ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Yet another wonderful production, "Alice in Wonderland" from Oxford Theatre Company, brought to our village hall, at the beginning of December.

You will be well aware of the cuts being imposed on the arts at this difficult financial time. The cost to the company of bringing the show to us is £1,200. In the past, being heavily subsidised, we paid the company just £314 for a show but for "Alice" we needed to find £600.  It meant an increase in ticket prices to enable us to cover the cost, and we did it!

Thanks to the amazing support we get from our village, an audience numbering 84. So along with the sale of refreshments (apologies for charging so much for a choc ice!), our income was £651.

It is quite brilliant how a village hall is transformed into this magical space of theatre. Part of the enjoyment too is sharing the experience with others especially the children.

Without exception, every show we have had, and remember they are different actors each time, have all said what a marvellous audience we are.

The company will not know until March/April 2011 about their fate regarding further cuts.

Jessie West

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 26^th.  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

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.

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

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″]

Upton villagers of all ages will be carol singing round our streets on Wednesday 22^nd December. Anyone who would like to sing or play an instrument is very welcome to join us. We will meet at the Village Hall at 6.30pm and finish up there again at around 8pm for a welcome glass of mulled wine and mince pies. Word sheets will be provided, but please bring torches and lanterns and let me know if you would like to play an instrument so that I can provide some music for you. We aim to sing for as many households as possible and will be collecting for charity, so if you’d prefer to listen rather than sing, please get your pennies and pounds (but no missiles please!) ready for a good cause. Give me a call or drop me a line if you would like to take part.

Sarah Tenant-Flowers (Tel: 850488 or email singscape@aol.com)

We had 6 total newcomers to SMB attend our first free session on Sunday, bowling a lot of bowls of various sizes which we borrowed from Harwell club members.  They all found the game interesting and I hope they come along to the remaining sessions to build on their experience.  It was an encouraging start, especially as it was a Sunday and also Remembrance Sunday.  The remaining free sessions are Sunday 28 Nov. 3pm to 4.30pm. and Wednesday 15 Dec. 7.45pm to 9.15pm. We hope to see some additional new bowlers at our next sessions so a club can be formed in the New Year.

Contact Joan & Tony Durbin, Tel. 01235 850035 for further information.

Update April 2011 – unfortunately Becci’s shop did not receive sufficient support to make it economically viable, and has therefore moved to other locations that have expressed a demand.

Becci’s mobile shop will be stopping at the Village Hall Car Park each Tuesday morning from 9.00 am – 9.30 am, selling a range of bread, home made cakes, local and organic vegetables, local meat, chilled food, pet food, sweets, cleaning products etc.

This will provide a useful service to the village.

Clare Lightfoot

A “Coffee Morning” in aid of the MS Society will be held in Upton Village Hall on

Saturday 13^th November 10.30 to 12.00.

Please come along and enjoy a cup of coffee with home made biscuits, children’s and adult raffle, home bake stall, and decorating fairy cakes for children (and for those adults young at heart).

For information please contact Carole Hubbard on 01235 851396 or alternately email

Claire Hubbard at: motherhubbard570@hotmail.com”

It is hoped that in the next few weeks a Short Mat Bowls Club will be set up in Upton using the Village Hall. The intention is to organise a regular evening session, probably Monday or Wednesday, and also a mid week daytime session(s), the latter to accommodate those who find attending winter evening sessions difficult.

To help those who are not familiar with the sport four FREE taster sessions have been arranged for Sundays 14 & 28 Nov. 3pm – 4.30pm and Wednesdays 24 Nov. & 15 Dec. 7-45pm – 9pm. 

There will be players from other clubs with their bowls for you to borrow and after a very short introduction and demonstration game, you will be helped to play several ends yourself. Any flat soled shoes or slippers can be used on the bowls carpet or just stocking feet.

It is suitable for all ages and fitness levels (children need to be 10 years or older for safe control of the bowl)

If you are interested contact Joan Durbin on 850035 or just come along to one of the taster sessions.