At last the screed in the new meeting room and store has dried out sufficiently to allow the floor covering to be laid. Thanks are due to Keith Eighteen and Sherfield Flooring Ltd for generously providing and laying the carpet in the meeting room free of charge.

Because of the increased capacity of the hall the Trust needs to incur expenditure on a number of further items. These include extension of the car park; extension of the ladies lavatory to provide a second cubicle; and the purchase of additional tables and storage racking.

Funds raised this year will go a long way to meeting these additional costs, these include the proceeds of two events in the last few weeks.

Our thanks to Hilary Powell and her team of helpers who organised a very successful barn dance in the garden of Prospect House on the 10th of July. This yielded an amazing £1343.

On August 15^th 72 people met at the hall for a lunch of Pimms (and soft drinks), Pate and Pudding. Thanks are due to Celia Davies, her team of helpers and all those who helped provide such a wide and inviting spread. This yielded £633. This event was so enjoyable that Celia was pressed afterwards to arrange a similar event next year! By then it will have become a village tradition!

Brian Simpson

Pimms, Pates and Puddings on Sunday 15th August at 12.30 at the Village Hall on the new patio

Advance tickets - £10.00 Adult,  £5.00 5-15s and Under 5s free

On the Day - Adult £12.00, Child £6.00

On sale from 1st July from

Celia Davies 850684, Maggie Mayham 850126

Clare Lightfoot 850486, Jessie West 851206

Book your table now, ticket includes the first glass of Pimms, soft drinks also available.

All proceeds to UVHAT

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, the travelling theatre that has brought so many lively performances to our village hall, has lost a considerable subsidy from the Vale. It costs the company £1,200 to take their show to each of the venues they visit. The cost to us has been £314. As you can imagine, they are looking at other ways to "keep the show on the road" 

UVHAT have agreed to accept the next family show "Alice in Wonderland" for November. The cost to us will be £600. We hope ticket sales £8 for adults £6 for children plus sale of refreshments will generate sufficient to cover the cost. We certainly have the potential to do so with the extended hall, and still enjoy the more comfort in seating that the extra space has given us. However for this one show UVHAT is prepared to subsidize it if necessary.

So we look forward to your continued support, and welcome anyone coming for the first time, for a thoroughly enjoyable inexpensive evening out.

Meanwhile you are invited to a meeting at the village hall, Monday June 14^th at 7.30pm to share ideas on how to proceed for hosting future shows.

Jessie West

Joan Durbin is very kindly donating some of her framed paintings for sale with all, or half of the proceeds going towards the work still to be done on improving the Village Hall. 10 paintings will be available where all the proceeds are for the hall and a further 10 where half the proceeds will go to the hall.

The paintings will be available for viewing at Joan’s house on Sat. 26th June  & Sun. 27th. 2pm to 6pm. Anyone wishing to view/buy beforehand can view from Friday 19th June until 30th June by telephone appointment Tel. 01235 850035.

Our thanks to Joan for this very generous gesture – Mike Brown

The Oxfordshire Theatre Company is coming to Upton Village Hall again on Saturday March 27th at 7.30 pm

^{Ticket price £8 and £6 from Jessie on 851206}

Loving April

Adapted by Giles Croft from the novel by Melvin Burgess

A moving story of love and intolerance

The touring theatre has been coming to our village hall for many years. Audiences have enjoyed, and appreciated the level of expertise, colour and exuberance they have brought with them.

The cost to our venue is £314 and the only reason they have been able to sustain this price is because of the subsidy they have received. Unfortunately, a large percentage of that subsidy is to be withdrawn. Sadly, this may be their last tour.

The project is still well ahead of schedule but it will not be complete until near to the end of February as time will be needed to dry out the building before some of the finishing work can be completed.

Meanwhile here are a couple of photos so that you can see the progress to date.

The managing architect has just reported that “works are proceeding well and currently on programme. Workmanship is good.”

Now we have to start paying the bills. In the last few weeks over 40 local residents have responded to requests for the money they promised last year. Over £6,600 has been contributed so far. A few more donations are expected.

Other promises include:

£50,000 from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment and the Waste Recycling Group through the Landfill Communities Fund. (This includes £5,500 contributed towards TOE’s expenses by the District Council).

£27,000 through Southern Oxfordshire LEADER, half from the European Union and half from DEFRA.

£8,750 from the County Council

.

£9,020 from the Parish Council.

B R Simpson.

50′S CLUB

Winners for August 2009

£10    Mr Yates        15

£7      Mr Hartley       21

£5      Mr Summers  31     

£4      Mr F Napper   34

Winners for September 2009

£15    Mrs G Churchman   150

£15    Mr G Collins             138

£10    Mr Beckles              143

£7      Mr Bunston                 2

£5      Mrs S Napper            69

£4      Mrs Bunston            39    

More good news! The South East England Development Agency has just awarded
the Parish Council £27,000 towards the cost of extending the hall. The Council’s application was successful largely because of the efforts made by so many people in the village, including those responsible for the preparation and execution of the Parish Plan, the provision of the wide range of organised social activities, and the many local fund raising events. The most recent event, the "Open Gardens" on 6th September, raised £298.
All of this means that the Village Hall Amenities Trust and the Parish Council will soon be able to let contracts for the work to commence. The Trust still needs to raise a few thousand pounds, but the end is in sight.
Brian Simpson

A Jumble Sale in aid of Village Hall funds is being held in the Methodist Church Hall

on March 14^th at 2pm

Please let Jessie or Clare have any items for sale,or bring to the Methodist Hall between

10am and 12noon on the day.