Upton Village

South Oxfordshire

Continuing with Short Mat Bowls

Following the successful taster sessions we are organising regular bowling sessions.  

Firstly, evening sessions will be on a Wednesday 7.45pm – 9.45pm, except the third Wednesday of each month(when the wine club use the hall) starting on Wednesday 12th January with the second session on the 26th.  We intend also to have a weekday daytime session. This will be chosen by canvassing those who bowl on the Wednesday evening and any interested in coming along who are unable to attend the evening session.  Anyone interested in daytime bowling should contact Tony/Joan Durbin, telephone 01235 850035 or email jo_ham@btinternet.com  The times available are Monday all day, Tuesday afternoon from 2.00pm and Friday all day.  The restrictions at present are because of regular use of the hall by other clubs and groups and bowling commitments of the regular short mat bowlers (SMB’s) on Monday evenings, Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons with their current club.

We currently envisage a group of between 6 and 10 regular SMB’s from Upton and surrounding villages being interested in joining a club closer to where they live.

To cover hall hire costs and begin raising funds to repay UVHAT the cost of the equipment it is proposed to charge £2 per two-hour session. For any absolute beginners wishing to try the game and who were unable to attend the taster sessions their first session will be free.

In the future a Monday evening could become the regular evening session and the daytime session could then move to Wednesday (morning or afternoon) or Thursday afternoon.   Thus, if you cannot make the current times do not despair, the situation will probably change after May 2011.

Tony and Joan Durbin

A Special Methodist Service

Our Annual Covenant Service – Sunday 16th January at 10.30 in Blewbury Methodist Chapel 

Renewal and recommitting ourselves is quite a powerful and enabling process. It’s not confined to any single religion or even to religion at all. Every New Year has its resolutions – and surely they’re recommitment and renewal. I’m not a Methodist, so I had to learn about the Methodist covenant service when I became the Spring Line Minister. In my URC tradition there are commissioning services – where we acknowledge our call to service in different ways, but the passionate covenant service belongs to the deeply moving preacher that is John Wesley. To read his personal commitment to the covenant he made himself is to be ‘warmed’, to renew the same within oneself.

When the Spring Line Methodist Church (Blewbury and Upton) meets to experience this covenant service on the 16th January – we will find ourselves caught up in a resolve to deepen our understanding, and our intent to locate God each and every day. The words may have been written some time ago, but the renewal is very much in the present. It’s a great service (I may add a little of the Reformed palette to the morning – Luther and Calvin had passion too).

That’s what we’ll be up to – you are welcome to join us. I finish where I began – this is a powerful and enabling process which is not confined to a single tradition.

Richard Bittleston, Minister for the Spring Line Church

Thames Water’s doorstep password scheme

Bogus callers often pretend to be from a water, gas or telephone company to gain entry into someone’s home under false pretences. To discourage this, Thames Water operates a doorstep password scheme which is open to all their customers.

To register with their doorstep password scheme, customers just need to call Thames Water on 0845 641 0068. Lines are open weekdays from 8am to 8pm and on Saturday from 8am to 1pm (Minicom or Typetalk: 0845 7200 898).

They will be asked for their name and address and customer account number. They will also need to choose their password.

Once somebody has registered, any caller claiming to be from Thames Water must be able to quote the correct password before being let into the person’s home. If they’re unable to do this, the customer must keep their door shut and call Thames Water immediately on the numbers above.

Thames Water also advises people to check a door-step caller’s ID badge in the following way:

• Does the card photo show the person at the door?
• Is the card out of date?
• Has the card been tampered with?
• Does it show Thames Water’s logo?

Have Your Say meeting

The following Have Your Say meeting will be taking place in your area:-

Tuesday 21st December 2010 between the hours of 19:00 and 20:00 at Upton Village Hall.

Please come along on the 21st. This will be a chance to meet with a member of your Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any local issues of concern you may have. We look forward to seeing you – no appointment is necessary. Thank you.

Information and Advice from your Local Neighbourhood Police Team

Here is the latest Wantage East neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer C9815 Tim Deane.

The Wantage East Neighbourhood Consultation indicated that Rural Crime has become a priority issue in local areas. High visibility patrols by police and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) are carried out in rural locations including outbuildings to prevent burglaries and the theft of plant machinery.

Hare coursing was also indicated to be a priority concern in this area. Although hare coursing appears to be an obscure offence, it is a major concern and source of alarm and distress for our rural communities. High visibility patrols and operations by police and PCSOs are carried out in this area to prevent offences. The hare coursing season is normally September through March but can and does occur outside of this period.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and speeding were also identified. The Wantage East Neighbourhood Team is aware of the ongoing problems relating to anti-social behaviour. Locations have been identified where motorists regularly exceed speed limits; causing concern amongst residents.

Incidents

A hare coursing operation took place between 20 and 21 November with members of the neighbourhood team. Several people and vehicles were searched and dipped for red diesel. No offences were identified.

A bicycle was stolen from an insecure garage in Harwell. PC Steve Lynch and PCSO Darren Baker arrested a person for burglary and a bicycle was recovered and returned to its owner. Enquiries are still ongoing.

PC Lynch arrested a man for theft by employee and fraud from a premise in Milton. He has since been charged with these offences.

PCSOs Denise Clements and Gary Kirby were directly involved in the arrest of two people for night poaching offences, at Upton Village hall recreation ground.

PC Lynch and PCSO Baker attended Harwell Primary School and gave a talk to years five and six criminal damage.

PCSO Baker attended Harwell Primary School on 12 November to assist children with their school newspaper.

Vehicle stolen whilst being de-iced

Thames Valley Police are appealing to vehicle owners not to leave their vehicles unattended with the engines running whilst they clear their windscreens on frosty mornings, following the theft of a vehicle in Oxford on Monday 25 October.

While vehicle owners are clearing the ice off their windscreens please take two minutes to check that all the vehicle lighting is working correctly, especially the headlights. Do not use fog lights unless appropriate for the weather conditions. It is an offence to have lights on a vehicle fitted that do not work.

Have a safe and crime free Christmas season

Make sure Santa is the only stranger entering your home this year. Festive season is burglary season.

Remember the three ‘Ls’

  • Look around. Hide your presents until Christmas day and don’t leave packaging from expensive items on display. Burglars consider your gifts under the tree a target for taking.
  • Leave lights on. Homes that don’t look occupied after dark are a target for burglary. Use security lights and timer-switches to make it look like you are home.
  • Lock up. Double-lock your doors and windows whether you’re out celebrating or having a cosy evening in. If you can open your door from the inside without a key, so can a burglar. Remove keys from locks and hide them nearby for emergencies.

Forthcoming Have Your Say Meetings (HYS)

HYS. 04 January 2011 1830-1930 Milton Methodist Hall.

HYS. 08 January 2011 1200-1400 Style Acre’s Café, Savages Garden Centre, Blewbury.

HYS. 11 January 2011 1830-1930 Chilton Village Hall.

HYS. 14 January 2011 1745-1845 Upton Village Hall.

HYS. 27 January 2011 1600-1700 Ardington Police Office.

HYS. 27 January 2011 1800-1900 East Hendred Snell’s Hall.

HYS. 29 January 2011 1200-1400 Co-op Steventon.

HYS. 29 January 2011 1000-1100 Harwell Village Hall.

Please come along, this is your opportunity to speak with your Neighbourhood Officers to discuss any local issues of concern you may have.

Have Your Say online

You can now send non-emergence messages to us using the online form that is available on the Thames Valley Police website. A number of people have already sent their concerns using this method. For you to do that please follow the link http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/haveyoursay

The Wantage East Neighbourhood Team

Here are the PCSOs for the Wantage East area including the villages we cover with contact details:

PCSO Larry Gardner C9861 Milton Park. Milton Village. Milton Heights.

larry.gardner@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Darren Baker C9235 Harwell & Rowstock.

darren.baker@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Mike Clayden C9732 Chilton & Upton.

michael.clayden@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Denise Clements C9845 Blewbury.

denise.clements@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Tim Deane C9815 Steventon.

tim.deane@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Gary Kirby C9455 Steventon.

gary.kirby@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Catherine Johnson C9753 East/West Hendred. Ardington. Lockinge.

catherine.johnson@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

If you would like to speak to any member of the Wantage East Neighbourhood team or for more information about your local Neighbourhood team, contact 0845 8 505 505 or visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk

For help and advice on Crime Prevention contact Crime Prevention Advisor, Alison Smith 0845 8 505 505

To report local problems such as graffiti, fly tipping, pot holes and broken street lights please visit www.fixmystreet.com

Broadband speed survey

Hopefully the Race to Infinity Blewbury Exchange Campaign Group will be successful in getting super-fast broadband in the village in 2012. Until then, it would like to support the Councils’ research into the issue of broadband speed, as we might well end up relying on their support to get better broadband into the village! In addition, the results of the research might help individuals to determine what sort of speed is achieved by their neighbours, and therefore see whether the performance of their own suppliers and equipment are up to scratch.

Continue Reading Broadband speed survey

Transport Event at Blewbury School

At Blewbury School we work hard on our creative curriculum to give the children a ‘hands on’ education. We find the children are more engaged and motivated by this approach to learning. To this end we decided to focus half a term to a whole school theme based on transport. As well as trips to Beaulieu Motor Museum and the Coventry Transport Museum the whole school made moving vehicles. These were exhibited for parents and showed fantastic progression throughout the school as well as a lot of imagination and creativity. As a grand finale we held a transport festival with a large array of vehicles on the school field/car park for the children to look at closely, draw and even sit in. The older children interviewed the owners while the younger children loved the police car siren! We had everything from a JCB, cement mixer and tractor to motorbikes, camper vans and vintage cars including a Rolls Royce. The whole afternoon was great fun and a huge amount was learnt and experienced. Our thanks go to all the willing lenders of those vehicles.

Mandy Slater

Blewbury School

Still in race for faster broadband

Upton and its neighbouring villages, Blewbury, West Hagbourne, Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe, all of whom share the Blewbury telephone exchange, are still in the race to get faster broadband in 2012.

The residents of all five communities have made a fantastic response to BT’s Race To Infinity campaign, which promises to install fibre optic broadband in the five exchanges nationwide which have the highest percentage of votes come 31 December this year.

As of 9 December, the Blewbury exchange leads the race with a total of 1037 votes out of a 1236 households, a massive 83.9%. It’s neck and neck between Blewbury and the Caxton exchange in Cambridgeshire for the No.1 spot, but there’s strong competition for the winning top five, so every last vote is needed to ensure a successful outcome.

If you haven’t yet registered your vote on behalf of the village, please contact either Graham de Wilde at 3 Beeching Close (851600), or Brian Rippon at Autumn Leaves, High Street (850158). The competition is open to all residents, whether or not you have an Internet connection or even a telephone line, so please make sure your vote is counted – see details of how to vote.

Recent media coverage has included the Oxford Times, BBC Online and a BBC Radio Oxford interview with Chris Whatmore, Blewbury’s campaign co-ordinator.

[wpaudio url=”http://www.uptonvillage.co.uk/wp-content/files/Chris_Whatmore.mp3″ text=”Chris Whatmore on Radio Oxford” dl=”0″]

Churn Benefice December News

Churn Youth Group

Sunday 19th December at 7pm in the Benefice Centre

All young people of secondary school age are welcome to come along.

We meet on the third Sunday of the month from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Benefice Centre or other venue depending on what activity we decide to do.

The CHURN Branch of the MU

The next Pram Service will be on Wednesday 1st December at 12.15pm

in the Vale Room, Blewbury Village Hall. ALL AGES ARE WELCOME.

A sandwich lunch is provided by the Mothers Union after the service. This is a short Eucharist service ideal for pre-school children to bring parents, grandparents, carers to.

Home Communion over Christmas

Home Communion is available to anyone who is unable to get to church through sickness or frailty, either for a short time or on a long term basis. If you, or anyone you know, would like to receive Holy Communion at home over the Christmas period, please contact The Revd Louise Butler, 851011, or leave a message at the benefice office, 850267.

Night Prayer by Candlelight in Advent

Wednesday evenings 8-9pm

1st December North Moreton 8th December Hagbourne

15th December Aston Upthorpe 22nd December Upton

Everyone welcome!

Annual Blewbury Christmas Market

27th November in St. Michael’s Church Blewbury

Homemade puddings & pies, Fairtrade chocolate, Christmas Cakes & Biscuits…….

and hundreds of gifts from children’s stocking fillers

to silk scarves and hand embroidered linens.

Come do your “foody” and Christmas Gift shopping.

10.30am to 12.30pm with music, refreshments and a bran tub for children.