During the evening of Friday 20th July, as no doubt you are aware, severe flood damage was experienced by a number of residences in Dyers Hill and Mill Lane, as well as by Charlbury Cricket Club. The effects on both homeowners and the Cricket Club are significant, with 95% of the equipment at the Cricket Club currently considered to be unsalvageable.
Charlbury Cricket Club is one of the leading community organisations within Charlbury, offering sport and recreation to over 80 adults (women and men), 120 youth members between the ages of 6 and 17 years and 40 children aged between 3 and 5 years.
Undoubtedly, there will be severe consequences for the Cricket Club for the rest of this season as opportunities to play cricket will be limited over the next few weeks, with the machinery and pavilion likely to be completely unusable for the rest of the season at best.
That said, it is not the nature of the members of the Cricket Club to be defeated by the small matter of a flood. Therefore an emergency meeting was held at the Bell Hotel on Monday 23rd July, with a five-point plan being established. The plan is as follows:
• To restore youth and tots cricket as soon as possible for the current season, with a view to commencing youth activities from Monday 6th August at the Club. • To hire both temporary changing and toilet facilities until the end of the season. • To hire a roller and other equipment needed to maintain all aspects of the ground. • To try to commence adult cricket from Saturday 11th August. • To establish an emergency fund to support cricket within Charlbury for the remainder of this season and for the future.
We have received numerous offers of help, ranging from the loan of two mowers by Great Tew Cricket Club, offers of playing facilities at nearby clubs and the loan of a tractor for the rest of the season by Rob Jackson. We have been deeply touched by both the sentiments expressed by Charlbury residents and their willingness to help and in response to a number of suggestions we are now setting up an emergency appeal to assist in our aim of restoring cricket at Charlbury.
Whilst the Club is hoping to benefit from our current insurance policy, the very fact that the pavilion is located within an area of the flood plain means that the level of insurance cover is significantly less than the amount that will need to be spent to restore all the existing facilities at the Club to the state they were in before the flood. We have estimated that the shortfall is likely to be in excess of £100,000. Again, whilst this is a significant barrier to fully restoring cricket at Charlbury, all members are committed to the goal of raising whatever sums are required.
Therefore, if you would like to assist us in our goal of restoring cricket in Charlbury and would like to contribute to the emergency fund you can pay in one of two ways:
Pay direct into our emergency fund: Charlbury Cricket Club Pavilion Fund Account Number 70959758 Sort Code 20-97-48 Barclays bank plc, Witney Branch Please leave a reference if possible
Send a cheque made payable to “Charlbury Cricket Club” to: Charlbury Cricket Club c/o Malcolm Harper The Cottages Church Lane Charlbury Oxon OX7 3PX
Any donation, however small, will go a long way to restoring cricket in Charlbury.
Charlbury has seen the worst flooding for many years, with two of the main roads closed, no train services, and several submerged cars.
The driver of one car, stranded on the river bridge at the bottom of Dyers Hill, had to abandon their vehicle but then could not physically cross the fast-running water - he had to cling to a railing until he was rescued. On Pound Hill, meanwhile, a car was abandoned on Saturday morning after the driver's unsuccessful attempt to get to work in Chipping Norton.
See also the picture gallery. (More pictures to be added in the next few days.)
Roads: Now that the waters have subsided, the roads to Burford and Chipping Norton are passable once again. A single-file traffic light system is in operation at the bridge over the Evenlode at the bottom of Dyers Hill.
Trains: No trains are running from Charlbury (or anywhere between Oxford and Worcester). First Great Western says that services will not resume at any point before Monday 6th August. Replacement road services are scheduled as follows, though are of course subject to further cancellation due to flooding in the Oxford/Abingdon area:
Taxis will be provided from Charlbury direct to Didcot at 06.20 and 06.47, and a coach at 09.15
Taxis will be provided direct from Didcot to Charlbury, Kingham and Hanborough at 18.20 and 19.20, and a coach direct from Didcot to Charlbury at 17.00
Rail passengers are also able to use the 20A Stagecoach local bus service to and from Oxford using their rail tickets.
CHOC maintenance staff arrived at The Bell to resurface and bolt together the cinema screen for "Notes on a Scandal" last weekend only to find the screen had disappeared from the barn behind The Bell. If you have any idea who has removed a large white-painted board, around nine by four feet, mounted on a wooden frame with holes drilled for butterfly nuts, please give Ed Fenton a ring on 811196.
Calling all Actors - CADS auditions for "The Happiest Days of Your Life" by John Dighton
Want to act and be part of a friendly drama group? If yes and you would like to audition for our next play or help behinds scenes. Come along to the Auditions on the Tuesday 31st July and Thursday 2 August at 8pm in the Methodist Hall, Fishers Lane, Charlbury - Charlbury Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS)
Summary of Play There are some plays which never date and John Dighton's farce "The Happiest Days of your Life" is one of them. Set in a boys school at the end of the Second World War, with another school evacuated to them, the resultant chaos is tailor-made for hilarious farce. The script is witty and there is a broad range of characters. Performances are the 15-17th November.
As many of you will know, in the last 6 months I have been working hard to raise money in order to take part in a voluntary project in Costa Rica and Nicaragua with Raleigh International. All the money I have raised goes directly to the charity and supports the worthwhile work of volunteers in countries much poorer than our own.
You may have seen me at the open gardens selling local ice cream, or at the Riverside festival selling pimms, or you may even have been lucky enough to see me run the Didcot fun run dressed as a banana. So far I have raised £2500 of the £3000 I need to take part but on the final stretch I really need your help and support. If anyone could consider making a donation, no matter how small, it would be greatly appreciated. Go to www.justgiving.com/kateandrews to make a secure online donation.
Members of the Board and Management of The Good Food Shop have been noting with interest recent comments in the Forum, prompted by the application for change of use at ‘News & Things’ and its effect on other shops in the town centre. It has also come to our notice that the name of The Good Food Shop has been linked to rumours that more closures are imminent. We would like to assure all our shareholders and loyal customers that The Good Food Shop is trading successfully and the Board has every confidence that under Lynne Stubbles capable management it can continue to do so. Of course it is true that trading conditions in Market St and Sheep St are difficult and have been aggravated by the advent of the larger Co-op, more conveniently placed for the Car Park and for visitors to the Medical Centre, Dentists and Vets’. Sheep St is noticeably less busy than hitherto. The Good Food Shop does not rest on its laurels. Lynne is constantly on the lookout for new lines and will stock them if they can be obtained in economic quantities and space and environmental regulations allow. The Board are very aware of the compromises imposed by the shop premises and have, in the past examined alternatives but none have proved viable. Our customer base would not support the Harrods’, Fortnum’s or even Daylesford prices necessary to cover increased costs.
Rest assured The Good Food Shop will continue to meet the demand for filled rolls, fresh bread and cakes, organic vegetables, cheeses and other local products etc. in fact all the goods our customers have come to expect.
Alcohol has again featured in gatherings of youths at Nine Acres. Although the youths have been targeted and alcohol confiscated, it has not prevented unsightly litter being left on site.
Charlbury again welcomes the presence of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Stephanie Blake, who together with PCSO Wes Smith shares responsibility for the community. It is hoped that Stephanie will visit Charlbury on a regular basis and provide a much needed visible presence during the day.
Following enquiries into an assault which occurred in Church Street a few weeks ago, a young man has been charged to appear in court.
Damage has occurred in St Mary The Virgin Church where fire extinguishers have been taken from inside the church and damage has been caused inside and out. Any witnesses please contact us on 0845 8 505 505.
