Stephen Copley from Didcot won the 20^th running of the Hagbourne Fun Run repeating his 2007 victory. Stephen came home 30 seconds clear of John Peake who won the Veteran class. Alex Mills won the Boy Under 16 class coming in 6^th overall and was joined by two other Under 16s in the top 10.

East Hagbourne again dominated the lady’s race with Rosie Stainthorp, Rebecca Laing and Georgia Pennington defending their titles and Katie Ward winning the Local class – all of whom are under 16. In doing so, Rebecca and Georgia improved on their time last year by close on 2 minutes.

Upton put up a good show with Paul Thomas coming in 3^rd and Paul Powell 12^th overall and Baylie Powell was second in the Under 12 Girl class.

Of the 221 runners that took part, the class winners were as follows:

The John and Monica Lawson cups for the first Hagbourne man and woman home went to Daniel Stainthorp and Rosie Stainthorp respectively. The Marie Brown trophy for the first veteran lady was presented to Anita Syphas.

This year, Thomas Parks took some great action photos of most of the runners coming up to the finish line. If you would like a picture of you finishing, e-mail Hagbournefunrun@yahoo.co.uk and we will send you it – but we would like a contribution to the charity.

As usual, the money raised is going to a cancer research charity and the Village Fund. If you still have any sponsorship money or would like to make a donation, could you please take it to the Hagbourne Post Office in the next couple of weeks so that we can get the money off to the charity.

As you would expect, the Fun Run just doesn’t happen. Many people freely give their time to help make the day a success. As well as the marshals and timekeepers, we have people who serve the food and drinks, those that make the food, and those that set out the course. I would like to thank all those involved – the day wouldn’t happen without them.

I look forward to seeing you all there again next year – for the 21st Run and Walk.

Andrew Tyler

Chairman, Fun Run Committee

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT

I have been informed of 2 burglaries that occurred in West Hagbourne last week in broad daylight.

This is very close to home and I would urge people NOT to open their doors to unfamiliar callers particularly if they are in the house alone. These are just the people that distraction burglars are targeting.

If in any doubt simply do not answer the door.

Anyone calling from Water Board, Council, Southern Electricity etc etc should be wearing an obvious identity tag. If not, simply do not let them in!

Celia Davies 850684

Since 1985, Rotary Clubs all over the world have been funding an immunization campaign against polio, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation and UNICEF. Rotary internationally has raised over £500,000,000 for this purpose. In 1985, over 350,000 cases of polio were reported throughout the world; by 2008 this number had been reduced to only 2,000. The intention now is to wipe out polio totally and to save all children from being condemned to a lifetime of paralysis from this terrible disease.

The Rotary Club of Oxford Isis is organising two musical events to help fund the campaign:-

A Gala Concert at 7.00pm on Saturday 20^th February at the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Oxford. The Concert features the Young Lions Jazz Group, Marion Flanagan’s School of Irish Dancing (including Riverdance) along with other young musicians and dancers. Tickets cost £15-00 and include light refreshments.

Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen in Concert at 7.00 p.m.on Saturday 27^th March at Radley College Theatre near Abingdon. There will be a bar and tickets at £20-00 include a light supper.

Tickets are available for both events from Robert Fitchett at Upton Fruit Farm (01235 850808) or e-mail fitchettupton@ukonline.co.uk

Didcot Twinning Association brings you JOURNÉE FRANÇAISE (FRENCH DAY)

When: Saturday March 27th 2010
Time: 10.30 am until 3pm
Where: Ladygrove Park Primary School, Avon Way, Didcot, OX11 7GB
Cost: £15 per person. Reductions for more than one person from the same address.

Come and learn/improve your French language skills.
All ages and levels catered for.
Cook and learn, sing and learn. GCSE oral coaching
More details: www.didcottwinning.org.uk
Or call Sue Totterdell 01235 850080
Sheralyn Hares 01491 837718

EVENT AID

Could you do something amazing in 2010?

The 3 Peaks challenge is one of the hardest but most rewarding challenge events you can take part in. During 2009, over 100 people took part in the challenge to support local Oxfordshire charities. Teams came from Helen & Douglas House, Sobell House Hospice, Age Concern, SpecialEffect and Rosy to name a few and between them they raised nearly £30,000. 

If you would like to get a team together or maybe do it on your own and join in with another team, then please contact Teresa@eventaid.org or go on line at www.eventaid.org

You will be fully supported with training walks, guides, insurance and full support from the Event Aid team.

If the 3 Peaks is not for you, maybe running a marathon in Rome? maybe a Karting endurance event? or maybe one of the many challenge walks organised by Event Aid for local Oxfordshire charities may be your thing!  Whatever you do in 2010, do something amazing for your local community and join in a challenge event.

Blewbury School receives Fourth International School Award

At Blewbury School we encourage the children to develop a strong global awareness. This last academic year was time once again to renew our International School Award, this is the tenth year since this award started and we are one of the few schools in the country to have worked consistently to include the International. Dimension across our curriculum

At the beginning of the year we had to produce an action plan for the year and then collect evidence, including evaluations from pupils, parents, staff and visitors, to show what we had achieved. As we compiled this portfolio in July we proudly reflected on the year’s work – Our International Harvest festival, the Comenius visit to France for an Eco Meeting, the Angels Gum Boot Choir visit to school, the Didcot School’s Partnership International Day, our Ugandan Week following a visit to Uganda by seven teachers, World Water Day, International Sport’s Day at St. Birinus School and our final Comenius visit to Sweden.

All this and much more meant that we were awarded ‘The International School Award’ for the fourth time. At the award ceremony in London on 16^th October there was an extra acclamation, Blewbury School is only 1 of 17 schools in the whole of the UK to have received this award four consecutive times.

Marion Mills – Headteacher

Blewbury School Governor Vacancy

Blewbury School is looking for a new Community Governor. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the school on 01235 850411.

The Christian Aid Sponsored Walks are being held on Saturday 17 October 2009 starting from Chilton Church Hall between 9 and 10 am. There are two routes, one of 5 miles and the other of 10 miles, both in the West Ilsley and Ridgeway area.

Sponsorship forms and further information are available from Alec Chenery, ‘Dulcina’, Newmans Close, Upton, 850477.

Tim Traynor from Upton defended his title in the 19^th running of the Hagbourne Fun Run and Walk. Tim came home over two minutes clear of the field and has now won three times in the last four years.

Paul Thomas, another Upton man came fourth winning the First Veteran.

Tim Traynor

Paul Thomas

The ladies’ race was won by Rosie Stainthorp from East Hagbourne. If it wasn’t for the rule that a person can only win one class, she would have won the first lady, first local lady and Under 16 Girl classes - and if the race was held a few months ago, she would have won the Under 12 Girl as well!

With 249 runners, 79 walkers and a record number of dogs, this was one of the biggest fields in the race’s history. The class winners were as follows:

This year was the first that the John and Monica Lawson trophies for the first local man and woman home were awarded. This year they went Lee Thornhill and Rosie Stainthorp respectively. The Marie Brown trophy for the first veteran lady was presented to Letitia Parnell.

Over £1,000 was raised on the day with sponsorship and donations still to come in. As usual, the money raised is going to a cancer research charity. This is obviously a very good causes and so, if you still have any sponsorship money or would like to make a donation, could you please take it to the Hagbourne Post Office in the next couple of weeks so that we can close the accounts for this year and get the money off to the charity.

As you would expect, the Fun Run just doesn’t happen. Many people freely give their time to help make the day a success. As well as the marshals and timekeepers, we have people who serve the food and drinks, those that make the food, and those that set out the course. I would like to thank all those involved - the day wouldn’t happen without them.

I look forward to seeing you all there again next year - for the 20^th Run and Walk.

Andrew Tyler
Chairman
Fun Run Committee

Hagbourne Fun Run – 4^th May

East Hagbourne’s annual Fun Run and Walk takes place this year on Monday 4^th May. Starting in East Hagbourne, the 4.5 mile route goes through West Hagbourne, Upton and Blewbury before returning to East Hagbourne.

There are cups for the first man and woman, first veteran man and woman, first U16 boy and girl and first U12 boy and girl. All children who complete the course also get a certificate.

As well as being a Fun Run, the event also raises money for Cancer Research - Over the years it has raised over £20,000.

The run starts at 11am from the Hagbourne Village Hall. Registration for runners and walkers is from 9:30am on the day. Entry is £2.50 for adults and 50p for Under 16s.

Refreshments are available throughout the morning. It is a great event for all the family.

More information and sponsorship forms are available from Andrew Tyler on 07710 0883448 or andrewstyler@yahoo.co.uk.

For all parents, the importance and value of a good, local school is perhaps immeasurable. Your child will spend many years there and gain the basis for both secondary school and life thereafter. As many in Upton will be aware, the teachers and support staff at Blewbury School have been working exceptionally hard to maintain and improve our local school. I am very pleased to report that this dedication has enabled the school to achieve not only a “good” Ofsted rating, but one with significant “outstanding” elements. I believe the best way to summarise the report is to let it speak for itself:

“The school provides an exceptional curriculum” which “captures pupils’ enthusiasm for learning and their thirst for knowledge.”

“….teaching and learning are of consistently good quality and some lessons are outstanding.”

“Teachers… invariably set interesting and challenging activities that are well matched to pupils’ interests and learning needs”

“The curriculum is exceptionally well enriched by a wide range of visits that support learning, including residential visits for all Key Stage 2 pupils, and also by visitors to the school.”

“Pupils in all year groups are eager to learn, enjoy coming to school and behave exceptionally well.”

“Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are outstanding.”

“Pupils are proud of their contribution to the school and to the lives of others through membership of the influential school council and eco-councils” and “thrive on the many opportunities that they have to take responsibility”.

“Parents were unanimous in saying that their children enjoy school and this is reflected in the exceptionally high levels of attendance.”

“The school emphasis on the international dimension is a great strength…..” “The outstanding emphasis on global development has enabled the pupils to have a highly developed sense of the importance of global understanding.”

“There is a good emphasis on the arts, particularly music, which successfully encourages pupils to develop their specific talents and interests.”

On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Marion Mills (Head Teacher), all the teachers, support staff, children, parents and wider community for the work they do to help develop and maintain the great school we have. Thankyou!

Andrea Brown, Parent & School Governor

The full Ofsted report can be accessed via the school website: http://oxfordshire.schooljotter.com/blewbury

Please make purchases through www.buy.at/blewburyschool and help boost our funds!