We wish to provide clarification that due to the availability of our organising group, we have collectively decided to shift the drop-in to the last Friday of the month, replacing the previous Thursday schedule. This change will apply for the remainder of this year and into 2024. The regular timing will remain at 10.00-11.30, with the occasional extension for special events.
We have a Christmas Special planned for Friday, December 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We have exciting Christmas festivities in store, including music, festive drinks, and delicious mince pies. Please mark the date on your calendar.
Upton’s Pop-Up Bakery: Following feedback from villagers, we have decided to trial preorders with the Blewbury Bread Company. You can now pre-order delectable pastries and bread from a reduced menu for collection at the monthly drop-in. The order cut-off will be the Wednesday before the drop-in. This service is being trialled by volunteers and operates without profit.
Upton’s Donations to Didcot Food Bank: We are delighted to share that we are now accepting donations for the Didcot Food Bank at our monthly dropin event. For those who may not have heard, Jennie and Steve, who have
been part of our village for 10 years, have recently relocated. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jennie and Steve for their kindness over the years. We welcome Rachel and Chris, who have graciously taken the role of collectors. If you are unable to attend the drop-in but still wish to contribute, Rachel and Chris continue to receive donations at their residence, Conifers on Stream Road.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events. The Upton Drop-In Team – Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)
If you have any questions or would like to help out with any of the meets, please feel free to email Nicola Hall – events@uptonvillagehall.co.uk
Blewbury Post Office News
Opening Times.
Monday 9am – 3pm
Tuesday 8.30am – 12pm — 2.30pm – 5pm
Wednesday 9am – 3pm
Thursday 9am – 3pm
Friday 8.30am – 12pm — 2.30pm – 5pm
Our Christmas opening hours over the festive period will be:
Wednesday 20th December 9am – 3pm
Thursday 21st December 9am – 3pm
Friday 22nd December 8.30am -12pm —2.30pm – 5pm
Saturday 23rd December CLOSED
Sunday 24th December CLOSED
Monday 25th December CLOSED
Tuesday 26th December CLOSED
Wednesday 27th December 9am – 12pm
Thursday 28th December 9am – 12pm
Friday 29th December 9am – 12pm
Saturday 30th December CLOSED
Sunday 31st December CLOSED
Monday 1st January CLOSED
Tuesday 2nd January 8.30am – 12pm — 2.30pm – 5pm
Wednesday 3rd January 9am – 3pm
Thursday 4th January 9am – 3pm
Friday 5th January 8.30am – 12pm — 2.30pm – 5pm
Thank you very much for your business over the last few weeks. I look
forward to serving you in a Busy December. On behalf of myself, Karen and
Andrew we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year!
Thanks so much,
Sarah
Upton Winter Photographic Competition
Winter, November 23rd – March 2nd
Open to all residence of Upton
Two age categories – anyone below 16 and all others 16 and above.
Themes
Upton and Surrounding Area (in winter) – Anything that shows off the
area in which we live – landscapes, buildings, people, nature, sunsets, weather etc.
Animal(s) in winter – wild or domestic
All submissions should be in JPG format and emailed to
upton.photo@outlook.com
Remember to include a brief description or title.
Rob Traynor
Local Bus Service News
Route 94 (Didcot – Blewbury): Following receipt of BSIP funding, this
service will be improved to operate hourly over two slightly different routes
• service 94 will run between Didcot, East Hagbourne, Blewbury and
Upton, roughly every two hours,
• a new 94A circular route will also serve West Hagbourne, the Astons
and Moretons, again roughly two-hourly, following a similar route to
the former 94S service.
This will re-introduce regular bus services for the Astons and Moretons.
Chilton and Harwell Campus will no longer be served – these places are now
served by route X34.
Christmas Special Drop-in
We have a Christmas Special planned for the Village Hall Drop-in on Friday, December 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We have exciting Christmas festivities in store, including music, festive drinks, and delicious mince pies. Please mark the date on your calendar.
Village Hall Drop-in
The next Village Hall Drop-in will take place on Friday, November 24th, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
There is a new schedule for the Village Hall Drop-in, it will now be on the last Friday of the month, replacing the previous Thursday schedule. This change will apply for the remainder of this year and into 2024. The regular timing will remain at 10.00-11.30, with the occasional extension for special events.
Following this, we have a Christmas Special planned for Friday, December 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We have exciting Christmas festivities in store, including music, festive drinks, and delicious mince pies. Please mark the date on your calendar.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events.
Best wishes,
The Upton Drop-In Team
Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)
Upton’s Donations to Didcot Food Bank
We are delighted to share that we are now accepting donations for the Didcot Food Bank at the Village Hall drop-in event. For those who may not have heard, Jennie and Steve, who have been part of our village for 10 years, have recently relocated. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jennie and Steve for their kindness over the years. We welcome Rachel and Chris, who have graciously taken the role of collectors. If you are unable to attend the drop-in but still wish to contribute, Rachel and Chris continue to receive donations at their residence, Conifers on Stream Road.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events.
Best wishes,
The Upton Drop-In Team
Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)
Upton’s Pop-Up Bakery
Following feedback from villagers, we have decided to trial pre-orders with the Blewbury Bread Company. You can now pre-order delectable pastries and bread from a reduced menu for collection at the Village Hall monthly drop-in. The order cut-off will be the Wednesday before the drop-in. This service is being trialled by volunteers and operates without profit. Please follow this link HERE to the order form. To to order an item from the menu simply select the top left box until you see a blue tick, and chose the quantity from the drop-down menu. The site will calculate the total for you. Card and cash payments will be accepted at the drop-in’
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events.
Best wishes,
The Upton Drop-In Team
Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)
Living Advent Calandar

Blewbury Post Office News
We have some exciting news! Sarah will be officially taking over the post
office on the 30th October and Karen can FINALLY put her feet up or go
travelling around the world! From the 31st of October we will be running our temporary opening hours of
9-3pm Monday to Friday until the end of November.
Christmas stamps will be available for sale from the 3rd of November.
There will also be a Christmas Tree collection tin to help with the increasing
cost of the Christmas Tree that sits on top of the church tower.
The post office will be getting very busy soon so please put any customs
labels for international parcels on before you reach the counter. The last
posting date for International economy to Western Europe in time for
Christmas is 27th November so if you require this service please get your
parcels into us before then.
Looking forward to meeting more of you soon and seeing you around the
village!
Love Sarah, Karen and Andrew
Karen also writes:
By the time you read this, I’ll have hung up my date stamp and retired from
being the postmaster at Blewbury Post Office, thank you to all of you for
supporting us, and visiting when you can, Sarah will be taking over, and I
know you will all be as kind to her as you have always been to me.
During November, the opening hours will be 9 to 3, Monday to Friday, but
from the 27th November, Tuesdays and Fridays will go back to normal 8.30
to 12 & 2.30 to 5, (9-3 otherwise)
The Bellringers’ Post Boxes will be available from 27/11 for festive cards
between Blewbury and Upton, , at the George and Dragon, St Mary’s,
Savages, Blewbury Service Station, Red Lion, The Blueberry and the Post
Office; just pop the cards and money, 30p suggested donation, straight into
the box, before the 20th December, and they’ll be delivered before the big
day.
Karen