Gaydon Parish Magazine September 2025
index of magazines
Gaydon Gazette for September
Parish Council Tues 2nd at 7.30pm Village Hall
Mobile Library Friday 5th at 2.40pm Phone Box
Village Hall C'ttee Monday 8th at 6pm Village Hall
Coffee Morning Sat 13th at 11am Village Hall
Tai Chi Mons & Weds at 7pm Village Hall
Something to Look Forward to:
Wine Tasting Evening on Thursday 9 October
Over-65s Christmas Lunch on Sunday 7th December
Coffee Morning
Our coffee morning will be on Saturday 13th at 11am with the usual attractions of Raffle, Books, Bric-à-brac and Refreshments. Coffee and tea and biscuits only 50p! Proceeds for Church funds.
Mobile Library
This month the Mobile Library will call at the Telephone Box at 2.25pm for half an hour on Friday 5th .
Tai Chi
The Tai Chi group meets every Monday and Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock in the Village Hall. Please text 07514 011406 so that we can look out for you. After a month, please donate a coin for the hire of the hall.
Village Hall News
The next meeting of the Village Hall Committee will be in the Hall at 6pm on Monday 8th September.
We are looking for a volunteer who could help us to set up an on-line Bookings System for hiring the Village Hall. Please email Julie on jr@riscos.org or come along to the meeting if you are interested.
The Committee need a cleaner for the Village Hall for 1 hour each week at £15 per hour. Please contact Julie Rickman on 640349 or at the Old Bakehouse.
Gaydon Parish Council News
At the last meeting on 1st July the following items were on the agenda.
St Giles' Clock
Nesting jackdaws are in the clock mechanism and we need to wait for them to fledge before further works can take place.
Churchyard Maintenance
The Parish Council is now responsible for the churchyard and it asks for volunteers to help with the annual maintenance. This is planned for Saturday 27 September, meeting at 10am at the church. Cllr Davies will draw up a schedule of the work needed.
Planning Applications
Bancroft Bungalow CV35 0HB has applied for the addition of a first floor storey above the footprint of the original dwelling. Ref. 25/01417/AAPA no objection.
Next Meeting: Tuesday 5th August at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Gaydon Development Update - September
Fields of Gold…Fields of Grey…!?
On Monday 4th August, at very short notice (barely an hour), Gaydon villagers (thanks to all who turned out!) responded to a request from the Stratford Herald, for a photograph to illustrate an article about the proposed development. The eventual article (7th August edition. Thanks to Preston Witts!) expressed villagers’ determined feelings of opposition to CEG (Malta) Ltd’s attempt to coat our neighbouring, elevated green fields with surplus (excessive vacant spare footage already exists in our region…) warehousing and commercial buildings to tower over our village. What completed the scene, on that day, was the sight of the soon-to-be harvested wheat in the background of the assembled villagers. A wide wave of gold rippled its way to the summit of Thorn Hill and provided a welcome balm to the senses, helping to soothe the furious presence of the M.40 a little way off.
No, I’m not going into full Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” mode: I wanted to illustrate the vital role of our agricultural land as a pleasing, sensuous experience but also (as recent statistical signals from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Government Office of National Statistics (ONS) have outlined) the ever-increasing vital role that farmed land will have to play because of the crisis in UK food production. The UK only produces 60% of the food it consumes, down from 78% in the late 1980s. In terms of arable crops, wheat production has been in decline since 2019, leading to record - and costly - imports, while oilseed rape output is expected to fall to a 42 year low this year.
In a recent, specific example of the growing cost of imports, the UK increased its vegetable and fruit imports worth £51.3 million from one country, Israel, during the first 3 months of 2025, up from £29.1 million for the last 3 months of 2024. With what meteorologists call the ‘new normal’ (see last ‘Update’) regarding extremes of weather, crop yields are falling because of lack of rainfall which is very often followed by storm-induced flash-flooding which strips out precious top-soil making every acre of land increasingly necessary to alleviate a growing crisis in food production. The UK simply cannot afford to shrink its agricultural base and put huge question marks against its food security.
How does this relate to our own fields? I say ‘our’ fields not in any sense of formal appropriation, but in the sense that whatever location we live in, we are temporary custodians of the immediate world around us and have a duty to influence transformations which will affect the lives of future generations. While we cannot ‘future-proof’ all changes, we can be resolute if the changes are so blatantly negative - on so many levels - to future lives. To borrow a phrase from another current situation: when people are able to counteract something obviously negative to the well-being of others, we should avoid the possibility of us ever saying: ‘One day, in the future, everyone will have been against this...’ We should, unequivocally, fight to retain the food potential of these agricultural acres. As someone once said: “The thing about land…they’re not making any more of it.”
The Stratford Herald article referenced the proposed development’s dubious, potential employment figures submitted by CEG (Malta) Ltd in concert with an alleged link to Aston Martin Lagonda (AML).
In what was blatantly a ‘kite-flying’ exercise, CEG suggested that 4,000 jobs could be created, in the hope that some people and/or local communities would take the bait. One community – miles away from Gaydon and who would not in the least be troubled by the negative consequences (see every ‘Update’…!) of the development - did swallow it and decided to be in favour of it. The suggested employment figure of 4,000 jobs would be laughable, if it wasn’t a serious situation. Anyone with just a passing knowledge of modern warehousing/distribution centres and associated offices can testify to cavernous buildings containing highly-automated procedures organised and monitored by a relatively small number of people. In a typical hangar-sized building, we are talking multiples of dozens, not hundreds.
It is very telling that since the initial mention of AML’s possible involvement in the development there have been no updates to clarify what their plans would be – despite being approached for further comments. As outlined in the last ‘Update’, AML (quite rightly) does have more immediate concerns over problematic trading conditions (especially post-Brexit and dealing with ‘Trumpworld’) than to be distracted by any attempt to provide concrete details to shore up CEG’s business plans.
If it wasn’t enough for Gaydon villagers to have to contend with the prospective loss of one of our ‘green lungs’ to the fifty shades of concrete grey development that may be foisted upon it with its exponentially increased risk of water run-off deluge, along comes – in the immortal words of ‘Brenda from Bristol’ about the 2017 General Election -“You’re joking – not another one!” With our infrastructure that has been creaking for years and – in the case of drainage and sewage – been overwhelmed disastrously on a number of occasions, Wychbury Developments are proposing to bring more buildings to the party. It is not NIMBYism to point out (for the umpteenth time) that Gaydon and its immediate surroundings has experienced multiple and varied housing, commercial and road developments over the past 40 years way in excess of any other similar-sized rural community in the UK. When is enough, ‘enough!’?
Talking of ‘bringing more buildings to the party’, in case you’ve missed it, we now have decorations too! We have twin ‘stripes’ approximately a mile long parallel to the Kineton Road to Chadshunt. There are two continuous lines of solar panels creating grey stripes on the south face of the JLR test-track ridge. How does this venture into renewable energy benefit the villagers of Gaydon – even after the loss of the (to slightly misquote the poet A.E. Housman) ‘green-remembered hills’? You don’t have to spend a great deal of time pondering that one…
(N.B. The new ‘Determination Date’, for possible planning approval, is Tuesday 30th September. See the planning ref: 23/01054/OUT on SDC eplanning site for more info.)
In the words of Sting, let’s hope that we do not have to endure retrospective regrets about the loss of our green - and sometimes gold - landscape:
“You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley…
When we walked in fields of gold.” Tony Hughes
September at the Motor Museum
Monday 1st Mellow Mondays
Saturday/Sunday 6th/7th Retro Truck Show
Tuesday 9th Gaydon Gathering
Sunday 14th DRIVR Show
Monday15th Evening with Richard Porter
Sunday 21st Jaguars at Gaydon
Information and tickets at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
Wine Tasting Evening at the Village Hall
Join us at the Village Hall on Thursday 9th October for a warm and sociable Wine Tasting evening, hosted by Wendy Adams, Director and Founder of Warwickshire Wine School. With a wealth of experience and a passion for making wine enjoyable and accessible, Wendy will guide us through five specially chosen wines - perfect for a cosy winter evening. Expect rich, full-bodied reds and the chance to discover new favourites. There'll also be time to relax, chat, and mingle. Spaces are limited and tickets are selling fast, so don't miss out on what promises to be a fun and enjoyable evening. Buy online at http://www.warwickshirewineschool.co.uk/
Carers4Carers
'Carers4Carers', your local support group for family carers, meets on Friday 26th September from 10:30am to 12 noon, Kineton Village Hall. We are thrilled to welcome Keith Barker, Wellbeing Advisor from Caring Together Warwickshire and The Carers Trust. He will be sharing valuable insights to support your caring role.
Enjoy refreshments, friendly chat, and mutual support. Loved ones are welcome; they can join our Companionship Group during the meeting.
For further details about our group or help with transport arrangements to or from our meetings, please contact Gillian on 07947 893504;
send an email to kcarers4carers@gmail.com; or explore our website: www.carers4carersonthefosse.org.uk.
Nature Notes for August
The 'Dry Spell' continues without any sign of change. Rain has been very infrequent and all gardens are suffering, many plants wilting or dying off early. There was even a squirrel in my Walnut tree yesterday, causing mayhem amongst the local avian population as it came to the ground for a drink from a water bowl left as a bird drinker. The Walnuts are already falling and Mulberries ripe and delicious if you are fast enough to collect them; they are a rare treat that cannot be bought in shops, probably due to the intense taste and purple staining. The huge numbers of butterflies were a great suprise in the very hot spell - but, again, they were early by over a month.
There is great speculation as to whether Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells will hibernate too early without sufficient nourishment stored to last them until next spring. I have, however, not seen as yet the Brimstone which is a September species and a famous hibernator. There are possibilities of second broods of Orange Tips and Commas if there are no early frosts.
Migrants like the Humming Bird Hawk moths have invaded Gaydon, seeking nectar-laden plants, especially the Pink Valerian we have in our front gardens. Migrant Red Admirals may still be around, too. There have even been a few sightings of Clouded Yellows, another long-distance traveller. The Jersey Tiger, a day-flying moth with spectacular markings, has also been seen (even mentioned on Radio 4 as spreading Northwards).
The local Swifts had a very good year raising a lot of young. The skies are silent without them frantically darting across the skies with their distinct stentorian calls. They gathered in a large groups on the first of August and were gone by the next day. The House Martins are still here, facing a long journey back to Africa, stopping to feed en route. We will see them return by next April. There were far more insects to feed on this year.
There is some intriguing camera footage from Upper Lighthorne featuring Otters, Badgers and Foxes on their site. I have found that putting out shallow water bowls has attracted many birds, including juvenile Robins which now hop over my feet to reach one on my patio. Bernard Price
Flag Days in August
4th - 21st Birthday congratulations to Lilly Walden with lots of love. 15th - Birthday of HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal.
If you have something to celebrate or commemorate, ring Siobhan on 07780 689582, and she will raise the flag for you in return for a £5 contribution to Church funds.
September Church Services
7th 10.30am Baptism & Confirmation Burton Dassett
14th 9.30am Holy Communion Gaydon
10.00am Morning Service Northend
6.00pm Evening Worship Farnborough
21st 9.30am Morning Service Gaydon
10.00am Morning Prayer Northend
28th 9.30am Morning Service Gaydon
10.00am Morning Worship Northend
Roman Catholic Church of St Francis, Kineton, Sunday Mass 11am every week.
Sunday 7th September Bishop at Burton Dassett
There will be a joint service at 10.30am for local churches at All Saints' Church to be conducted by our new Bishop, the Very Reverend Sophie Jelley.
Obituary
Raymond Michael Carr, 14 December1939 - 2nd August 2025.
The funeral of Ray Carr took place at All Saints' Church, Burton Dassett, on 27 August. We send our condolences to Pauline, family and friends.
September Memorial Book
1999 1st Phil Goodwin
1999 2nd Dawn Comben
2013 3rd William Arnold
1982 9th John Neal
2018 17th Rosemary Davies
1980 29th William Holder
2002 30th Rene Mann
If there is a special entry that you would like to see, let me know and I will try to make sure that the Book is open on that day. Julie Rickman
Radway Fête and Dog Show
Sunday 14 September 2pm-4.30pm at Ivy Lodge, Radway.
Something to Think About
The Happiness U-Curve
I’ve recently started listening to a series of podcasts called ‘Uncharted’ by Hannah Fry. The series explores patterns in human behaviour, and episode 6 is entitled ‘The Happiness Curve’. Research has shown that people’s happiness and well-being follow a U-shaped curve, declining steadily through midlife and reaching a low point in the late 40s before trending upward from their 50s and into their 70s, eventually reaching similar heights to when people were in their 20s.
The late 40s are a time when acute distress seems to be at its worst, the age when diagnoses of depression and death from drug overdoses are most common. From a middle-aged vantage point, the spectre of ageing can fill us with dread as we imagine physical and mental decline. But it turns out that midlife is usually the most stressful period in life, with career challenges, caregiving stressors, and anxious comparisons to peers and ideals. As the podcast says, ‘The midlife crisis is real, and it matters.’
An added frustration is that we know many of the things we could do that would improve our well-being and happiness, but we just don’t do them:
We know that regular exercise and healthy eating make us feel good, but then the temptation of cheese/chocolate/ice-cream and that latest binge-worthy series on Netflix becomes irresistible.
We know that we feel better and sleep more soundly when we cut down on alcohol… but maybe we’ll try that next week.
We know we should try to fix that difficult relationship with someone at work or in the community but it’s easier just to sit with the resentment... And so it goes on...
Over the last few years, I’ve gained several stone because I’ve stopped exercising and eaten too much of the wrong food. I know what I need to do, but I have regularly failed to do it.
People sabotaging themselves is nothing new: 2000 years ago, St Paul wrote,
‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’ (Romans 7:15)
However, whilst we might sometimes struggle with self-discipline, it’s possible to embed the good habits that lead to greater happiness and wellbeing in midlife (and at all life stages).
A question that can help us get a clear focus on why we are adopting habits for better self-care is:
‘Who do I want to become in this next season of my life?’*
Having a clear focus on why we are doing anything can help us keep going when we’re tempted to stray. Wherever you are on the Happiness U-curve, I pray you’d find and focus on the ‘why’ to help embed the habits that will lead to a greater sense of wellbeing. Reverend Barry Jackson
*On the Living Well course (https://LivingWell2025.eventbrite.co.uk),
we explore questions like this, and ways to help embed the habits we need to improve our physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual wellbeing.