Parish Council Meeting Thurs 6th 8pm Village Hall
Remembrance Sunday Sun 9th 10.45am St Giles' Church
Friendship Club Tues 18th 2.30pm Cottage No 2
Christmas Fair Sat 29th 2pm Village Hall
Library Mon 17th Telephone Box Pilates Tuesdays 6.30pm Village Hall
GAYDON CALENDAR
CHRISTMAS LUNCH SUN 7th DEC VILLAGE HALL
BURNS' NIGHT SAT 24th JAN VILLAGE HALL
VILLAGE BARBECUE SAT 7th JUNE VENUE TBA
BIG LUNCH SUN 19th JULY VILLAGE HALL
Village Green
The posts have been lowered and increased in number to stop vehicles from parking on the Green.
We have received a number of suggestions for the type of tree that residents would like planted on the Village Green. A decision will be made at the November meeting.
New Dual Carriageway
Owing to the number of 'minor amendments' that have been introduced into this approved County Highways planning application, councillors have requested that an officer from County Highways attends our meeting in December to make the parish aware of all of the amendments. The Parish Council is discussing, with our County Councillor, measures to prevent parking issues that could arise when the Warwick and Bishop's Itchington Road are 'stopped up'.
JLR Car Transporters travelling during peak hours
County Council Officers and our County Councillor have told the Parish Council that the Police have asked JLR not to operate car transporters during the peak morning hours because of safety issues on the M40 slip road. Residents have reported a number of car transporters operating between 7am and 8am and we have passed this information to the Police and the County Highways Officers.
Footpaths
The vegetation blocking the footpath beside St Marks Close has been fully cleared and cut back. The brambles on footpaths adjoining the village have been cut back and are now passable.
We await JLR's offer of volunteers to clear the hedges around the graveyard off Banbury Road.
Banbury Road and Warwick Road ditches
The Parish Council has sought advice on the ownership and maintenance of the ditches on these roads. A Planning Consultant recommended by Warwickshire Association of Local Councils has advised that:
Maintenance of roadside ditches is usually the responsibility of the adjacent landowner. There is a responsibility to ensure that water can flow unobstructed. Adjacent owners should not carry out any other work on the ditch which would interfere with its proper operation or restrict road surface water draining into it. However, there may be occasions on larger roads, such as trunk or main roads, where a ditch is clearly within the ownership of the relevant highway authority. The Highways Agency is only responsible for trunk roads and motorways.
If the road in question has been de-trunked, then it will be the responsibility of the county council to maintain it not the Highways Agency.
The District Council has been asked to cut back the vegetation at the top of the Kineton Road near the roundabout to improve visibility for pedestrians.
Parking on the Verge
We have received a number of complaints regarding parking on the verge by Aston Martin and the blocking of the Gaydon/Lighthorne Heath footway. We have established that the cars that are parking on the Aston Martin verge and blocking the footway are those of JLR employees. We have asked JLR to resolve this and the Police are also aware, as blocking a footway is a Police matter. The County Road Safety Team will be looking at safety in this area since the cars have to enter and exit over a footway. If you see any cars blocking footways in Gaydon please call 101 with the registration number of the vehicle and action will be taken.
Light outside Last Cottage, Banbury Road
E.ON have confirmed that they are unable to repair this light. They have recommended replacing the lantern. We are still awaiting details and costs.
Next Meeting
Thursday 6th November 2014 at 8pm.
Sunday 2nd
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Burton Dassett
10.30 Morning Prayer Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Gaydon
6.00pm All Souls' Evensong Farnborough
Sunday 9th
10.30 Remembrance Service Farnborough
10.45 War Memorial Gaydon
10.30 Joint Methodist Fenny Compton
10.50 War Memorial Northend
6.00pm Evening Prayer Burton Dassett
Sunday 16th
9.00 Holy Communion Farnborough
10.30 Morning Worship Fenny Compton
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Gaydon
10.30 Holy Communion Northend
6.00pm Songs of Praise Knightcote
Sunday 23rd
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Farnborough
10.30 Prayer and Praise Gaydon
10.30 Morning Prayer Northend
Sunday 30th
10.30 Group Service Fenny Compton
The service on Sunday 9 November will be conducted by the Rev. Richard Smith. It will start at 10.45am at the war memorial outside the church with the laying of wreathes. Following the Act of Remembrance the congregation will enter the church for the service.
Mushroom Magic
Gaydon is basking in another mild spell as I write, although fierce autumn winds are causing a substantial leaf fall; there are some wonderful skies streaked with blue and black rain clouds.
These conditions are ideal for the first heavy crop of Mushrooms. Most children are taught about inedible or poisonous berries but few can take the risk of consuming the many species of fungi that appear overnight; though recent culinary Television series have made them popular. The field and larger wood Mushroom (A. Campestris) are often too like the "Angel of death" when young but anyone who knows the differences can explain. Some, like the bright purple Amethyst's Deceiver and large Shaggy Parasol, are delicious to eat.
I think we should adopt the continental rules where a large poster is pinned up at every chemist's shop and the pharmacist is trained to identify "finds" prior to consumption. Failing this, local cafés like Carluccio's have a good fresh selection and most supermarkets have packets of dried Boletus and Morrels. Any ancient woodland will retain the spores for centuries. My favourites - Chantarelles - are best eaten fresh and taste of Tangerine. I keep the location secret!
Rabbits continue to thrive and Kestrels have had a good season due to the plague of Mice; in fact, I have heard Tawny Owls hunting over my garden most nights after dusk. The stentorian screeches are quite reassuring in the dark. The roadsides are a graveyard for the many Pheasant poults which venture out of their release pens, prior to the shooting season. Several villagers are pleased that some have already "adopted" their gardens where they are safe from dogs, foxes, cars and guns.
Take particular care on the Chadshunt bend and Watery Lane turn if you are driving to Kineton as I often have to sound my horn to scatter flocks of birds picking grit there. Last year a pheasant even raised a brood in a back garden and I had a cock bird daily at my bird table and he often sat outside the village hall.
Look out for the first winter migrants, flocks of Redwings, Fieldfares and even Waxwings, which arrive in a few weeks' time to feast on fallen fruit and berries.
I got a cold call today trying to sell me a Rose hip extract: "the seeds do your heart good". I replied that I could collect then in profusion in any local hedge - though be aware of the Iranian joke: "Eat one in the mouth and three with your arm!" as the thorns are deadly! Bernard Price
The Library will visit Gaydon on Monday 17th November from 1.30pm-2pm at the Telephone Box.
The next meeting wll be on Tuesday 18 November at 2.30pm at No 2 Cottages, Gaydon Hill Farm, by kind invitation of Mrs Jan Ewers.
Sunday 7 December has been chosen for the Christmas Lunch this year. I am grateful to everyone who has already contacted me with offers of help. I shall be ringing up our usual helpers during the course of this month to confirm arrangements. Invitations will be sent out shortly. Ring me on 640349 or call at the Old Bakehouse if you need to get in touch. Julie Rickman
in the Village Hall on Saturday 29 November at 2pm. Raffles, Mulled Wine, Gift Stalls, Teas with home-made Cakes, Games, Toys, Cards and more...and Father Christmas will be coming to our Gift Day again this year and we hope that you will bring your children along to see him in his Grotto at the Village Hall. The other entertainments are listed above and we would be very grateful to receive contributions of home-made produce, second-hand books and bric-a-brac to help raise funds for St Giles'.
We are taking Christmas Bookings now! Go on line to see our menus at www.theantelope-inn.com
2 Courses £20; 3 Courses £24 Telephone Chris or Gill on 651188
Hospice Care at Home Designer Sale on Friday 7th November from 9.00am-8.00pm Darlingscott Farm, Darlingscott CV36 4PN Open House, Kindly hosted by John and Maggie Sargent Christmas Fashion Show on Thursday 13 November at 7pm Dice of Shipston-on-Stour and Domino of Stratford-upon-Avon at The Bell Alderminster will be modelling their fabulous merchandise Champagne reception and canapés, two course dinner. £25 per ticket. Please call Rebecca 01608 674929 to book. Christmas Gift Fair on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th November Tuesday 6.00pm - 9.30pm; Wednesday 9.30am - 4.30pm at Longbourn Farm, Kineton CV35 0JF By very kind invitation of Mark & Belinda Roberts. Armscote Manor Workshop on Thursday 27th November 10am-4pm Christmas Wreath Workshop with Amanda LutherTo book call 01608 682375 by very kind invitation of Deborah Williams
Gaydon has had a another quiet month but please be aware that there have been heating oil thefts in the surrounding villages. It seems that these are carried out during the day with the thieves driving up to tanks and pumping oil out. There have been no witnesses so far. The Police are advising that filler caps should be locked if possible. If you see anything unusual taking place at someone's oil tank please dial 999.
Gaydon First Responders have now merged with the Avon Valley Community First Responder Scheme http://www.avonvalleycfr.co.uk/
Our own John Davies has been elected Chairman of the scheme which now covers the Avon Valley stretching from Salford Priors to Gaydon, and Bearley to Long Marston, including Stratford.
The scheme and its CFRs work in partnership with the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) which provides the ambulance service in Warwickshire. CFRs are volunteers trained by WMAS to nationally recognised standards to provide emergency medical treatment to people in the community. CFRs are called out by the WMAS prior to the arrival of ambulance and paramedic crews to 999 calls to provide vital 'first on scene' assistance to people who are either seriously ill or injured. Ian Miller
It is with great sadness that Alf and I have to tell you that Mrs Margaret Diston passed away on Wednesday 22 October in Warwick Hospital at the age of ninety-seven.
Mum had lived in the flats at St Marks Close for forty-seven years after moving from Chadshunt. Special thanks to Susie Wilkshire who has been a very good friend and neighbour for many years. Georgina and Alf Diston
As many of you know, the church clock is a war memorial. It was originally manufactured by Smith of Derby Ltd in 1919 and takes the form of a flat-bed hour-striking movement with dead beat pin-wheel escapement driving the external dials.
The clock stopped chiming several months ago and we asked Smith of Derby to look at it. They have reported that the lever is worn and the movement needs to be taken to their factory in Derby. It will stay in Derby for at least two weeks for the work to take place, followed by a two-week check to ensure that it is working correctly before being brought back to Gaydon. They have also recommended that the clock be thoroughly cleaned and oiled whilst in Derby. The total cost will be approximately £1400. This cost is the responsibility of the Parish Council. The timepiece is still working but, obviously, when the movement is removed for repairs, it will stop. Smith of Derby have confirmed that they are unable to complete the repairs before Remembrance Day.
Corinne Hill, Parish Clerk
Gaydon Village Hall
The next meeting of the Village Hall Committee will be held on Monday 10 November at 8pm. The committee would like to thank Debbie Price for over ten years of service to the Village Hall. She took over the chair of the meetings after the retirement of Francis Liddington in 2003 and we are very sorry that she has resigned. We are grateful to Sue Middleditch for stepping into the breach.
Christmas Fund-raising Afternoon
Father Christmas will be coming to our Gift Day again this year and we hope that you will bring your children along to see him in his Grotto at the Village Hall. The other entertainments are listed above and we would be very grateful to receive contributions of home-made produce, second-hand books and bric-a-brac to help raise funds for St Giles'. *
Your Village Church
St Giles' Church is open every day for you to use for prayer or quiet contemplation but the regular congregation is small and help is needed to pay the bills to keep it open. All the money raised at the Christmas Fair will go towards the upkeep of the Church, so that we can continue to serve the village community by providing services like Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals.
Gift Tree: Please help us even more by putting a gift of money in one of the golden bags on our Christmas Gift Tree. We look forward to seeing you on the 29th!
*Donations of cakes etc. can be brought to the hall in the morning from 10 till noon.
Messy Church will take place at Fenny Compton Village Hall on Sunday 9 November at 3.30pm. Contact Lesley on 01295 771171 for further details.