Parish Council Thurs 3rd 7.30pm Parish Office Village Hall Committee Mon 14th 7.30pm Village Hall PCC Weds 23rd 7.30pm St Giles' Church Pilates Tuesdays 6.30pm Village Hall Mobile Library Thursdays 10th and 31st
Epiphany
6th 9.00 Holy Communion BCP Burton Dassett
10.30 Holy Communion Gaydon
10.30 Morning Prayer Fenny Compton
6.00pm Evensong Farnborough
13th 9.00 Holy Communion BCP Farnborough
9.00 Holy Communion Gaydon
10.30 Holy Communion Fenny Compton
10.30 Communion by extension at Northend
6.00pm Evening Service Burton Dassett
20th 9.00 Holy Communion Farnborough
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Gaydon
10.30 Family Service Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Northend
6.00pm Songs of Praise Northend
27th 9.00 Holy Communion BCP Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Farnborough
10.30 Prayer and Praise Gaydon
10.30 Morning Prayer Northend
M40 Junction 12
As you are all probably aware the Government has announced that £10 million will be allocated to improvements to the M40 at junction 12. The Parish Council has been told that there will be a public consultation regarding the proposed plans. Once we receive notification of the consultation we will place a notice on the noticeboards, website and hopefully, timing permitting, the magazine.
Flood Defence
Following the recent flooding, the Parish Council will be deciding whether to purchase 2 pumps which will assist residents in times of heavy rainfall. The cost of these pumps will be paid for from the Flood Prevention grant which we received from the District Council. The Parish Council has purchased a bag of sand for the filling of sand bags to help residents stop their properties from flooding. The sandbags are kept in the Village Hall (although there is a small supply next to the sand) and the sand is outside the Old Bakehouse, Church Road
(next to the Village Hall). Please feel free to use this sand if your property is at risk.
Parish Plan
At an extraordinary meeting held on 18th December the Parish Council adopted the Parish Plan.
Next Meeting
The next Parish Council meeting is on Thursday, 3rd January, at 7.30pm when we will be setting the precept.
We wish you a Happy New Year!
Five years after the great flood of Gaydon, residents of Church Road and Kineton Road were once again under water. On 21 November, heavy rain running off the field north of Kineton Road flooded several properties there. In addition, the flood water entered the main sewer that runs down Church Road, causing it to overflow into the street and back up the drains of two properties.
A few days later on 25th November the same thing occurred.
On Christmas Eve run-off from the field behind them flooded houses in Kineton Road once more. Again, the flood water overwhelmed the capacity of the Gaydon sewer causing it to back up the drains, affecting six houses in Church Road.
Several householders have reported the sewage problems to Severn Trent and others have reported run-off to the County Council. These residents - and any others affected - should attend the next Parish Council meeting on 3rd January to discuss a united approach to getting some positive action from Severn Trent and the County Council.
The Library will be here on Thursdays 10th and 31st January. The van will be at the Telephone Box 1.50-2.10pm and at St Marks Close 2.15-2.35pm.
The time and place of the next meeting have yet to be finalised. Members will be contacted in due course.
The next meeting of the committee will be on Monday 14 January at 7.30pm in the hall.
As usual, we will not be holding a coffee morning in January. During the year 2012 over £332 was raised for the Church Fabric Fund and we will renew our efforts on the second Saturday in February. We are grateful to all our regular customers who enjoy coffee, chat and a raffle; and to those who contribute to the bring and buy.
See you next month! Everyone is welcome. MF
A simple mediaeval chapel, comprising just a small nave and chancel, stood on the site of the current church building from the 13th century until it was replaced in the early 1850s. Only a bell survives from the old church, unfortunately without any inscription. The old church was secondary to the church in Chadshunt where burials and marriages took place; and both were chapels of Bishops Itchington, served by Curates appointed by the Vicar of Bishops Itchington until 1879. (Excerpt from History of Gaydon by Dr M Phelps for the Parish Plan)
The Editor would like to thank all the people who help to get the Parish Magazine through our doors every month. This year, I would particularly like to thank Miss Hammond and Dr Davies who have recently retired from stapling duties. Miss Hammond is a former editor of the parish magazine and Dr Davies has contributed many articles to it over the years.
Hospice at Home in Shipston, Wellesbourne and Kineton
We are a local charity that has been operating for 15 years. A team of qualified nurses specialising in palliative care look after terminally ill people in their own homes. We look after the patient and their family for the last three months of life. Our service covers Shipston, Welles-bourne, Kineton and the surrounding villages and it is completely free of charge. Therefore we have to raise £150,000 a year to cover nursing costs. Here is a list of our events coming up in January:
Zumbathon
Saturday 12 January 2013 at 10am-1pm at Sheldon Bosley Hub, Shipston on Stour. £8.00 entry to a 3 hour fun packed session.
Health and Complementary Therapies Day by Soulstream Arts
Saturday 19 January at 10am-4pm at SoulStream HQ, Burmington House, Burmington, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5AF. For more information call 01608 664972 or go to soulstreamarts.com
BITE - Dinner at Cotswold House Hotel with Greg Wallace
27th January 2013 at 7 for 7.30pm. Cost £75.00 (price of event includes £10 donation to SHN) for more information please go to http://www.thebite.co
We're not a different species, we're people just like you, We like to walk, we like to talk, and do the things you do. But if we seem to talk too much, don't stop us in our flow, And maybe you might learn a thing or two you need to know. And if you think our pace is not as fast as it should be, Don't have a fit, slow down a bit, and live as long as me. Don't think of us as funny, if we can't walk as far, But just remember, sonny, we put you where you are! We may not be as sprightly as what we used to be, But what you see is what you get, and what you get is me. And maybe we seem boring, unable to compete, But then, we're not point scoring, we'd sooner sleep or eat. If only you had seen us, when we were in our prime: We've been there, done that, got the T-shirt every blooming time. So when you see us oldies on zimmer frames or worse, Just think, one day you'll be this way, we simply got here first. But don't let age alarm you and don't set us apart, We'd never want to harm you - like you, we're young at heart. And somewhere up in Heaven, a mansion waits for us, And you can have one also, if you don't miss the bus.
John Saville
Recently, prompted by a news report and a clear sky, I was able to witness a few shooting stars over the village. I recall it was well below freezing with ice crystals forming on branches. I was reminded how artificial light intrudes and diminishes such events. Light pollution is part of life now it seems.
The nearby village of Combrooke has no street lighting and seems to suffer no problems. Here in Gaydon we are dominated by the vast array of lighting around the MOD camp: hardly surprising that it is often mistaken for Banbury!
The inky blackness that I experienced in rural Ireland was broken only by glow-worms and bats against the skyline. The rare streetlamp was a magnet for hundreds of moths. Modern street lights have a rather jaundiced, ugly glow. A few years ago we had prolonged power cuts in the village and there was a return to candles and oil lamps... listening to battery radios; card and board games for over a week! Now there is a remarkable contrast in Christmas lights which can range from the subdued to extreme kitsch and a substantial bill later!
These days we are bombarded with climate information but The Lunar cycle remains constant whilst the art of weather lore is being lost. In October the full or "Hunter's moon" was considered the light to enable hunters to shoot migrating wildfowl and to be the start of the Winter equinox. We then have the November "Frost Moon" (too true this year!) and on the 21st December "The Long Night Moon" which is the shortest day and the longest night of the Winter Solstice when the position of the sun is lowest in the sky. There will be even a "Wolf Moon" in February which originates from when wolves roamed the countryside howling. It's still a time when you hear the chilling scream of dog Foxes and vixens and the screeches of Barn Owls around the local fields in the early hours.
Bird-feeders are now standard in many gardens but must be constantly topped up. Some seldom seen species may jostle amongst the Sparrows and Blue tits: look out for Waxwings (they also like berries), Great spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Blackcaps. Last week, mine were all female with chestnut caps; and of course Siskins and Goldfinches who love black Niger seed.
Have a great New Year! Bernard Price
A Gaydon tradition was upheld on Sunday 9th December when forty invited 'Over Sixties' gathered in the village hall for the annual Christmas Lunch. Thanks to the hard work of Mrs Rickman and her band of kindly helpers, we were treated to an excellent meal amid good company and in a very festive atmosphere. Thank you! to all involved.
Sadly, there were two notable absentees:
Dr Rosemary Davies and Miss Joyce Hammond, who were unable to come owing to ill-health. Their lunches were carried round to their house where they enjoyed them very much. MF
On Sunday 13 January 2013 Messy Church will be held at Fenny Compton at 3.30pm.
The next Parochial Church Council meeting will take place in the church on Wednesday 23 January at 7.30pm.
Boxes will be collected this month or box-holders may take them to the Old Bakehouse if they prefer. Anyone interested in having a box to collect in throughout the year can enquire on 640349. Julie Rickman
A non-profit-making community shop Seeks a part-time shop assistant, must be 18 or over Minimum 19 hours per week, between 1pm and 4 or 5 pm £7.50 per hour following successful probationary period This post is suitable for a job share Application packs available from the shop between 9-1 and 4-6.30 or via email: gaydonvillagestore@gmail.com Closing date 18 January 2013
The total amount Gaydon village raised this year was £1,444.17 and thanks to all those who bought a poppy, enamel pin, wrist band or car sticker.
I particularly want to thank the volunteers who willingly took the poppies around Gaydon, especially those who have done this for many years. Also a warm welcome to the "new recruits" who kindly joined and made a big difference.
The two pubs, the Esso garage and The Heritage Motor Centre are very supportive of this charity and were prepared to have boxes on their premises - thank you.
It was my first year as co-ordinator and I thank John Goldsmith for passing on all the paperwork in such good order and for his continuing support and help as I learned my way around the necessary tasks.
Many thanks to all, Pam Furnivall.
New 2013 Season
The Gardens and part of the House at Upton are open for weekends in January for the first time this year. Come along and join in the fun with our welly-throwing competition. Engage your competitive spirit with this old-fashioned country pursuit on our lower lawns.
Warm up on a stroll round the grounds or pick up a map for a longer country walk from reception. Reward yourself afterwards with tasty cooked lunches or afternoon teas in the restaurant. Our wonderful shop is also open to visitors.
The 2013 year is packed full of events. During the February half term there'll be children's activities every day except Thursdays. So whether it is adventuring on the woodland trail, cooking up messy food in the kitchen or joining the Upton Art Academy of Mess there will be lots to do between 16 - 24 February.
Haidee Williams, Visitor Services Manager said,
"We are really excited about our new programme and hope that our Mud and Mess theme will get things off to a flying start, especially with Wellington boots hurtling through the air!
"Of course Upton's wonderful art collection will be here with all the paintings of the 'Top Choice' specially presented in the new squash court."
For further details call Upton House and Gardens on 01295 670266 or www.nationaltrust.org.uk/uptonhouse