Editorial & Letters
The Contact team would like to wish all our readers, contributors, advertisers and distributors a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Also, thank you for all your contributions. Please keep sending them - without them there would be no Contact. We would also love to include the occasional report from any clubs and societies who don't normally send us material.
Please make sure that you send us all adverts and contributions for the January issue by 10 December. Missing this date will mean missing January's Contact!
We also wish to thank Sir Nigel Foulkes for his very generous Christmas donation. A card with his cheque has some kind words for Contact's production team: 'Here is my usual Christmas token of my gratitude for the excellent work the Contact team does for all of us in the village.' As ever it will go handsomely towards the cost of our Christmas cover.
The colour cover, this year, is a picture of the Red Lion's new pub sign. Many local residents were appalled when they saw the new sign that the Greene King Pub Company recently put up depicting a bishop in rather anaemic green and white colours (their in-house logo), so doing away with the old Red Lion sign that we have all lived with for many years. As a result several people wrote to the brewery; and the new website got thoroughly hit by anguished residents.
One aggrieved correspondent having written a rather grumpy letter to the MD of the Greene King Pub Company received a charming reply from the MD apologising for any concern caused and saying they would reinstate the Red Lion pub sign; and, God bless 'em, they have. A new Red Lion pub sign is up and running (so to speak) and it would seem that someone has also done their homework as the red lion depicted is the heraldic Lion of Scotland. Why you ask?
Quoting from Vera Wood's fascinating history of Adderbury and Milton's pubs:* 'The Red Lion is almost certainly Adderbury's oldest existing public house (first recorded c. 1650 when it was run by Thomas Austin and his wife Mary until 1678/9).' Charles II was restored to his throne in 1660 and after the Civil War many publicans (often they were demobilised soldiers with a gratuity) named or renamed their pubs to reflect their political sympathies (the Civil War was long over by then but memories and feelings were still very bitter). They gave their hostelries such names as 'The Red Lion', the heraldic symbol reflecting the Scottish Stuart dynasty or 'The Royal Oak' (Charles II hid in an oak tree after his escape from the disastrous Battle of Worcester in September 1651). Parliamentary sympathizers, on the other hand, often called their pubs 'The King's Head' or 'The Cromwell Arms'.
The Red Lion is sited only yards from Adderbury House; and during the Civil War Adderbury House was the home to a dedicated Royalist cavalry officer - Colonel Henry Wilmot. Wilmot was Prince Rupert's second-in-command at the Battle of Edgehill. He was later ennobled for his services, becoming Baron Wilmot then Viscount Wilmot and finally the Earl of Rochester. So the Red Lion, being so close to the home of such an eminent Royalist, was probably known as such from the day it opened!
N.J.A.
* The Licencees of the Inns, Taverns and Beerhouses of Adderbury & Milton, Oxfordshire. Compiled by Vera Wood, 2003.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Dear Editors
I was very sad to read the letter from Peter and Christine Job in your November issue. I have been delighted by the replacement of the old flowering cherry tree, and think the patch of grass is indeed in need of modest protection such as proposed by the Jobs (I was involved in the restoration of the small grass triangle at the entrance to Manor Road). However, their expression that there are 'no hard feelings' is belied by their intention to withdraw their involvement in village affairs. They are clearly feeling very hurt. I do hope that this rupture of village officialdom with a village family can be healed. Not least because it is my experience that a laird who retires to his castle may suffer as much isolation behind his drawbridge as the peasants who remain beyond the moat. Can we think again?
Dr Mike Courtenay
Dear Editors
Is it size that counts to our Parish Council?
Yes, I agree the Oak Tree Corner needs tidying up, also additional posts to deter indiscriminate parking which takes place there.. I also read in the Parish Council Notices (November) that verge markers in Church Lane have been dismissed. This is also part of our 'green area' in Adderbury.
With darker evenings and poor lighting it is so easy to venture on to the green area in error. Surely markers are the answer here too?
Anne Neal
News, Reports & Events
ADDERBURY LAKES
The Management Committee are holding a (late) autumnal clear-up down at the Lakes on Saturday 9 December starting at 10.00 am. Meet at the Lake Walk entrance; all, of any age, are very welcome.
The main project of the morning will be the clearing away of some of the ivy that is strangling some of the trees; there are many other necessary tasks to be done too. So heavy gloves, saws, spades, wheelbarrows and secateurs are the order of the day.
N.J.A.
Dot delivers Christmas cheer
Village stalwart Dot Org has yet another string to her bow … delivering the Christmas mail!
Now you can send festive greetings to your nearest and dearest across the road or across the globe by posting them on Dot's favourite website: www.adderbury.org
Simply log on to the site, click Christmas greetings and follow the on-screen instructions.
Meanwhile, www.adderbury.org continues to go from strength to strength. The site received more than 4,000 visits in its first month, of which around 90% were from the UK with the rest coming from the United States, Canada, Africa and other faraway places with strange sounding names!
Keep sending in your news and views by emailing dot@adderbury.org
Adderbury History Association
If you missed the successful launch of the 'Adderbury Then and Now' PC CD-ROM and Anne Williams' history of the WI in Adderbury last month, you have another opportunity to purchase both at the Adderbury Christmas market on 3 December.
As was announced previously, the Christmas Party for members and guests will be held on Monday 11 December. This will be in the Institute and a buffet supper and entertainment will be provided. Those who gave their names at the last meeting (and those who may not have done) are invited to pay their 'party money' to the Treasurer (810777) at their earliest convenience (£10.00 per person). A reminder - you are be invited to bring your own drink according to your preference.
The next regular meeting will be held on Monday 15 January 2007.
Sarah Clayson
Chairperson
Your County Councillor, Keith Mitchell, and your District Councillor, John Harper, wish all Adderbury and Milton residents a Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Rewarding New Year.
Adderbury Over Sixties CLUB
During October we had our annual Fish and Chip Lunch on the 11th and welcomed three new members from Bodicote, while on the 25th we held a free Bingo afternoon. We thank those non-members who have supported our outings during the season, which has helped with the cost of the coach.
Rhoda Woodward
HALLOWEEN PARTY
This year's Halloween Party at the Lucy Plackett Activity Centre was, again, a great success, with all tickets sold. We took a grand total of £335, with the profits going towards the upkeep and running of the centre. Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Harper who judged the fancy dress competition and donated the prizes (congratulations to the headless man and Frankenstein!). A last big thank you to all the pumpkin carvers and everyone else who helped make the party a success.
Tessa Davidson
1st Adderbury Guides
This term the Guides have been working towards their Chocolate 'Go For It' certificate. As well as the inevitable chocolate tasting (of chocolate bars, chocolate spread and hot chocolate drinks), they designed and acted out a TV advert for a new chocolate bar, made chocolate cakes, learned about Fair Trade chocolate and had a chocolate quiz.
We have also spent a lot of time rehearsing for our part in the 'Cherwell Spectacular', a show that was put on in the October half-term by Guides, Brownies, Rainbows and Senior section girls. The Adderbury Guides performed a selection of songs from musicals ('All That Jazz', 'Supercalifragilistic', 'America' and 'The Time Warp'). The event was a great success and the girls performed really well.
We had a trip to London at the beginning of October to the Big Gig, an exclusive pop concert for Guides at Wembley Arena. We joined 23,000 other Guides and leaders to hear some of pop's hottest acts including Lil' Chris, Shayne Ward, the Sugababes, Orson, Lemar, Jamelia and Matt Willis. It was a great event (although it was VERY loud!!).
We helped at the Activity Centre Halloween party, serving drinks and hot dogs, and doing face painting for the children at the party. We also attended the Remembrance Day parade in Adderbury. Any girl aged 10-14 who is interested in joining Guides should contact me on 01869 338397.
Mary Brodey, Guider
ADDERBURY THEATRE WORKSHOP
This year we hope to have a stage in full working order. After the fire just before Christmas last year which destroyed our stage and all the rigging, we must thank the hard work of those involved and the very many offers of help and support of the local groups and individuals that enabled us to get the panto into production.
This year we are presenting 'Snoozy Floozy' by Darren Villier. Yes, you've guessed it, the pantomime is the traditional story of 'Sleeping Beauty'. In it you will find all the expected characters, Beauty, a charming Prince and the wicked Carabosse who casts the spell to make Beauty sleep for 100 years, although she hopes Beauty will die!!! There are good fairies, the King and Queen and an assortment of rather unexpected and unusual characters.
Come and join the audience and see if you can shout 'Funny Nanny Fanny Faggot' without making a mistake! As always the tickets will make a special Christmas present for children and adults alike.
Performances will take place at The Institute on the evenings of 25, 26 and 27 January plus a matinee on Saturday 27th. Tickets will be available at Taste Buds shop from Monday 4 December.
You will have as much fun as the Adderbury Theatre Workshop performers.
Gayna Lee,Director
The Bell Inn - With Added Wi-Fi
The Bell Inn has been awarded a grant by the Oxfordshire Broadband Partnership to provide public wireless internet access for people using the village inn! John and Trisha, in response to feedback from customers, applied to the grant awarding body (which includes Oxfordshire County Council) to be included
in the Wi-Fi Hotspots programme which is intended to provide internet access throughout the county! The use of the facility at The Bell will be restricted to the letting rooms and the two back bars in order that the traditional atmosphere of the front two bars is not affected by modern technology. John said, "It's great to be able to offer customers what they have asked for without a large initial outlay. I think the facility will be mainly used by residents and lunchtime business people. We have decided to offer this new facility free of charge to our customers, which is another first for the Bell!"
John Bellinger FBII, The Bell Inn
Christopher Rawlins C. of E. (Aided) Primary School
School News
A packed audience in St Mary's Church, Banbury, was given a real musical treat on Wednesday 1 November by the choir from Christopher Rawlins School accompanied by Val Scarff (piano) and Tony Keen (drums). This event is part of the annual series of three concerts for 'Children Singing for Children' organised by the Banbury Rotary Club and held each year to raise money for children's charities. This year those chosen were: Banbury Young Carers, Dogs for Disabled Children and Classrooms for Sierra Leone.
Our local school performed three wonderful songs which brought a sentimental tear to many an eye, most especially when Lauren Murphy, aged 10, one of our own school children, sang a beautiful solo. The Warriner School Jazz Band made a guest appearance and played with great verve, and a few of our old pupils' faces could be seen - much to the audience's delight. It's good to know our children will have the opportunity to continue their musical prowess at secondary school should they so wish.
The evening ended in rapturous applause after a mass choir finale with children from Christopher Rawlins, Sibford, Horton, Bloxham and Chacombe schools singing 'World in Union' conducted by Liz Stock.
Congratulations to all the children who took part - you have given credit to your school and village for the hard work and self-discipline which was so evident in your performance and which gave others so much enjoyment. A big thank you to their teachers Mrs Peverill and Miss Sambrook who gave up their own time to encourage and support them, and our especial thanks to Val Scarff whose tireless work with our children resulted in such a polished performance - it could not have been achieved without her.
WELL DONE!
An amazing £175 was raised by the children last term for the advancement of research into genetic disorders. The children wore jeans to school for a day and happily paid £1 not to wear their school uniforms!
Cheshire Homes received £150 after a sponsored competition as to who could grow the tallest sunflower. Our school looked more colourful, and necessary funds were raised - all from a few packets of seeds.
The school Gardening Club are endeavouring to support the Mysasthenia Gravis Association, a little known but devastating muscle-wasting disease that can affect all age groups. They are planting Ornithogalum nutans - what a name for a jade and white striped petalled plant, so lovely that someone wrote a poem about it. Same group as tiny Star of Bethlehem. colourful bulb spirals - why not join in and buy a bulb for just 50p and come to the school and plant it, or ask if a child could do it for you. Telephone Tina on 810497.
Tesco Vouchers for Schools
Please may we have your Tesco vouchers? In exchange for these, the school receives necessary sports equipment which it cannot afford to buy, so please don't throw them away - either bring them to the school or hand them in to Rob or Sally at Taste Buds where they will be collected. Many thanks.
Dates for Your Diary
Wednesday 6 December -- Nativity Play (5-7 year olds)
In the School Hall, Christopher Rawlins Primary School
10.00 am for a prompt start
All villagers welcome. If you are a large group please telephone Tina with the numbers on 810497. Please come!
Friday 15 December - Children's Carol Service (whole school)
At St Mary's Church, Adderbury
1.30 pm
All villagers and parents warmly welcomed!
Mark Homer and Claudia Roberts
Governors of Christopher Rawlins Primary School
Adderbury Gardening Club
On Tuesday 7 November our speaker Janet Cropley from 'Hill Grounds', Evenley, gave us an inspiring talk about 'Summer Flowering Bulbs'.
I expect a good number of people from the full Church House that evening will have been searching catalogues and garden centres for some of the appealing flowers that were recommended.
Janet began by telling us how
next year's flowers depend on previous April weather, and to apply spray foliar feed after flowering. Also best to place bulbs in planting hole on grit to help stop mould developing.
There were about sixty bulbs mentioned, some familiar, some rare, and some new varieties. Allium christophii is getting well known now, the big globe of starlike lilac flowers; also allium moly, a golden yellow, which self-seeds, and allium caeruleum (blue), which all like well-drained soil in full sun. Just a few of many alliums.
The summer hyacinth galtonia princeps has green flowers in August - good in pots. Some white as well. Arisarum 'mouse' plant is unusual and interesting for children, with a 3 inch high carpet of leaves and strange flowers like long, brown-tailed mice going down their holes. May to August.
The hardy cyclamen hederifolium album are happy in dry and dappled or full shade. August to October. Decorative leaves as well as flowers.
Eucomis bicolour pineapple flower growing through a spreading low rock plant - pale green maroon-tipped flowers for late summer interest. Lots of lilies for summer blooming. Candidum the popular white and martagon which would tolerate dappled shade.
We will look out for some of these flowers in May next year, when we visit Hill Grounds one evening.
Janet was thanked for her most enjoyable talk and applauded.
Our Christmas party is on Tuesday 5 December. There is no meeting in January.
Happy Christmas, gardeners everywhere!
Barbara Talbot, Secretary
CHRISTINGLE SERVICE
The annual Christingle service will be held at St Mary's, Adderbury, at 6.00 pm on 8 December. This service helps to raise vital funds for the work of the Children's Society and to give many children a better start in life. Adults and children are invited to join in this candle-lit occasion and receive a Christingle, which symbolises Jesus as the light of the world, prepared by the children of Christopher Rawlins School.
Jean Towe
ADDERBURY THEATRE WORKSHOP
THE CONTINENTAL QUILT
Adderbury Theatre Workshop has been staging its annual play for some years now, but latterly struggled to fill the Adderbury Institute, and sometimes to find sufficient appropriate players. So great initiative has been shown to join forces with Launton Village Players (with similar challenges) to stage The Continental Quilt, a farce by Joan Greening, at both Launton and The Institute.
This was good traditional bedroom farce. Complicated? Suffice to say that audience faces glazed over as they read the programme summary of the intricate plot.
Just imagine ten people kept apart in different bedrooms for different reasons, suddenly all appearing on stage together at the end of act one, then act two (the morning after), gradually getting shattered relationships repaired, and the protagonist happily bedding three stunners together.
All this mayhem required slick direction and skilful casting - and the ATW/LVP team delivered well (timing and word perfect).
The complex set was brilliantly done - although the back half of The Institute struggled to see who or what was happening on the sofa (perhaps just as well).
The main man was Mike, who must have been on stage for 90% of the
performance, and this demanding role was handled with great sang-froid by Simon Turner, albeit a most unlikely looking lothario.
Other faces new to the packed Institute audience included Mike's present and previous crumpet - the seductive Diane Procopiou and the nice but dim Debby Andrews. Amanda Houston was a suitably implausible third lover, while the awesome Lesley Payne turned from gormless Brummie to … that big girl who came on at the end of the Morecambe and Wise shows … in just a flick of the curtain. The amazingly talented Steve Procopiou not only produced and directed the whole thing but was worryingly authentic as the seedy, Rigsby-like Humbert.
And ATW favourites were equally well cast, with Justin O'Toole finally shifting from his eponymous pompous-ass-next-door role to that of libertine, Linda Leslie vamping so convincingly again, and Ruth Wilkie excruciatingly realistic as the awful mother. But for me the best delivery of the evening came from Vic Western as her browbeaten husband - yes dear.
Here was traditional farce ("a dramatic work meant merely to cause laughter" - OED) skilfully performed to a refreshingly full house - so why was the Friday audience so singularly unamused? Apparently Thursday's was more than happy - not least where the double-entendre belly laughs were concerned - but Friday was starchily stiff.
Were they waiting for someone to lead the laughter to avoid social embarrassment? Is it that light bedroom farce has passed its sell-by date for such a sophisticated Adderbury audience? Not sure, but as a result the excellent efforts of the ATW/LVP team went a little unrewarded.
1ST ADDERBURY SCOUTS
The Scout Troops annual Autumn Overnighter took place during half term week. This year we tried out a brand new venue - Broadwater Scout Camp Site between Coventry and Birmingham. Activities included an assault course, ten pin bowling and pedal go-karts. The go-karts were great fun and despite needing propulsion from the driver to move forward, we still managed to witness some spectacular crashes!
Also during half term week our Night Wide Game of 2006 took three teams of Scouts with their intrepid drivers (Mark Homer, Steve Mobbs and Adam Maltby) around a course from Adderbury to Fenny Compton, Southam, Coventry and back to the finish at the Burton Dassett hills summit. Some sections were covered using map and compass on foot. The game featured a Scavenger Hunt, with a bag of chips when all the clues were solved and a session of Quasar. Points were accumulated along the way, with Matthew Phanichattra's team (Max Homer, Jack Howe and Sam Greatbatch) coming first.
Other recent activities have included ice skating in Oxford and badgework training on first aid and pioneering.
At the start of December we will be turning the Institute into a top quality restaurant for Festive Friday - an evening featuring a superior five course meal for parents. More on that next time.
Full details of all the Troop's activities, and how to join, can be found on our website at www.adderburyscouts.com
Nick Fennell
MAYBE NEXT YEAR…
Xmas Eve
Send husband to collect turkey - bronze, free-range, drug free, died happy. Husband returns with bird and an unfortunate line in sarcasm. Yes I know how much he paid per kilo and no I didn't know that a perfectly good bird could be bought at Iceland for £10. Thought it best not to admit to not knowing just how much a kilo was.
Delia says Christmas Eve is a good time to make giblet stock. Find it hard to believe that there is a good time for cooking giblets but prepared to give it a go. The smell of boiling giblets has now obliterated the cranberry and myrrh pot pourri in the dining room and has outpaced the sensual aromatherapy candle in the hall.
No room in the fridge. Have put the turkey in the boot of the car. Feel it best not to tell anyone else.
Boiled giblet smell has now been replaced by burnt boiled giblet smell. Scrape black bits off various chunks of turkey's internal unmentionables. Add new onion and start again.
Giblet stock not a success. Strain off bits, chop and give to cats. Cats are now in a serious Christmas huff. Kitten has developed an intense relationship with the oak smoked salmon. Put salmon in boot of car.
Time for church. Vision of family and friends merrily strolling down the High Street together brutally dashed when husband leads a male revolt and decamps to the Bell. Panic as we have no birthday card for Baby Jesus. Have to settle for 'To a Favourite Nephew on His Special Day'. Tears of joy in church as usual. Found last year's Christmas cake in coat pocket.
Rescue kitten from boot of car. Have first drink of the day. Vow to be better organised - maybe next year…
Jackie Head
Katharine House Hospice
Fundraising News
Christmas Lights
We are delighted to hear that Jenny and Stewart West of St Mary's Road are again decorating their house in support of Katharine House. Switch on is at 6.00 pm on Saturday 2 December - and with carols, Father Christmas and mince pies, it should be a great evening. We thank them for their continued support over the years.