News
A quiz (no matter what)
In person, remote, hybrid? Masked or un-masked? It doesn’t matter, we’ve got you covered!
Plan to join us on Saturday evening, 30 October for dinner and a quiz to support St. Mary’s and its community initiatives. Current guidance would allow us to meet in person, and that is our plan. However, if things change, we will adapt accordingly.
If you would prefer to participate remotely, please let us know.
Start time is 7pm. Teams of six players each. £15 per person including meal. Please contact Dine Glasgow dglasgow@theridgegroup.com to reserve your place.
daniela jenkins ·
Thu 30 Sep 2021, 16:50 · Link
Oxfordshire Mind's Primary Care Wellbeing Service now available at The Charlbury Medical Practice
I am very pleased to announce that Oxfordshire Mind's Primary Care Wellbeing Service has recently expanded to the Rural West primary care network (PCN) which the Charlbury Medical Practice is a part of.
The Primary Care Wellbeing service offers support to those aged 16 and up who are living with mental health and/or wellbeing issues. Each client can use up to 6 wellbeing sessions, which can be used as telephone, or face-to-face appointments in their usual GP practice.
We are available to access via a referral from your GP or self-referral, by emailing NWprimarycarewellbeing@oxfordshiremind.org.uk with your name, date of birth, which GP practice you are registered with, and your telephone number.
Initial sessions usually last for around forty-five minutes, with follow ups lasting closer to thirty minutes. As part of the session, we will explore potential services and strategies together to support you in moving forward and empower you to improve your own personal wellbeing. Following these sessions, if appropriate we will send you a follow-up letter either via post or email containing further information about the services and strategies we have decided on during our session. Face to Face appointments are currently held on Wednesday mornings at Charlbury Medical Practice. Phone appointments are held on Thursday all day.
If you are registered with Charlbury Medical Practice and would like to self-refer or just have any further questions about the service please send an email to nwprimarycarewellbeing@oxfordshiremind.org.uk with the subject FAO Cal Weaver and I will endeavour to get back to you within a couple of days.
Wishing you all the best,
Cal Weaver
(Primary Care Wellbeing Worker for the Rural West PCN)
Callum Weaver ·
Thu 30 Sep 2021, 11:42 · Link
Anna Cherry - a National Pickleball Champion
Anna has done it again! She won a gold medal in the National Pickleball Championships. Well done Anna! Here is an extract from the press release:
Pickleball 2021 English Nationals 12-15th August 2021
Last month at the Bolton Arena, Charlbury resident Anna Cherry, won the Gold Medal in the Pickleball 2021 English Nationals 3.5 19+ to 4.0 60+ Singles competition. Anna is a Vintage player but managed to overcome her 33 year old opponent 2-11, 11-7, 11-8 in the final. She was able to develop her winning game thanks to the fantastic facilities at Charlbury Community Centre and the encouragement of her training opponents Miles Walkden and Nick Ghosh.
Tanya Stevenson ·
Tue 28 Sep 2021, 17:52 · Link
Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 27 Sep 2021, 06:15 · Link
Flu vaccination clinics for Charlbury Medical Centre patients
The Charlbury Medical Centre will be holding flu vaccination clinics at the Charlbury Football and Sports Club next to the Community Centre on Tuesday, 5 October, 8.30 to 5.00, for the over 65s and Thursday, 7 October, 8.30 to 5.00, for the 50 to 65s.
These will be walk-in clinics with no set appointments.
Patients in each of these age ranges will be called to their clinic by letter. As there are different vaccines for each age group, patients will need to attend on their appointed day and will not be able to swap over to the other day.
Patients will be asked to wear a mask and must bring their invitation letter with them to their clinic, in order to be confirmed as eligible to receive their vaccine.
Meryl Smith ·
Sat 25 Sep 2021, 13:41 · Link
The History of Charlbury through ....the arrival of the motor car
Following the recent Town Council traffic survey, it seems topical to look at the dramatic changes wrought by motor vehicles over the last century. Before that road transport consisted mostly of horse-drawn vehicles and bicycles. From the early 1900s cars began to increase much to the consternation of walkers. A Charlbury Parish Council meeting in 1912 noted the need to improve the footpaths as “… now owing to the motorists it was dangerous for pedestrians on the highway. The Chairman said he thought too much money was being spent on the highways at the present time simply to make them motor tracks.” The following year a petition was sent to the County Council complaining of “the dust nuisance caused by the increasing motor traffic through the streets of the town and asking that the streets may be treated with tar paint.”
The rise in motor vehicles is reflected in increasingly frequent reports of accidents in the Oxford Times. On 20 September 1913 Mr F. Harwood of Lees Rest Farm and his wife were motoring home when they collided with another car at the Five Ways junction, described as “the very dangerous blind crossroads”. Fortunately no one was injured but both cars were seriously damaged. Mr Harwood must have felt very out of luck – two ricks at the farm had burnt down the evening before in a major fire.
Motorbikes became increasingly popular, appealing particularly to young men who were increasingly involved in accidents. In 1926 Harold Warner of Market Street, a popular local footballer player, collided with a pedestrian near the Bladon turn as he returned from a match. He sustained severe head injuries but luckily survived, unlike the pedestrian who later died in hospital.
Local garages began to open. By 1914 Warners in Market Street looked after the few cars in Charlbury, and Claydons at Home Farm on the Playing Close repaired cars and agricultural vehicles. By 1926 Frank Widdows ran the Station Hill Garage on Dyers Hill, and Brice and Price opened next to the Baptist Church. Warners were later taken over by Morrisons: when Noahs Ark was converted into an office in the early 2000s, an oil sump was found still under the floor. Wearings in Sheep Street repaired cars and also ran frequent bus services, as did Phillips in Nine Acres Lane.
Private car ownership took off in the 50s, and in the 60s houses began to be built with garages (e.g the bungalows in Sandford Rise) though few can accommodate a modern car. The first motorists would be staggered by the thousands of traffic movements each day through the town. It will be interesting and no doubt sobering to learn the results of the recent survey.
All quotes taken from newspaper reports in The Oxford Times, available in the museum.
We will look at the bus services which served the town in a later posting.
Judy Dod ·
Fri 24 Sep 2021, 22:00 · Link
Film Showing 2040 23rd Sept Charlbury Memorial Hall
Do come and join us for this uplifting environmental film. Preceded by drinks and followed by a discussion. Please see poster for details. £5 for a film ticket and a drink. No pre booking required but do ring Kath 01993 868487 for any info.
Katherine Lucas ·
Mon 20 Sep 2021, 21:43 · Link
The Cornerstone Learning Cafe - Looking for Volunteers
One of the key activities of the Cornerstone is its Learning Café. The Learning Café is a team of volunteers who work with children from Charlbury Primary School, who may have found home learning particularly challenging during the pandemic, and who now need extra help to catch up with homework and learning. The Learning Café works in collaboration with the school. So far children have really benefited from this one to one support, and while being better prepared for lessons, we are also seeing them growing in confidence and self-belief.
We are looking for volunteers to join our team of volunteers. There is a particular need for someone who will do maths with the children, but everyone is welcome to contact us. As the team of volunteers grows, we are hoping to take on more children.
Commitment would be one hour a week, typically after school hours, 3-4pm; there will be some online safeguarding training to take as well as a DBS check.
If you are interested please contact Daniela Jenkins at danielajenkins@btinternet.com.
daniela jenkins ·
Mon 20 Sep 2021, 10:52 · Link
Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 20 Sep 2021, 06:15 · Link
The History of Charlbury through ... a visit to the museum
We are all delighted to see the return of the Street Fair after last year’s cancellation. The museum will be open all day between 10.30 and 5pm so please do call in to see us.
We have our exhibition, held over from last year, about Charlbury during the second world war. Make sure you catch it before we close for the season at the end of this month. You’ll be able to see the air raid siren, fragments of bombs dropped just outside the town, and find out how people managed with rationing and the black out. The town became home to many evacuees from London and elsewhere, and welcomed many servicemen especially in the run-up to D-Day.
It may also be the first chance you have had to see the wagon, beautifully restored and painted in its traditional bright red and yellow colours. Our newly reorganised display tells the story of gloving and we have some new pictures and other local finds on display.
In the afternoon the Charlbury Society will be having a stall in the front garden where you can renew your membership. New members are always very welcome and a full series of interesting lectures is planned for the coming season. There will be a museum bookstall too where you can buy local history books and other items related to the history of the town.
Oh, and look out for Mary Poppins who is visiting the museum garden this weekend …… and she has now been joined by a wonderful Hungry Caterpillar.
Judy Dod ·
Fri 17 Sep 2021, 22:29 · Link
Job opportunities at Ditchley Park
Local vacancies at Ditchley Park if anyone is interested. It's a fascinating place to work and a really beautiful house and estate.
Fulltime - Housekeeping Manager
Full time - Events Manager
Part-time / casual - Waiting Team and Cleaners
Katie Williams ·
Fri 17 Sep 2021, 16:40 · Link
Oktoberfest comes to Charlbury
Following the disappointments of the past couple of summers, the Directors and Committee of the Charlbury Beer Festival are pleased to announce an autumn event designed to raise money for good causes around the town and beyond.
The 23rd Charlbury Beer Festival will take place on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th October at Memorial Hall. Our Oktoberfest will have three separate four-hour 'sessions', each with a capacity of 180 visitors, and each session will have its own distinct musical ambience.
We hope to incorporate around 30 real ales, as well as a range of ciders, wine and soft drinks; a great selection of food; and of course, live music throughout. We will abide by the latest Covid guidelines in place at the time, and attendance must be pre-booked through the Beer Festival's website (over 18s only) - see the Events page for full details.
Edward Fenton ·
Thu 16 Sep 2021, 21:42 · Link
GRANTS FOR APPRENTICES AND STUDENTS
Just two
weeks to go before the deadline for applying for a grant from the Charlbury
Exhibition Foundation:
https://www.charlbury.info/community/90
Even if
you have received a grant in a previous year, you may qualify for another, so
do apply again.
Apply by 30
September 2021 to:
charlburygrants@hotmail.com
Please
include the following details:
-
Name and date of birth;
-
Home address in Charlbury;
-
Schools you have attended;
-
For students:
o
The name of the university or college,
o
The title and level of your course
(for example: BA Hons in European History),
o
The year of study
(for example: first year, second year, …);
-
For apprentices:
o
The name of your employer,
o
The type of apprenticeship and level;
-
Outline information on the costs involved in the course or apprenticeship.
William Robinson
William Robinson ·
Wed 15 Sep 2021, 11:34 · Link
Charlbury Street Fair Auction
This year, the Charlbury Street Fair 2021 silent auction will be on a blind bid basis. This is because of a certain amount of controversy over cut off times and some difficult issues that arose two years ago. We are hoping to add a few more items before Street Fair Day arrives, but in the meantime this is the current version of the lots.
There are two ways of bidding. Either in person, at the Charlbury Street Fair stall on Sat, 18th September, or via email to auctioncsf@gmail.com quoting the lot number, your name, your telephone number and the amount bid.
People may bid as many times as they wish for any one item, but we will always take the highest amount bid.
The cut-off for in person bids is 5pm on Saturday, 18th September 2021.
Email bids must be sent by 11pm on Friday, 17th September 2021, although a little leeway may be given at the discretion of the Street Fair Team.
The winner will be the person who put in the highest bid for an item by the
cut-off time. In the event of two equal bids being placed, then the
winner will be chosen among them at random. The winner's name will only be published with their agreement.
Note that the Street Fair reserves the right to withdraw lots in
exceptional circumstances, and that the placing of a bid does not amount
to a contract between the bidder and the Street Fair.
If no bids are received for an item, the Street Fair reserves the
right to add them to the raffle prize list at the discretion of the
appointed officers.
The list of lots will also be maintained on the CSF news web page.
Steve Jones ·
Tue 14 Sep 2021, 19:09 · Link
The Leaflet
The Leaflet, which is delivered through your door every month, will be changing to an edition which covers two months. This will start with the October November edition. Deadlines for information to go in the Leaflet are the 15th of the preceding month - for this edition we will accept entries about events in October and November until 20th September. Many thanks. St Mary's Church.
parishoffice@charlburychurch.uk
Jo Paton ·
Mon 13 Sep 2021, 13:41 · Link
Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
- 8 Sandford Rise Charlbury
Single storey rear extension. Conversion of existing garage to a habitable room
WODC reference: 21/03039/HHD - Wed 08 Sep 2021 - Under consideration
- Cranbrook Stonesfield Lane Charlbury
First floor extension and two storey side extension
WODC reference: 21/03040/HHD - Wed 08 Sep 2021 - Under consideration
- 1 Police House Hixet Wood Charlbury
Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 17/00889/FUL to allow changes in materials relating to external walls, roofs, windows and driveways/parking bays.
WODC reference: 21/02973/S73 - Thu 02 Sep 2021 - Under consideration
Mon 13 Sep 2021, 06:15 · Link
Charlbury Deli meeting
Our wonderful community Deli is doing well and we are holding a shareholders meeting on Friday 22 October-6.30pm at the Memorial Hall.
We will be discussing ideas for forming the Deli into a community interest company and future plans. Important for all of us in Charlbury that we have a thriving local deli- the recent lockdown showed just how important that was!
Sir Stephen Bubb
Sun 12 Sep 2021, 08:50 · Link
Town Council traffic survey
Charlbury Town Council is considering whether changes to the local road network would make our town a quieter, pleasanter place to live and visit. Before we propose any changes, we need a snapshot of how drivers are using the town – where they are driving to/from, and when. So we are conducting a traffic survey. We have chosen three times of day during the school holidays (we did a survey in August) and a school day (Tuesday, 21st September).
We will have teams of people recording data at six locations around town at 7–9 am, 12–2 pm and 4.30–6.30 pm. The locations are Five Ways, Enstone crossroads, Nine Acres/Thames St corner, the station roundabout, Spendlove entrance and the Bull corner.
We have an amazing 25 volunteers so far but we desperately need a few more so we have enough for each junction – the busiest junctions need four volunteers to comfortably collect the data.
For more info about what’s involved, please visit https://www.charlburytowncouncil.co.uk/journeys-working-group/.
So, dear, kind people of Charlbury, could you help us record vehicle movements at 7–9 am, 12–2 pm or 4.30–6.30 pm on Tuesday, 21st September? Please contact Cllr James Styring via this site or on 07792 375423. Thank you.
James Styring ·
Sat 11 Sep 2021, 16:53 · Link
The History of Charlbury through ... the Spendlove School 1958-1982
Janet Jeffs for Charlbury Museum
In the 1950s in Charlbury, a new secondary school was urgently needed to replace the overcrowded County School on the Playing Close. Plans and a model of the new school to be built on the School Gardens were displayed at a public meeting in 1955. The new School opened at Easter 1958 with 300 pupils, serving not only Charlbury but also children from Leafield, Stonesfield, Finstock, Fawler and Enstone. There was controversy because people preferred the School Gardens to the startlingly modern building. The museum owns a brochure prepared for the "Evenlode Secondary School" dated 1958, but the County Council chose the name “Spendlove Secondary Modern School”. There was a bungalow for the caretaker and a popular Further Education Centre with a variety of evening classes. The School opened formally in May 1959 and in 1960 the Wychwood House paddocks were bought to provide a school playing field. Did the child-beater transfer to the new school? Perhaps someone can recall …
From February 1959, pupils won numerous GCE awards and County Tests of Achievement Certificates. Tennis and cricket coaching began. Pupils visited the West Oxford Tech, the Leafield Radio Station and factories in Witney. The new Head, Mr Larder, introduced regular outings to women’s hockey matches, concerts and the theatre in Oxford and Stratford. Various well-known musicians visited, including James Blades (percussionist), Leon Goossens (oboist), Carl Dometsch and Joseph Saxby (recorders & viol). There were school trips to France, Bavaria and Switzerland, and sailing lessons at Farmoor Reservoir. In 1963 after much fund-raising the Swimming Pool was formally opened by the Marquis of Blandford. John Moore, who taught Biology & Rural Studies from 1975, remembers garden plots and a hen-house on site.
After 1965 the County Council arranged for all children from the area to transfer to Spendlove School for 3 years and then to Chippy or Witney for the rest of their secondary education. Mr Larder proposed that part of Nine Acres might be used to extend the school to cater for 700 pupils, including a covered sports hall, but the County Council had other plans in mind. Despite much local opposition, they decided to close Spendlove School, sell the site and part of Wychwood Paddocks to finance classrooms at the new Primary School on Crawborough; and to use the old Primary School for adult education, the library and a health centre. When the school closed, Charlbury became a quieter place in daytime. A reunion party in 2017 attracted 100 former pupils who still have fond memories of their Spendlove schooling, despite the great heat in summer and the freezing cold in winter!
Judy Dod ·
Fri 10 Sep 2021, 23:27 · Link
Town Clerk Vacancy
Charlbury Town Council is in the process of recruiting a replacement for our Town Clerk, Roger Clarke, who is retiring shortly after many years of sterling service to Charlbury. Interested applicants can find details at:
https://www.charlburytowncouncil.co.uk/vacancies/
Gary Harrison ·
Thu 9 Sep 2021, 11:07 · Link
Early Years Spaces in Charlbury
Spaces available at our fabulous pre-school, right here in Charlbury.
Lots of fun and exploring takes place in a beautiful building with talented staff.
Contact us for more information.
Jill Petersen ·
Tue 7 Sep 2021, 14:00 · Link
Cornerstone - plums, damsons, beans
The Cornerstone has received lots of plums, damsons, and all types of beans this week – they go about as fast as they come in, so if you have some in your garden and don’t know what to do with them, do bring them down to the Corner House! So many people are benefitting from this produce and we are so very grateful for any contributions.
We also need more strong plastic bags for the food bank, so if you have some lying around they can be put to good use at the Cornerstone.
Finally, a request for more children’s books – it is looking much better now (do come down and have a look), but we would like to expand even further!
We will be putting the uniform exchange away soon to give way for the apple exchange, so no more uniform items needed thank you – and hurry down if you want to have a quick look before it goes! (saying that, if you email the Cornerstone at any time of the year, we can make the uniforms available to you, not a problem).
Have a lovely summery day all.
cornerstone@charlburychurch.uk
The Cornerstone is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-1pm.
Cornerstone ·
Tue 7 Sep 2021, 10:16 · Link
Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
- The Old Fire Station Browns Lane Charlbury
Proposed first floor rear extension
WODC reference: 21/02918/HHD - Fri 27 Aug 2021 - Under consideration
- The Oaks Dancers Hill Charlbury
Installation of fixed-line broadband electronic communications apparatus (Height 1600mm x Length 1200mm x Depth 450mm).
WODC reference: 21/02919/PNT - Tue 24 Aug 2021 - Under consideration
- 18 Sandford Park Charlbury
Discharge of conditions 7 (traffic management plan), 9 (existing and proposed ground levels and finished floor levels) and 10 (Arboricultural Method Statement) of planning permission 18/02071/HHD
WODC reference: 21/02914/CND - Wed 25 Aug 2021 - Under consideration
Mon 6 Sep 2021, 06:15 · Link
Street Fair help on the day - 18th September
Charlbury Street Fair is seeking help on Street Fair day, 18th September! At 8/ 8.30 am we need a few able bodied people to help erect the stalls. Bring stout shoes and gloves - and please return at 5.30pm to dismantle them! (the stalls not the shoes n gloves😎) … A Bacon Butty awaits the morning shift and I might buy a pint for the evening folk too!
We’d also like a few to help generally during the day - from 2pm. Just come along and speak to us (we wear red CSF shirts) or pm or email me, John Dora, at csfchairman@charlburystreetfair.org
John Dora ·
Fri 3 Sep 2021, 21:23 · Link
The History of Charlbury through ... a tie made from an escape map
Sue Rangeley for Charlbury Museum
Although a map of West Oxfordshire does not feature on this 1940s textile, it was most likely gifted by a Charlbury resident who kept it as a memento of wartime service. After the war when clothes were still rationed and there was a shortage of patterned fabrics, the silk and rayon ‘escape maps’ were used for garments and accessories. Edwina Mountbatten famously had a set of underwear made out of silk escape maps! The tie illustrated is decorated with a 1943 printed map of the Balkans.
During the Second World War, the aircrew who flew into combat did not have the luxury of the technology that are our close companions in the 21st century. No Smart phones to aid navigation and check Google Maps if lost on the ground in an occupied zone of Europe. Instead, fabric escape maps were issued to the Allied Air Crew, and the S.O.E. agents who were parachuted into France, as their route finders out of danger. The maps were packed into small waterproof purses containing other emergency items such as: a compass, foreign money, a hacksaw. Some maps were folded and stitched into the aircrew’s clothes for safekeeping and secrecy.
Escape or evasion maps were developed as a collaboration between M19 and Bartholomews Maps in 1940. The first were printed in Leeds by John Waddington Ltd, the famous games manufacturer of Monopoly. But later Macclesfield became the main producer of these silk and rayon escape maps, the town also manufactured the silk cords for parachutes during WW2. The early maps were printed on silk, then rayon, and some on tissue paper made of mulberry leaves; these materials were resilient to water damage, were flexible, and did not rustle as paper would do.
It is likely that the two Charlbury R.A.F. servicemen, Joe Harrison and George Clemson, who are featured in the museum exhibition, had escape maps stitched into their flying clothes. These historic textiles resonate with stories of the brave men and women who served in the Second World War.
The WW2 & VE Day exhibits (from 2020) will continue in the museum until the end of September.
The Imperial War Museum has a collection of WW2 escape maps.
Judy Dod ·
Fri 3 Sep 2021, 21:06 · Link
New X9 bus timetable from 1st September
Pulhams have revised the timetable for the X9 bus to Chipping Norton and Witney. The same number of journeys will run but a few times have been moved earlier.
You can see the full PDF timetable here:
https://www.pulhamscoaches.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pulhams-X9-Timetable-September-2021-WEB.pdf
Charlbury’s bus service relies on people using it so please do give it your support.
Richard Fairhurst ·
Wed 1 Sep 2021, 10:30 · Link
