucket of coal to start a fire on a really cold<br />
wet day when she and her five children moved into the draughty<br />
cold cottage at the top of Mill Lane. It is about sharing what little<br />
one has and bringing comfort to others. Occasionally, my Father<br />
told me, another call went along the row opposite Orchard Bank,<br />
‘got a cup of sugar to spare, Missus’!<br />
12
THE VOICE<br />
BAD Company’s ‘Bedroom Farce’<br />
a Review by Christine and Nigel Moor<br />
We had front row seats on the<br />
first night of BAD Company’s<br />
production of ‘Bedroom Farce’ by<br />
Alan Ayckbourn and enjoyed every<br />
minute of it.<br />
This is one of Alan Ayckbourn’s<br />
most popular plays exploring<br />
one calamitous night in the lives<br />
of four couples. <strong>The</strong> staging is<br />
difficult, cramming three double<br />
bedrooms onto the stage and floor<br />
of St George’s Hall. But it worked<br />
brilliantly. <strong>The</strong> focus is on each of the<br />
bedrooms in turn, but at the same<br />
time we are aware of the others.<br />
Central to the play is the collapsing<br />
marriage of Trevor (played by Chris<br />
Priest) and Susannah (played by<br />
Nikki Holt), who inflict themselves<br />
on the other couples on this endless<br />
Saturday night in the 1970’s. Careless<br />
of others, the couple convincingly<br />
project the hedonistic vibe of that hippy era, helped by<br />
their flower power getup. In doing so they pose a threat<br />
to the other couples whose own relationships are stressed.<br />
Scene by scene they create havoc. <strong>The</strong> house warming party<br />
hosted by David Artingstall’s Malcolm and Kate, played<br />
by Tracey Humphreys, is trashed by our hippy couple’s<br />
endless bitching. Also at the party is Sandra Gee’s Jan, who<br />
was married to Trevor. She has left her new husband Nick<br />
(played by Charles Redman) at home confined to bed by a<br />
muscle spasm. Left alone, the raffish Trevor cannot resist<br />
trying to make up to Jan. Susannah disturbs them and in<br />
great distress flees to the home of Trevor’s parents, Delia<br />
(played by Jane Grafton) and Graham New’s long suffering<br />
Ernest.<br />
In their bedroom they are trying to make the best of a<br />
disappointing evening that began with a dismal experience<br />
at the restaurant where they planned a return to a nice<br />
dinner to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Back home<br />
Ernest decides that eating sardines on hot buttered toast in<br />
bed will improve his evening. <strong>The</strong>n the latest of his upsets<br />
- there are no sardines in the pantry, only pilchards. At that<br />
point Suzannah arrives and Ernest, now worrying about an<br />
overflowing drainpipe, is banished to a damp spare room.<br />
Back at the party Trevor, although offered a spare bed<br />
by Kate, decides that he must confront Nick and explain<br />
what happened and why. Disturbed in the middle of the<br />
night and still in agony, Charles Redman (Nick) manages<br />
an impressive performance in ridiculing the hapless<br />
Trevor, while acting his entire role from bed. Jan (Sandra<br />
Gee) becomes increasingly exasperated by this male one<br />
upmanship.<br />
<strong>The</strong> plot line is moving towards some kind of reconciliation<br />
between Trevor and Suzannah but Ayckbourn realised<br />
that this was neither convincing or much of an ending.<br />
In a cameo worthy of Frank Spencer’s ‘Some Mothers Do<br />
‘Ave Em’, Director Jo Knight brings out David Artingstall’s<br />
comic flair as his character Malcolm wrestles with putting<br />
together his surprise present for Kate of a dressing table.<br />
When finally assembled, Malcolm exhausted, falls asleep<br />
beneath the table. But Trevor returns and unable to resist<br />
trying to improve on Malcolm’s DIY, he tries to open the<br />
table drawer only for the whole construction to collapse.<br />
<strong>The</strong> curtain falls.<br />
Alan Ayckbourn’s play was written at a time when<br />
relationships were being explored in many different ways.<br />
Some of that now fifty years later is dated but with an<br />
incredibly strong cast BAD Company have amplified the<br />
humour and pace of the original production to a comic<br />
masterpiece.<br />
<strong>The</strong> production was in memory of Janet (Lucy) Dale who<br />
died earlier this year. On becoming a professional actor, one<br />
of her first roles was as Jan at Alan’s Scarborough theatre.<br />
13
THE VOICE<br />
Blockley & District Horticultural Society<br />
Celebrates 75th Anniversary<br />
by Sue Salmon<br />
In 1948, life in Blockley was beginning to return to<br />
normal after the Second World War. <strong>The</strong>re was a drive<br />
to ‘Grow more Food’ and in order to encourage this a<br />
group got together to organise a Horticultural Show.<br />
A Sub-Committee was formed under the umbrella<br />
of the St George’s Hall Committee and an ambitious<br />
programme was developed for 31 July 1948 with<br />
horticultural displays in St George’s Hall and<br />
entertainment on the Cinquefoil ground in Park<br />
Road. For those with energy to spare the day ended<br />
with a Grand Carnival Dance! Many of the flower and<br />
vegetable classes are still contested today. Entry for<br />
Children was 3d per entry with cash First Prizes of<br />
up to 7s 6d and classes such as ‘Twenty named Wild<br />
Flowers’ and ‘Best Collection Fossils’.<br />
How many of today’s children could name 20 wild<br />
flowers and it would be illegal to pick them!! <strong>The</strong><br />
Show, which had been advertised as ‘Proceeds in aid<br />
of St George’s Hall fund’, made a profit of over £60<br />
(equivalent to over £3000 today).<br />
After the Show, the first meeting of Blockley & District<br />
Horticultural Society was held on 21 September 1948.<br />
<strong>The</strong> requirement to give the proceeds of the 1948<br />
Show to St George’s Hall appeared to get ‘forgotten’<br />
until St George’s Hall Committee realised the error<br />
and asked for the full amount. After a lot of ‘to-ing and<br />
fro-ing’ an amicable agreement was reached.<br />
In its early years the Show was held in the grounds<br />
at Northwick Park with Horticultural displays in a<br />
marquee and the option to visit Captain Spencer-<br />
Churchill’s Northwick Art Gallery.<br />
‘Sporting’ events were also included such as the<br />
‘Men’s 1 mile race’, the ‘Married Ladies 75 yards open<br />
handicap’, the ‘Veterans race, men 50 and over’ and<br />
the ‘Slow bicycles, 50 yards open’. ‘Bowling for a Pig’<br />
was a regular side show until the price for two pigs<br />
became prohibitive and the highest scoring lady was<br />
awarded a half dinner service as an alternative prize.<br />
As an added incentive to enter the Show, anyone<br />
winning a specific cup (and they were all silver) for<br />
three years in a row got to keep it!<br />
Onions have been the subject of intense competition<br />
over the years. <strong>The</strong> Hilda Cooper Memorial Tankard<br />
for the ‘Best Spring-sown Onion’ was a regular battle<br />
between Colin Disley, Alan Cother and John Baldwyn<br />
amongst others.<br />
Recently, Jo Waite entered the fray. Her amazing onion<br />
won the <strong>2023</strong> Summer Show but the joy of winning<br />
was slightly offset by being the only entry! So come on<br />
all you Allotment holders, apparently the best date to<br />
sow your onion seeds is Boxing Day!<br />
<strong>The</strong> Summer Show is traditionally a mix of vegetables,<br />
fruit and flowers. In early shows, the non-horticultural<br />
elements were collected under ‘Ladies Classes’ but over<br />
14
THE VOICE<br />
Judging onions in 1981<br />
Wendy Dare & Marion Leslie<br />
at Chelsea Flower Show, 1999<br />
Blockley Exhibit at Ebrington Show,<br />
1998<br />
the years cookery, handicrafts, floral arrangements and<br />
photography have been given their own Sections and<br />
are ‘open to all’. <strong>The</strong> competition in these sections is<br />
just as fierce.<br />
In order to celebrate the joys of Spring, the Spring<br />
Flower Show became a Blockley tradition in 1964. <strong>The</strong><br />
Spring Show has taken place every year since with the<br />
exception of 2020 and 2021 when Covid-19 prevented<br />
us from gathering. In 2021 we held an open-air display<br />
of Spring flowers in Blockley churchyard to make up<br />
for the lack of a flower show and to bring a little colour<br />
into the Village.<br />
Over the years, Blockley Horticultural Society has been<br />
the host of Gardeners Question Time, has exhibited at<br />
Chelsea Flower Show under the heading of ‘Window<br />
boxes and Hanging Baskets’ and has competed as a<br />
team at other local shows and at the Inter-Village Quiz<br />
(which the team has won on several occasions).<br />
In its early days, the key players at the Horticultural<br />
Society were Captain Spencer-Churchill, Brigadier<br />
Rathbone and Mr Muirhead, with the Show being<br />
opened by W.S Morrison MP, who just happened to<br />
be the Speaker of the House of Commons (see 1950’s<br />
Platform Party). In <strong>2023</strong>, the Society is organised by<br />
a small team of enthusiastic gardeners who enjoy<br />
learning more about gardening related topics, visiting<br />
local gardens of interest and, most importantly, are<br />
passionate about keeping alive the village Flower Show<br />
tradition. We are a very friendly Group and are always<br />
looking for ‘new blood’ to join the Committee as this<br />
creates new thinking, different ideas for garden visits<br />
and will ensure that Blockley & District Horticultural<br />
Society remains healthy into the future.<br />
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BLOCKLEY & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY EVENTS, VISIT<br />
www.blockleyhorticultural.org.uk<br />
To discover more about the history of Blockley & District Horticultural Society<br />
contact <strong>The</strong> Heritage Society. <strong>The</strong>y hold an amazing archive of material going back to 1948.<br />
1950’s Platform Party <strong>2023</strong> Committee<br />
15
THE VOICE<br />
Floral Masterpiece: Blockley Women Connect<br />
by Abbie Howarth<br />
Jane Sked, a gifted and imaginative floral artist came to<br />
demonstrate her skills at our November meeting in the<br />
Jubilee Hall. With autumn’s vibrant colours adorning the<br />
landscape, individuals seek ways to infuse their homes with<br />
the spirit of the season. Jane has elevated this tradition<br />
by ingeniously transforming<br />
pumpkins into enchanting<br />
vases, offering a captivating and<br />
inventive method to showcase<br />
the beauty of autumnal flowers.<br />
Her unique pumpkin vases<br />
start with a careful selection<br />
of various pumpkins in<br />
different shapes and sizes. Jane<br />
meticulously carves out their<br />
tops, ensuring stability and<br />
security while preserving their<br />
aesthetic appeal as decorative<br />
Flying High<br />
by Marie Hildreth and Laurie Billing<br />
elements in their own right.<br />
She chooses seasonal favourites like roses,<br />
chrysanthemums, and vibrant fall foliage. <strong>The</strong>se blossoms,<br />
in shades of gold, burgundy, and orange, harmonise<br />
seamlessly with the earthy tones of the pumpkins.<br />
<strong>The</strong> outcome is a captivating array of pumpkin vases<br />
that exude warmth and elegance. <strong>The</strong>se delightful<br />
arrangements serve as stunning centrepieces for autumn<br />
gatherings, striking mantel displays, or unique and<br />
cherished gifts.<br />
In conclusion, Jane Sked’s seasonal flower presentation<br />
is a testament to the power of creativity and the allure of<br />
autumn. Her pumpkin vases, brimming with the splendour<br />
of autumnal blooms, remind us that with a touch of<br />
imagination and an appreciation for nature’s gifts, the<br />
ordinary can be transformed into something extraordinary.<br />
This autumn, take inspiration from Jane Sked and let your<br />
creativity bloom with a touch of autumn magic.<br />
Father Brown Convention<br />
by Steve Keyte<br />
Third time lucky!<br />
Covid and high winds<br />
had deterred this<br />
much anticipated<br />
flight, but patience is<br />
a virtue and at last a<br />
phone call to say that<br />
conditions were fine<br />
with sun and clear<br />
visibility. Just right for<br />
spotting local landmarks from the air. We were whisked<br />
off to Gloucester Airport and after what seemed like a lot<br />
of paperwork we were given permission for take off in G<br />
- DIZY, which at first glance looked very fragile. Entry to it<br />
seemed most ungainly for two elderly ladies - scramble on<br />
to the wing and then throw yourself in backwards hoping<br />
that you wouldn’t put your back out in the process!<br />
Once in the air it was quite exhilarating to spot local<br />
landmarks: we flew north above the Fosse Way, spotting<br />
Moreton approaching, glorious views of Batsford<br />
arboretum and then our beautiful tiny village. <strong>The</strong>n on to<br />
Chipping Campden where that magnificent church really<br />
stood out among the houses. On to Ebrington where<br />
we turned left (or is it banked!) with our pilot saying<br />
indecipherable things to air traffic control. We found<br />
ourselves in the middle of nowhere rapidly descending and<br />
skimming hedges to land on a strip of grass in a farmer’s<br />
field. Time for an afternoon tea break, so out came flasks<br />
and cake, how very British! After our break it was time to<br />
throw ourselves back into our seats and up up and away<br />
to see the silver snake of the River Severn below - what<br />
a view. All too soon we saw the runway of Gloucester<br />
airport approaching and after a smooth landing from our<br />
very competent pilot, we watched the delicate process of<br />
manoeuvring the plane into the hangar. What an exciting<br />
and memorable afternoon in the air - thank you Adrian.<br />
16<br />
<strong>The</strong> Facebook Father Brown Family Group held its second<br />
Annual Convention at Moreton’s Redesdale Hall over the<br />
weekend of 15-17 September. <strong>The</strong> event was organised by<br />
Steve Keyte, Tracey and Gary Cooper, Tom Arnold and Nick<br />
Keen.<br />
We began the weekend with a six-hour location tour with<br />
Tour Guide Gary Cooper. That evening group members were<br />
treated to bingo,<br />
raffle, pass the<br />
parcel and other<br />
1950’s traditional<br />
games.<br />
Next day we gave<br />
members a choice<br />
of a two-hour<br />
location tour or<br />
a two-hour steam<br />
train ride. In the<br />
evening we had<br />
a successful party with games, fancy dress competition and<br />
a Q&A with supporting artists. Two silent auctions were<br />
organized with items ranging from signed photos, signed<br />
books, a signed episode script and some props. From this we<br />
raised £341 for Campden Home Nursing, the charity based in<br />
Chipping Campden.<br />
A visit to Blockley the following day (Kembleford, the home<br />
of Father Brown) where we were met by ‘Bess’, Penelope<br />
(Bunty) Windermere’s car, and ‘Molly’, Postman George’s<br />
Mail Van. <strong>The</strong>se were kindly exhibited by their owners -<br />
Pauline Blake (Bunty’s Car) and Gary Sumner (Main Van).<br />
To continue our fundraising, £250 was raised from car rides<br />
offered to members (and also later to the general public), in<br />
support of Pauline’s charity ‘Team Alfred – Just 4 Children’.<br />
Those not wishing to take part in another walking tour were<br />
invited to Blockley Church for tea and cake at £2.50. All<br />
monies from this were donated to the Church.<br />
Here’s to next year!
Medical Matters<br />
by Dr.Chris Morton<br />
(White House Surgery)<br />
Greetings – a periodic round up of medical life within the<br />
immediate area.<br />
<strong>The</strong> covid and flu vaccination programme seems to have<br />
been rolled out very effectively from the Four Shires Centre<br />
in Moreton. In terms of activity there is quite a lot of covid<br />
circulating but it’s not causing much in the way of serious<br />
symptoms or need for admission. It is probably still prudent<br />
to restrain contact whilst positive and particularly to avoid<br />
vulnerable people. Home monitoring using oximeters<br />
remains useful. <strong>The</strong>re are antivirals available for vulnerable<br />
people through referral to hospital in the early days of an<br />
infection. We haven’t as yet seen much evidence of flu cases<br />
but glandular fever seemed common over the summer.<br />
Constraints: in General Practice this is recruitment. We scan<br />
the horizon for signs of the relief column arriving - it remains<br />
stubbornly empty. On the government’s predictions it may<br />
well be ten years before they hove to, so hope to see more<br />
mature practitioners holding the line. This is being offset to<br />
some degree by the recent appointment of two first point of<br />
contact Physiotherapists and one Mental Health nurse - you<br />
can book with these directly through receptions. <strong>The</strong>re is<br />
constant disruption to the supply of commonly used drugs<br />
for no obvious reason, wasting everyone’s time in trying to<br />
find replacements. Be patient and don’t give up - not taking<br />
medication leads to bad outcomes.<br />
Blockley Surgery: as anticipated, the surgery will not be<br />
reopening and the NHS contract there has formally ended.<br />
Basically, it has proved to be an inflexible building which<br />
has fallen victim to necessarily upregulated infection control<br />
standards and also the inability to provide disabled access<br />
in the face of an increasingly frail and disabled population.<br />
Discussions about reproviding on a better site did occur<br />
but finished with the comment: “funding for a new branch<br />
surgery will never occur”. However, the development of<br />
phone consultations, medication delivery services and the<br />
very good new facilities in Moreton, mitigates to a very large<br />
extent. A building that people can’t access whilst they can<br />
still drive always had a limited trajectory.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Community Hospital remains in good health and<br />
heavily used. Services are maintained. Across the secondary<br />
care sector waiting times for outpatient attendances and<br />
access to investigations are heavily delayed - some waits are<br />
over a year. It would be a fair comment to say that the NHS<br />
can no longer be regarded as providing a comprehensive, or<br />
even adequate, service in many areas. In a recent survey 30%<br />
of under 30 year olds now have private health insurance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> doctors’ strikes: of the four groups involved in the<br />
NHS - patients, clinical workers, politicians and managers -<br />
three out of the four seem to be unhappy with it at present.<br />
One could be forgiven for taking this as a transition phase,<br />
perhaps to a more European system.<br />
So, there is hope for an evolved better future; providing we<br />
all keep working for it!<br />
A Happy and healthy Christmas to all!<br />
THE VOICE<br />
17<br />
Cooking with Celia<br />
by Celia Goodrick-Clarke<br />
WINTER SOUP<br />
We all have our favourite recipes for Christmas which<br />
after all is just a posh Sunday lunch! Today’s soup is<br />
ideal for post Christmas - it’s your 5-a day in one go<br />
and a meal in itself with crusty bread. Roasting the<br />
vegetables in olive oil brings out the flavour. <strong>The</strong> main<br />
ingredients are butternut squash, onion, carrot, small,<br />
sweet baby tomatoes on the vine and cloves of garlic in<br />
their paper casing. To this just add what vegetables are<br />
hanging around in the fridge… leeks are good, as are<br />
red peppers, a fennel bulb or a potato. After blending<br />
I like to add a whole tin of chickpeas with the liquid<br />
and a good handful of spinach which wilts in the hot<br />
soup (or those frozen spinach balls are fine). My large<br />
glass blender has broken but I found that a hand stick<br />
blender did just as well.<br />
I’ve just had a friend recuperating for a week after a<br />
new knee and she chose to eat this every day!<br />
Ingredients (5-6 good helpings) A whole butternut<br />
squash, quartered, seeds scooped out. Leave skin<br />
on but top and tail. 3 carrots, halved or quartered<br />
lengthways depending on size. An onion, skinned and<br />
cut into wedges. A good handful baby tomatoes. 3-4<br />
garlic cloves in their paper skin. Olive oil. Salt and<br />
pepper, a good pinch chilli flakes, 1 teaspoon either<br />
oregano or Italian seasoning herbs. 2 liquid chicken<br />
stock pots and 5 or more cups of water. 400g chickpeas<br />
and Spinach, optional.<br />
Method: Place the cut squash on a roasting tray or low<br />
tin with the carrots, onion and garlic. Sprinkle with<br />
olive oil and toss to cover. Roast for 20 minutes at 200c/<br />
gas6. Turn them and add the tomatoes (and red pepper<br />
if using). Sprinkle over the seasoning and dried herbs<br />
and roast for another 20 minutes or until the squash<br />
is soft. Once it’s cooled a little, tip the roast vegetables<br />
in a blender or if using a stick blender into a large<br />
saucepan. Remove the garlic cloves and squeeze insides<br />
out onto the vegetables. Add the liquid stock cubes with<br />
a cup of water and blend. Blend until smooth. Add the<br />
chickpeas and another 4 cups of water - you may need<br />
more if too thick for your taste. Stir together and heat<br />
fairly gently and add the spinach if using.<br />
To serve, top with a crumbled feta and chopped<br />
coriander.<br />
Quiz Answers<br />
1. Tony Hancock and his<br />
friends.<br />
2. St Stephen’s<br />
3. Dr Finlay and Dr Cameron.<br />
4. St Ogg’s.<br />
5. Bertie Pollock.<br />
6. <strong>The</strong> Junior Ganymede.<br />
7. Marcia Blaine School.<br />
8. Utopia.<br />
9. Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane<br />
Marple.<br />
10. George Orwell.
THE VOICE<br />
MEMBER<br />
Bridge + Friendship + Fun<br />
=<br />
Happy life & Healthy brain<br />
CHIPPING CAMPDEN<br />
BRIDGE CLUB<br />
Upper Town Hall, Chipping Campden<br />
Wednesdays 6.30 for 6.45pm<br />
Do you play bridge?<br />
Are you interested<br />
in joining a club?<br />
We are keen to encourage<br />
new members and social<br />
players to join us.<br />
We can provide help to<br />
introduce you to duplicate<br />
bridge and refresher sessions<br />
for any one who has not<br />
played for a while.<br />
For further information, please contact<br />
Sally Lindner M. 07767 204002<br />
Email sal.lindner@gmail.com<br />
• Looking to improve your outside<br />
space but stuck for ideas on how<br />
to make the most of it?<br />
• Want somewhere to entertain?<br />
• A space for your children to play?<br />
• Or maybe you just need a quiet<br />
place to relax, a calming,<br />
scented corner, just for you?<br />
I can provide a full garden design, planting<br />
plans or a simple garden report - some ideas<br />
of how you could best use your outdoor<br />
space and the types of plants that you like<br />
and would suit the environment.<br />
CONTACT LORRAINE:<br />
lorraine@cotswoldgardendesigner.co.uk<br />
07516262560<br />
www.cotswoldgardendesigner.co.uk<br />
18
On Sunday 5 November, a large group of people gathered<br />
around a large pool of water in the Vicarage Garden to see<br />
four members of Blockley Church being baptised or reaffirming<br />
the baptism vows made on their behalf when they<br />
were christened. With the help of supporters and sponsors,<br />
each made promises to love God, to follow Jesus and bring<br />
light into the world.<br />
One wrote: “I have chosen to get baptised and confirmed as<br />
I was not christened as a child; my parents weren’t religious<br />
and so decided against it when I was born. I have gradually<br />
found my faith as I have journeyed through life, and I have<br />
THE VOICE<br />
Church News<br />
Updates from Phil Black, Blockley’s Deputy Warden<br />
Celebration of Faith<br />
made this decision to commit myself publicly and formally to<br />
Christ now.”<br />
In the afternoon, those same people gathered again in<br />
Blockley Church to confirm their baptism, as the Bishop<br />
of Gloucester laid her hands on their heads and prayed for<br />
them to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. In total, seven were<br />
confirmed, five from Blockley.<br />
Another wrote: “this profound choice to reaffirm my baptism<br />
and be confirmed signifies my desire for a complete spiritual<br />
rebirth, washing away past transgressions, and embracing a<br />
deeper connection to my faith and the teachings of our church.<br />
<strong>The</strong> steps I have chosen to represent my commitment to live<br />
a life guided by love, compassion, and a deep connection to<br />
our faith community.”<br />
Five children who are regular member of our congregations<br />
were admitted to Holy Communion before confirmation.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y will be confirmed later in their lives, but for now will<br />
experience the sustaining love of God through bread and<br />
wine.<br />
One of the children who was also baptised wrote: “I want to<br />
be connected to God, and part of God’s family. Sometimes<br />
when I shut my eyes, I see Jesus and God. Having bread and<br />
wine will help me to feel more connected to God and to<br />
nearly touch Him.”<br />
It was a joyful day, a sign of the strength of our church<br />
community, and the memory of it will make us smile for years<br />
to come.<br />
Leisure time visit:<br />
PROPERTY RENOVATIONS<br />
BESPOKE EXTENSIONS<br />
NEW BUILD HOUSES<br />
BUILDING THE FUTURE,<br />
RENOVATING THE PAST<br />
Rousham House and Gardens<br />
(near Banbury/Bicester OX25 4QU)<br />
by Celia Goodrick-Clarke<br />
<strong>The</strong> joy of Rousham is that it’s open every day of the year from 10.00am–<br />
4.30pm or dusk. Cost £10 per person, cash or card. What makes it<br />
extraordinary is that it’s been in the same family since the house was<br />
built in 1635. Remodelled in 1719 in Gothic-style by Colonel Robert<br />
Dormer-Cottrell who employed the famous gardener, William Kent.<br />
Totally unspoilt and uncommercialised, there is no shop or cafe - you<br />
need to take your own picnic - and the gardens and park are kept<br />
just as they were designed with the river Cherwell running through.<br />
<strong>The</strong> perfectly classical temples, pools and follies giving the glorious<br />
atmosphere of Ancient Rome.<br />
<strong>The</strong> house is only open by prior arrangement at £20 per person<br />
(minimum of 10). No children under 10 and no dogs. <strong>The</strong>re are loos<br />
in the car park. Along with Monty Don, it is my favourite garden in<br />
England.<br />
More places to visit in February’s edition.<br />
07774 166387<br />
henrygc1@btinternet.com<br />
CONTACT US FOR<br />
A QUOTE<br />
19
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THE VOICE<br />
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THE VOICE<br />
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6<br />
14 20
THE VOICE<br />
Blockley Church refurbishment<br />
from Phil Black, Blockley’s Deputy Warden<br />
After six years of consultation, innumerable surveys, multiple design iterations and revisions, consent has, at last, been<br />
granted by all the relevant bodies for the work to go ahead. Once the project is complete the main difference people will<br />
notice is a church which is warm, well lit and uncluttered, to achieve our aim of being a welcoming place for all. Less<br />
obvious will be new underground water, electric, drainage and internet supplies to the building, although a resurfaced,<br />
puddle-free, path from the shop entrance will be welcomed by all. <strong>The</strong> initial driver for the project was a failure of the<br />
heating system. This winter most services will be held in the Jubilee Hall because of this. <strong>The</strong> main Christmas services,<br />
weddings and funerals will still be in the church using temporary electric heating.<br />
<strong>The</strong> total project cost is not far off £1 million. <strong>The</strong> fundraising team is hard at work preparing bids to grant-making<br />
bodies. <strong>The</strong>ir work includes an Activity Plan which will demonstrate how the project can benefit locals and visitors, as<br />
well as displaying the architectural history and place of the church in the centre of the community. If all goes well the<br />
contractor will start this time next year. This timing will not interfere with Father Brown filming in the summer.<br />
Church Services<br />
Sunday 3 <strong>December</strong><br />
8.30am Traditional Holy Communion in Jubilee Hall<br />
9:30am Open Door in Jubilee Hall<br />
9.30am Morning Praise at Ebrington<br />
6.00pm Advent Carols at Bourton on the Hill<br />
Sunday 10 <strong>December</strong><br />
9:30am Holy Communion in Jubilee Hall<br />
9.30am Holy Communion at Ebrington<br />
11.15amHoly Communion at Bourton on the Hill<br />
Thurs 14 <strong>December</strong><br />
4.30pm Christingle at Blockley Church<br />
Saturday 16 <strong>December</strong><br />
11.00amBlue Christmas in Jubilee Hall<br />
4.00pm Celebration of Christmas at Ebrington<br />
Sunday 17 <strong>December</strong><br />
9.30 am Holy Communion at Blockley Church<br />
11.15amHoly Communion at Bourton on the Hill<br />
6.00pm Carol Service at Blockley Church<br />
Wednesday 20 <strong>December</strong><br />
7.00pm Paxford Carol Service<br />
Church Registers<br />
Funeral<br />
16 November Roger Pearce<br />
17 November aul Chappell<br />
Burial of Ashes<br />
28 November Audrey Vause<br />
Marriage<br />
11 November Benjamin Preston and<br />
Freya Barratt<br />
Thanksgiving for Marriage<br />
12 November John and Marie Liptrot<br />
Christmas Eve<br />
9.30am Holy Communion at Ebrington<br />
4.00pm Crib Service at Blockley Church<br />
6.00pm Carol Service at Bourton on the Hill<br />
11.00pmMidnight Mass at Blockley Church<br />
Christmas Day<br />
9.30am Holy Communion at Blockley Church<br />
9.30am Holy Communion at Ebrington<br />
Sunday 31 <strong>December</strong><br />
9.30am Holy Communion in Jubilee Hall<br />
Sunday 7 <strong>January</strong><br />
8.30am Traditional Holy Communion in Jubilee Hall<br />
9:30am Open Door in Jubilee Hall<br />
6.00pm Evening Prayer at Bourton on the Hill<br />
Sunday 14 <strong>January</strong><br />
9:30am Holy Communion in Jubilee Hall<br />
11.15amHoly Communion at Bourton on the Hill<br />
6.00pm Second Sunday at Six in Little Village Hall<br />
Sunday 21 <strong>January</strong><br />
9:30am Holy Communion in Jubilee Hall<br />
11.15amHoly Communion at Bourton on the Hill<br />
Sunday 28 <strong>January</strong><br />
9:30am Holy Communion at Blockley Jubilee Hall<br />
11.15amHoly Communion at Bourton on the Hill<br />
Baptism<br />
5 November Sienna Dancey, Laura Bradley<br />
Re-affirmation of Baptism Vows by Immersion<br />
5 November Sarah Barnett, Angie Connell,<br />
Abigail Howarth<br />
Confirmation<br />
5 November Sarah Barnett, Laura Bradley<br />
Andrew Everett, Rosanne Higgins,<br />
Abigail Howarth,<br />
Gracie King, Jodie King<br />
Admission to Communion<br />
5 November Sienna Dancey, Oscar King,<br />
Sophia King, Alice King,<br />
Pippa Nicklin<br />
21
THE VOICE<br />
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* Servicing<br />
* Tyres<br />
* Brakes<br />
* Cambelts<br />
* Clutches<br />
needs, including:<br />
* Air Conditioning<br />
* Diagnostics<br />
* Batteries<br />
* Repairs<br />
* Alignment<br />
Coming Soon - MOT’s for Cars and Vans (Class IV & VII),<br />
while you wait<br />
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01451 831749 / 01451 530101<br />
terry@cotswoldvehiclesolutions.co.uk<br />
22
THE VOICE<br />
Parish Diary for <strong>December</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
When Who What Where Contact<br />
2 Saturday 7.30pm Paxford Village Cmtte Quiz and Casserole Paxford Village Hall 01386 593471<br />
3 Sunday 10.30am Paxford Village Cmtte Pottery Painting Paxford Village Hall 01386 593471<br />
4 Monday<br />
6 Wednesday<br />
12 noon<br />
2.45pm<br />
6.30pm<br />
10.30am<br />
7.30pm<br />
Sue Salmon and helpers<br />
Blockley Sports Club<br />
<strong>The</strong> Arts Society<br />
Blockley Bookworms<br />
Horticultural Society<br />
Souper Monday<br />
Christmas Bingo<br />
Spectacles of the Renaissance<br />
Christmas party<br />
Jane Sked’s Christmas<br />
Garlands<br />
Little Village Hall<br />
St.George’s Hall<br />
St.George’s Hall<br />
01386 700847<br />
01386 701451<br />
01386 840326<br />
tbc<br />
Jubilee Hall 01386 700303<br />
7 Thursday 7.30pm Bl.Women Connect Christmas Party Jubilee Hall 01386 701591<br />
8 Friday<br />
3.00pm Cakes & Co.<br />
Tea Club Christmas Party Little Village Hall 01608 652136<br />
5.00pm <strong>The</strong> Old School<br />
Jane Sked’s Christmas Wreaths <strong>The</strong> Old School, BoH 07553 092470<br />
9 Saturday<br />
10.00am <strong>The</strong> Old School<br />
Jane Sked’s Christmas Wreaths <strong>The</strong> Old School, BoH 07553 092470<br />
10.30am Paxford Village Cmtee Christmas Coffee Morning Paxford Village Hall 01386 593471<br />
1.30pm Blockley Ramblers Walk: tbc<br />
07731545635<br />
10 Sunday<br />
3.00pm Draycott Mission<br />
Communion<br />
Draycott Mission 01386 700660<br />
11 Monday 8.00pm Discussion Group Bog King’s World of Magic St.George’s Hall 01386 700418<br />
12 Tuesday 7.30pm Blockley Community Fund Christmas Bingo St.George’s Hall 01386 701451<br />
15 Friday<br />
16 Saturday<br />
18 Monday<br />
Parish Diary for <strong>December</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
1.30pm<br />
tbc<br />
7.30pm<br />
3.00pm<br />
6.30pm<br />
7.00pm<br />
12 noon<br />
6.30pm<br />
Carrie Preston<br />
Blockley Community Fund<br />
<strong>The</strong> Old School<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
<strong>The</strong> Old School<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
Sue Salmon and helpers<br />
Blockley Sports Club<br />
Craft Afternoon<br />
Family Christmas Party<br />
Blockley Blokes Concert<br />
Children’s Tea Party<br />
Christmas Party<br />
Mulled Wine/ Mince Pies/Carols<br />
Souper Monday<br />
Christmas Bingo<br />
Little Village Hall<br />
St.George’s Hall<br />
St.Lawrence Church<br />
BoH<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
<strong>The</strong> Old School, BoH<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
Little Village Hall<br />
St.George’s Hall<br />
01386 701072<br />
01386 701451<br />
01386 701564<br />
01386 701092<br />
01386 701564<br />
01386 701092<br />
01386 700847<br />
01386 701451<br />
22 Friday 3.15pm Blockley School Term Ends 01386 700567<br />
Regularly every week<br />
Monday 9.30am Toddler Group See: bourtononthehill.co.uk/<br />
toddlers-group/<br />
Tuesday<br />
Wednesday<br />
Thursday<br />
Friday<br />
11.30am<br />
2.30pm<br />
6.00pm<br />
9.30am<br />
10.30am<br />
1.30pm<br />
5.30pm<br />
5.30pm<br />
9.30am<br />
10.00am<br />
5.30pm<br />
6.00pm<br />
7.00pm<br />
7.30pm<br />
7.30pm<br />
7.30pm<br />
9.30am<br />
10.-12.00<br />
7.30pm<br />
Parish Council<br />
Blockley Ladies Choir<br />
Kate Duke<br />
Juliet Robbins<br />
Paxford Village Cmttee<br />
Bridge Club<br />
Katy Gunn<br />
Junior Kick Boxing<br />
Toddler Group<br />
Diane McCaul<br />
Juliet Robbins<br />
Blockley Youth Club<br />
Margaret Greenwood<br />
Blockley Youth Club<br />
Blockley Blokes Choir<br />
Bell Ringing<br />
Cotswold Friends<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
Blockley Brass Band<br />
Over 60’s Exercise Class<br />
Practice<br />
Hatha Yoga<br />
Pilates<br />
Coffee Morning<br />
Gentle Duplicate<br />
Gentle Yoga<br />
Term time only<br />
Term time only<br />
Art Group<br />
Pilates<br />
Juniors Aged 8-Y6<br />
Ballroom/Latin Dance<br />
Seniors Y7+<br />
Practice<br />
Practice<br />
Walking Football<br />
Coffee Morning<br />
Practice<br />
BoH Old School<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Little Village Hall<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Paxford Village Hall<br />
BoH Old School<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Little Village Hall<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Sports Club<br />
St.George’s Hall<br />
Sports Club<br />
Jubilee Hall<br />
Blockley Bell Tower<br />
Blockley Sports Field<br />
Draycott Mission<br />
St.George’s Hall<br />
01386 701602<br />
07932 692136<br />
07949 531377<br />
07899 966303<br />
01386 593471<br />
07946 253203<br />
07899 888547<br />
07484 785882<br />
07874 705815<br />
01386 700880<br />
07899 966303<br />
07768 875377<br />
01789 778007<br />
07768 875377<br />
07775 922268<br />
01386 700668<br />
01608 692811<br />
01386 700660<br />
01789 459561<br />
If you would like items included in the Parish Diary please email:<br />
carolynwillott@hotmail.com<br />
By the 12 th of the month for entry in the following month’s magazine.<br />
23
THE VOICE<br />
From an original by David Birch<br />
BLOCKLEY LITTLE<br />
VILLAGE HALL<br />
Elegance & practicality combine to make this a truly<br />
versatile venue. Modern fully-equipped kitchen plus<br />
new, comfortable seating for up to 35 people and a<br />
license to sell alcohol onsite make this a cosy place for a<br />
family celebration or a group get together.<br />
With upload & download speeds of<br />
900mbps, this is the Ideal setting for<br />
both business and community<br />
meetings. Combine superfast<br />
broadband with a 50inch Smart TV and<br />
mixed Zoom/Live meetings become a<br />
reality.<br />
Visit: www.blockleylittlevillagehall.org<br />
Booking enquiries to info.blvh@gmail.com<br />
or Telephone 01386 362055 for more<br />
information.<br />
Hire charges:<br />
Regular and local Society users £12 per hour<br />
Other and commercial users £14 per hour<br />
Email: suttons46@outlook.com<br />
ROOF/GUTTER/CHIMNEY<br />
DRONE INSPECTIONS<br />
ASSESS THE CONDITION OF<br />
THE ‘HARD TO REACH’ PARTS<br />
OF YOUR PROPERTY. FULL<br />
PHOTO/VIDEO REPORT.<br />
‣ RESIDENTIAL<br />
‣ COMMERCIAL<br />
‣ AGRICULTURAL<br />
Fully insured and CAA approved<br />
Your local community bus.<br />
Regular Friday morning service to Moreton-in-<br />
Marsh from Paxford, Blockley, Draycott and<br />
Aston Magna.<br />
(Doctors’ surgery in Moreton on request.)<br />
3 comfortable 16 - seater buses available for<br />
private hire - 01386 701666<br />
New volunteer drivers always welcome -<br />
01386 841849<br />
A local service run by local people<br />
30 years of service to the<br />
local community<br />
matthew@touchdownpictures.co.uk<br />
Tel: 07802 280800<br />
Visit our website for full information<br />
including timetables:<br />
www.hedgehogbus.org<br />
8<br />
24
THE VOICE<br />
Contacts for Village Organisations<br />
Group or Organisation Contact Name Phone Number Email<br />
Blockley Allotments Assoc. Clare Turner 01386 701695 blockleyallotments@outlook.com<br />
Blockley Amateur Dramatic Jenny Bruce 01386 701072 jenny@jennybruce.co.uk<br />
Blockley/Aston Magna Revd.Dana Delap 01386 700676 dana@delap.org.uk<br />
PCC<br />
Blockley Bell Ringers Mimi Stephens 01386 700668 mimistphns@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Blokes Choir Gareth Lewis 07775 922268 blockleyblokes@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Bookworms Jane Scott-<br />
01386 700303 blockleybookworms@gmail.com<br />
Henderson<br />
Blockley Brass Band Rachel Mold 01789 459561 blockleybrassband@outlook.com<br />
Blockley Church Room Beckie Wigley 01386 701752 rebeccawigley44@hotmail.com<br />
Blockley Discussion Group Paul Adams 01386 700418 adams.woodruff@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Educational Trust Michael Lucas michaelwlucas@btinternet.com<br />
Blockley Forum Leslie Packer 01386 700579 lgpacker123@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Heritage Society David Artingstall 01386 701556 blockley.heritage.soc@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Horticultural Soc. John Baldwyn 01386 701198 jwbaldwyn@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Ladies Choir Gillian Graham 07932 692136 gilliang983@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Little Village Hall Meriel Swain 01386 362055 info.blvh@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Primary School Ann Barry 01386 700567 admin@blockleyschool.gloucs.sch.uk<br />
Blockley Ramblers Claire Jones 07731 545635 blockleyramblers@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Sports & Soc.Club Sally Mayo 01386 701451 sallybakersarms@btconnect.com<br />
Blockley Toddler Group Jodie King blockleytoddlers@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Blockley Women Connect Meriel Swain 01386 701591 meriel1964@gmail.com<br />
Bourton Old School Hall Sandra Gee 01386 701385 psgee@btinternet.com<br />
Bridge Club Alan Lamb 07946 253203 alan.lamb123@btinternet.com<br />
Cakes & Company Yvonne Smith 01608 652136 yvonnemsmith2@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Cotswold Wardens Nik Sandars blockleypw@gmail.com<br />
Draycott Mission Kim McQuail 01386 700660 kim@mcquail.net<br />
Draycott Recreation Trust Ro Thompson 01386 701078 rodraycott@gmail.com<br />
Neighbourhood Watch<br />
neighbourhoodwatch@gloucestershire.police.uk<br />
Jubilee Hall Hilary Sutton 01386 700914 suttons46@outlook.com<br />
Lady Northwick Homes Peter Coupe 01386 700800 peter@petercoupe.com<br />
N.Cots.Community Bus<br />
privatehire@hedgehogbus.org<br />
Northwick Bowling Club Chris Adams 01608 652405 chrisadams500@btinternet.com<br />
Orchard Bank Philip Gee 01386 701385 psgee@btinternet.com<br />
Paxford Book Club Barbara Mutch andymutch@icloud.com<br />
Paxford Village Hall<br />
bookings@paxford.org.uk<br />
Richard Perkins Trust Michael Lucas michaelwlucas@btinternet.com<br />
St.George’s Hall, Blockley Laura Bradley 07538 218604 info@stgeorgeshallblockley.org.uk<br />
<strong>The</strong> Arts Society, Blockley Elaine Parker 01386 840326 elaineparker@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Member Member of Parliament of for <strong>The</strong> <strong>The</strong> Cotswolds<br />
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown<br />
Chris Nelson<br />
25<br />
cliftonbrowng@parliament.uk<br />
Police and Crime Commissioner Gloucestershire<br />
Police and Crime Commissioner Gloucestershire<br />
County and District Councillors<br />
pcc@gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk<br />
County and District Councillors<br />
Gloucestershire County Council Cllr Lynden Stowe lynden.stowe@gloucestershrie.gov.uk 07778 489682<br />
Cotswold District Council Cllr Clare Turner clare.turner@cotswold.gov.uk 07740 655940<br />
Blockley Parish Council<br />
Blockley Parish Council<br />
Jon Bryan Chair jon.bryan@blockley.org.uk<br />
Clare Turner Vice Chair/District Councillor clare.turner@blockley.org.uk<br />
Thomas Bradley Councillor/St.George’s Hall Committee thomas.bradley@blockley.org.uk<br />
Paul Baines Councillor and Chair Personnel Committee paul.baines@blockley.org.uk<br />
Eleanor Thorneycroft Councillor and Planning/Personnel Committee eleanor.thorneycroft@blockley.org.uk<br />
Steve Neill Councillor/Planning steve.neill@blockley.org.uk<br />
Alison Fowlie Councillor alison.fowlie@blockley.org.uk<br />
Chris Leach Councillor chris.leach@blockley.org.uk<br />
Charlie Mackinnon-Little Councillor charlie.mackinnon-lile@blockley.org.uk<br />
Nikki Holt Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer parishclerk@blockley.org.uk 01386 701602
THE VOICE<br />
Vale and Cotswold Edge Team<br />
Blockley Blockley and and and Bourton Bourton on the on Hill the Church Hill Contacts Church Contacts<br />
Website: www.blockleychurch.org.uk – Blockley – Blockley Church Church is on is Facebook on Facebook<br />
Contacts<br />
Website: www.blockleychurch.org.uk – Blockley Church is on Facebook<br />
Vicar and Team <strong>The</strong> Revd. Canon Dana Delap, <strong>The</strong> Vicarage, High Street, Blockley, GL56 9ES 01386 700676<br />
Missioner Email: dana@delap.org.uk<br />
Vicar and Team <strong>The</strong> Revd. Canon Dana Delap, <strong>The</strong> Vicarage, High Street, Blockley, GL56 01386 700676<br />
Missioner 9ES<br />
Church Wardens Anne<br />
Email:<br />
Packer,<br />
dana@delap.org.uk<br />
2 St.George’s Terrace, Blockley, GL56 9BN<br />
Blockley Email: afjpacker123@gmail.com<br />
01386 700579<br />
Sarah Brazier, 6 Barn Ground Close, Blockley, GL56 9AY<br />
01386 335484<br />
Church Wardens Anne Packer, 2 St.George’s Terrace, Blockley, GL56 9BN<br />
01386 700579<br />
Email: sarahbrazier2828@gmail.com<br />
Blockley Email: afjpacker123@gmail.com<br />
Deputy Wardens<br />
Sarah Brazier, 6 Barn Ground Close, Blockley, GL56 9AY<br />
01386 335484<br />
Margaret Email: sarahbrazier2828@gmail.com<br />
Baldwyn, 43 Winterway, Blockley, GL56 9EF<br />
01386 701198<br />
Robert Greenstock, Dovedale, Blockley, GL56 9NH<br />
01386 700410<br />
Deputy Wardens Marie Margaret Hildreth, Baldwyn, Cadley 43 Cottage, Winterway, Greenway Blockley, Road, GL56 9EF Blockley, GL56 9BJ 01386 01386 701198 700472<br />
Philip Robert Black, Greenstock, Camrose, Dovedale, HighStreet, Blockley, Blockley, GL56 GL56 9NH 9ES<br />
01386 07974 700410 190578<br />
Marie Hildreth, Cadley Cottage, Greenway Road, Blockley, GL56 9BJ 01386 700472<br />
Bourton on the Philip Philip Gee, Black, Quarry Camrose, House, High Bourton Street, Blockley, on the Hill, GL56 GL56 9ES 9AJ<br />
07974 01386 190578 701385<br />
Hill<br />
Email: psgee@btinternet.com<br />
Bourton on the Naomi Philip Morris, Gee, Quarry Flat 4, House, Snowshill Bourton Farm, on the Snowshill Hill, GL56 Hill, 9AJ GL56 9TH<br />
01386 701385 853742<br />
Hill<br />
Email: morrises32a@btinternet.com<br />
psgee@btinternet.com<br />
Naomi Morris, Flat 4, Snowshill Farm, Snowshill Hill, GL56 9TH<br />
01386 853742<br />
PCC Treasurers<br />
Email: morrises32a@btinternet.com<br />
Philip Gee, Quarry House, Bourton on the Hill, GL56 9AJ<br />
01386 701385<br />
Blockley Email: psgee@btinternet.com<br />
PCC Treasurers Derek Philip Luff, Gee, French Quarry Mill House, Cottage, Bourton Snugborough on the Hill, GL56 Lane, 9AJ Blockley GL56 9DU 01386 01386 701385 700281<br />
Blockley Email:<br />
Email:<br />
derek.luff@3action.co.uk<br />
psgee@btinternet.com<br />
Derek Luff, French Mill Cottage, Snugborough Lane, Blockley GL56 9DU 01386 700281<br />
Bourton on the<br />
Email: derek.luff@3action.co.uk<br />
Philip Gee, Quarry House, Bourton on the Hill, GL56 9AJ<br />
01386 701385<br />
Hill<br />
Bourton on the<br />
Email:<br />
Philip<br />
psgee@btinternet.com<br />
Gee, Quarry House, Bourton on the Hill, GL56 9AJ<br />
01386 701385<br />
Hill<br />
Email: psgee@btinternet.com<br />
PCC Secretaries Charles Masheder, 17 Mill View, Blockley Court, GL56 9AZ<br />
01386 700586<br />
Blockley PCC Secretaries Email: Jane chasmash@ic24.net<br />
Elliman, 2 Gable Mews, Draycott Road, Blockley, GL56 9DY<br />
02079 932506<br />
Blockley Email: jane@legentis.com<br />
Bourton on the<br />
Hill Bourton on the<br />
Henry Betts, Top Orchard, Paxford, GL55 6XR<br />
Email: Henry hbetts@calor.co.uk<br />
Betts, Top Orchard, Paxford, GL55 6XR<br />
01386 593995<br />
01386 593995<br />
Hill<br />
Email: hbetts@calor.co.uk<br />
Church Councils Churchwardens, treasurer and secretary (ex officio), Adrian Beney<br />
Blockley Church Councils (Deanery Churchwardens, Synod), Derek treasurer Luff and (Deanery secretary Synod), (ex officio) Rhea Bazeley, Robert Burch,<br />
Blockley Rob Adrian Greenstock, Beney (Deanery Jane Elliman, Synod), Christine Derek Luff Moor, (Deanery Hannah Synod), Webb<br />
Rhea Bazeley, Robert Burch, Rob Greenstock, Christine Moor, Hannah<br />
Webb<br />
Bourton on the Churchwardens, treasurer and secretary (ex officio), Sandra Gee,<br />
Hill<br />
Roger Morris, Alix Nicklin, Frances Stone, Sophie Wilson<br />
Bourton on the Churchwardens, treasurer and secretary (ex officio),<br />
Hill<br />
Sandra Gee, Roger Morris, Alix Nicklin, Frances Stone, Sophie Wilson<br />
Deadline for November edition: 12 October<br />
Parish Diary/<br />
Articles Carolyn Willott carolynwillott@hotmail.com 01386 700677<br />
Subscriptions<br />
Advertising<br />
Brenda Williams<br />
Nigel Moor<br />
Wessington.w@btinternet.cm<br />
advertsthevoicenews@gmail.com<br />
01386 701844<br />
07778 207034<br />
26
Three plants Three for <strong>December</strong> plants for and <strong>December</strong> <strong>January</strong> and <strong>January</strong><br />
Three plants for <strong>December</strong> and <strong>January</strong><br />
THE VOICE <strong>December</strong> and <strong>January</strong> can be dark, cold and gloomy bu<br />
<strong>December</strong> and <strong>December</strong> <strong>January</strong> and can <strong>January</strong> be dark, can cold be and dark, gloomy cold and but three gloomy good but<br />
garden plants three good<br />
at to this brighten plants<br />
time the of<br />
to<br />
year<br />
brighten<br />
are Sarcococca,<br />
the<br />
winter aconite<br />
garden at this garden time of at year this time are Sarcococca, of year are Sarcococca, winter aconite winter and aconite Iris unguicularis. and Iris unguicularis.<br />
Gardener’s World<br />
Sarcococca confusa or sweet box has pure white sweetly<br />
Sarcococca Sarcococca confusa or sweet confusa box by<br />
or<br />
Jacky has sweet pure Rae<br />
box white (Head<br />
has sweetly pure<br />
Gardener<br />
white scented at<br />
sweetly<br />
Bourton flowers scented<br />
House)<br />
flowers from <strong>December</strong> to<br />
March from followed <strong>December</strong> by black to berries. <strong>The</strong> leaves are dark gree<br />
March followed March by followed black berries. by black <strong>The</strong> berries. leaves are <strong>The</strong> dark leaves green are and dark glossy. green and glossy. Although the flowers are<br />
pretty insignificant the smell is heavenly - a little too sweet<br />
pretty Although<br />
for some.<br />
insignificant the flowers<br />
It will form<br />
the<br />
a<br />
smell are<br />
rounded<br />
is heavenly<br />
shrub<br />
- a little too swee<br />
Three<br />
pretty<br />
plants<br />
insignificant<br />
for<br />
up to<br />
<strong>December</strong><br />
the smell is<br />
2m in height<br />
and<br />
heavenly <strong>January</strong><br />
- a little too sweet for some.<br />
spread and is ideal for shady, dry<br />
up<br />
It will<br />
areas.<br />
to 2m<br />
form<br />
A very<br />
in<br />
a<br />
height<br />
rounded<br />
easy plant<br />
and<br />
shrub<br />
spread<br />
to grow<br />
and<br />
and<br />
is ideal for shady, dry<br />
up to 2m in height and spread and is ideal for shady, dry areas. A very<br />
<strong>December</strong> and <strong>January</strong> maintain. can be dark, cold and gloomy but three good plants maintain.<br />
easy plant to grow and<br />
maintain.<br />
to brighten the garden at this time of year are<br />
Sarcococca, Winter Aconite and Iris Ungucularis.<br />
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) has bright golden yellow Winter buttercup aconite flowers (Eranthis with hyemalis) a green ruff. has bright golden yello<br />
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) has bright golden yellow buttercup flowers with a green ruff.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y are a welcome sight from mid <strong>January</strong> through to March. <strong>The</strong>y are Winter a welcome aconites sight are a from native mid <strong>January</strong> through to M<br />
<strong>The</strong>y are a welcome sight from mid <strong>January</strong> through to March. Winter aconites are a native<br />
Sarcococca Confusa, woodland or Sweet plant Box, so grow well Iris under Unguicularis trees or in – the a shady Algerian border with other Winter bulbs Aconite such as (Eranthis<br />
woodland plant so grow well under trees or in a shady border with other<br />
woodland<br />
bulbs such<br />
plant<br />
as<br />
so<br />
snowdrops<br />
grow well under snowdrops trees or in a shady bo<br />
has pure and white will spread sweetly and once will scented spread established. flowers once established. Iris. This is a winter flowering and will spread Hyemalis) once established.<br />
has bright gold yellow<br />
from <strong>December</strong> to March, followed by Iris forming clumps of evergreen buttercup flowers with a green<br />
black Iris berries. unguicularis <strong>The</strong> Iris leaves unguicularis - the are Algerian dark - green the iris. Algerian This leaves is a iris. winter with This fragrant flowering is a winter lavender iris flowering forming Iris clumps iris unguicularis forming of ruff. evergreen clumps <strong>The</strong>y - the Algerian are of evergreen a wonderful iris. This sight is a winter flowerin<br />
and glossy. leaves Although with fragrant leaves the with flowers lavender fragrant are blue lavender to purple blue blue to flowers purple to purple blooming flowers, flowers blooming throughout blooming leaves the throughout with winter from<br />
fragrant and the mid-<strong>January</strong> spring. winter lavender It and blue<br />
through spring. to purple It to<br />
flowers bloom<br />
grows up to 30cm in height and will grow in full sun in most grows well up drained to 30cm soils, in height ideally at and the will base grow in full sun in mo<br />
pretty grows insignificant, up to 30cm the smell in height is and will grow throughout in full sun the in winter most well and drained also soils, ideally March. at the Winter base Aconites are a<br />
of walls. of walls. <br />
of walls. <br />
heavenly – a little too sweet for some. in the spring. It grows up to<br />
native woodland plant, so grow<br />
It will form a<br />
30cm in<br />
well under<br />
rounded<br />
height and<br />
trees or in<br />
shrub up to<br />
will grow<br />
a shady<br />
2m in height<br />
in full sun<br />
border<br />
and spread.<br />
in most<br />
with other<br />
Ideal for<br />
well<br />
bulbs such<br />
shady, dry<br />
drained<br />
as snowdrops,<br />
areas. A very<br />
soils,<br />
and<br />
easy plant to<br />
ideally at<br />
will spread<br />
grow and<br />
the base<br />
once<br />
maintain.<br />
of walls.<br />
established<br />
Young readers<br />
Have you ever grown a garden from scraps ?<br />
This is Harry, our youngest reader. He lives in Mickleton and he’s going to have a go at growing<br />
a garden.<br />
Have you noticed that grown-ups have a habit of throwing away useful stuff, especially in the<br />
kitchen. In fact, almost any time they go near fruit and vegetables something goes to waste.<br />
Well, now you can teach them some better habits by showing them how to grow new plants<br />
from their scraps.<br />
Find a nice sunny windowsill where you can house your garden. Sunshine is completely<br />
essential to plants (very much like ice cream is to children). You should then hover over your<br />
parents’ shoulders every time they are preparing something to eat. <strong>The</strong>y will, of course, find<br />
this spectacularly annoying, but that’s nothing new.<br />
If they’re chopping up celery, ask to keep the bottom section when they have cut it off. Pop<br />
this in a shallow dish of water and in a few days it will start to regrow from the centre.<br />
Also, if you save the end of spring onions you can stack these in a small glass, with the roots at<br />
the bottom. Give them some water, and you’ll have more leaves to snip off in a couple of weeks.<br />
Plus, any cut-off tops of root vegetables like carrots, beetroots, turnips or radishes can be put on<br />
a saucer in some water and they will start to regrow.<br />
And when your mum or dad say: ‘Oh, dear’, as they pull out the vegetable basket, that’s your cue<br />
to grab things. Onions that have started to sprout or garlic cloves past their best can be planted in<br />
a pot of stones. Just water up to the base of these ‘bulbs’ and they’ll start producing leaves which<br />
will taste of, well, onion and garlic not surprisingly, and which you can snip with scissors to add<br />
to your cooking.<br />
And don’t forget, any leftover seeds and pips from fruit can be put into a small plant pot of<br />
compost to see if they’ll grow. Just make a hole with your finger, pop in the seed, cover if over<br />
with compost and give it a water.<br />
If you’d like to, you can send us photos of your ‘scraps‘ garden. Good luck and happy growing.<br />
Printed by<br />
Vale Press Ltd, Willersey, Glos<br />
Printed by Vale Press Ltd, Willersey, Glos<br />
27<br />
sales@valegroup.co.uk
THE VOICE<br />
FRI 22 DEC - SUN 7 JAN<br />
www.cidermilltheatre.com<br />
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