South Oxfordshire
Andrew and Marion Temple retire to the Lake District
We are sorry to say goodbye to Andrew and Marion Temple who have just moved on after spending 8 years in the village living at Pointers Corner.
Both Andrew and Marion are keen walkers and we wish them well for their retirement in the Lake District.
The senior citizens of Upton get together for a Tea Party and a chat.
Margaret and I came up with the idea that we should hold a tea party and invite Upton’s senior citizens and anyone who was housebound or on their own. This had been partly spurred on by the responses to the Parish Plan questionnaire. We drew up a list that surprisingly amounted to about 80 people. The date was fixed for 18 August and 48 people said they would like to come. You will remember that August had been an exceptionally hot and dry month and the gardeners amongst us were praying for rain.
What happened? On the morning of 18 August the rains came, however there were some bright intervals and between the showers we put out the tables and chairs – then erected a gazebo just in case! Our guests arrived and tucked in to some sumptuous home made cakes and tea. Austin kindly distributed sun hats as it was very bright and warm. Then came down the rain. Some people made a dash for home, others moved into the house and continued to chat. Everyone said how much they enjoyed their afternoon at Toad Hall.
We are grateful to Austin and Margaret for agreeing to host the tea party. Thanks also to everyone for providing the wonderful home baked cakes, offering lifts and generally helping out. We are wondering if people would want a similar get together, say early in the New Year, in the village hall, just for an informal tea and chat – and perhaps invite along handbell ringers? Please let us know.
Clare Lightfoot (850486) or Margaret Maytham (850464)
Thames Valley Police has received several reports recently, that people are being contacted by telephone, by callers who claim to be from the police.
For many years, UKAEA’s Harwell site in south Oxfordshire has been a centre for civil nuclear energy research in the UK. Now UKAEA is engaged in restoring the site.
The aim is to complete its transformation into an international centre for science and technology to maintain businesses and jobs in the community.
The National Decommissioning Authority is responsible for decommissioning the Harwell licensed nuclear site and UKAEA have published its plans to complete this by 2025. The “End-State” refers to the quality of the land, buildings and structures left behind after 2025 and so does not specify the future use of the cleaned-up land.
Members of the local community are being consulted about their wishes for the End State of the licensed nuclear site at Harwell and various options are being considered. These range from (1) no clean-up. (2a) Allowing long-term storage of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) at Harwell and partial clean-up, to (2b) Interim ILW storage at Harwell and partial clean-up to (3) Full clean up. Other options exist in this range and the public are being asked to state their preferences.
An Information Pack is available on request from: Nick Hance (Secretary Local Stakeholder Group), c/o UKAEA B521, Harwell, Didcot. OX11 0RA.
Finally we have installed Sheila Parker’s memorial bench in the recreation ground between the trees looking towards Wittenham Clumps.
Sheila Parker's memorial bench
In memory of Sheila Parker
This is a message about damage to, and thefts from, Electricity Substations.
A property in Coulings Close, East Hendred, was the target of distraction burglars.
You will have noticed that the old, full size goalposts have been removed from the recreation ground.
Police are appealing for information after two youths stole cash from a 90-year-old woman’s home in Chilton after entering through an insecure door.
There has been a marked increase in the number of reported instances of stolen motor vehicle, and vehicle interference over the last few days.