The Parish Council has unveiled possible plans for the Recreation Ground.

Continue Reading Recreation Ground Plans

Despite the atrocious weather forecast the Fete was able to go ahead on 2 September, making a profit of around £1,600.

We were delighted with this result and are very grateful to so many people who made this possible. Unfortunately some of our crafts demonstrations were cancelled due to the inclement weather.

Next year’s fete is planned for Saturday 15th September when we hope to introduce some new ideas. We are always looking for suggestions and offers of help, so if you would like to be involved please let Clare (850486) or Jessie (851206) know.

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)

Sheila Parker’s Memorial Bench Installed

Finally we have installed Sheila Parker’s memorial bench in the recreation ground between the trees looking towards Wittenham Clumps.

You will have noticed that the old, full size goalposts have been removed from the recreation ground.

Continue Reading Goalposts

Saturday 9 September

Last year £109,480 was raised in Oxfordshire by the Ride or Stride event. This money all goes towards the upkeep of our churches. I have plenty of sponsorship forms. If you are unable to take part but would like to sponsor somebody, then please let me know.

Clare 850486

SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
Starting at 2pm on the Recreation Ground

Stalls include:

• cakes, produce, plants, books, preserves, toys, white elephant
• craft demonstrations, bouncy castle, face painting
• games, competitions, raffle, tombola
• entertainment by Blewbury Brass Band and the Outside Capering Crew Morris Dancers
• delicious home made teas

Admission free

As usual we need your help. We would be grateful for donations of books, toys, discarded treasure/white elephant (PLEASE NO JUMBLE), raffle prizes, tombola prizes, etc, etc.

The village hall will be open to receive your contributions on:

• Friday 25 August from 7-9 pm
• Saturday 26 August 10-12 noon

We will be pleased to receive cakes and plants on the morning of the fete.

Please get in touch if you are able to help in any way, either before the fete or on the day. If you would like us to collect your contributions please contact Clare (850486) or Jessie (851206).

Friday 18 August at 2.30pm

To Senior Citizens and anyone at home alone.

You are invited to a Summer Garden Party at Toad Hall. We do hope you will be able to come for tea and a chat. Personal invitations will be sent out nearer the time.

Transport can be provided. For further information contact Clare 850486 or Maggie 850364.

What is to become of our stream?

Our little intermittent stream, originating high above the village, which has been running predictably for countless years, was found to be in full flow one day in October 2001, not from its usual source but from under the main road near the George & Dragon. Over the next three or four months we repeatedly alerted Thames Water to the probability that this was a massive water leak, but nothing was done. The stream continued in full flow without interruption over three and a half years. During this time tiny fishes appeared in the water, the number of frogs increased — perhaps many other water creatures benefited. But by July 2005 water was breaking ghrough the tarmac at the end of Prospect Road, and at last Thames Water turned up to repair the leak. The flow in the stream immediately stopped.

So what of the future? At the moment we are simply not getting enough rain in the autumn and winter to get the springs running again. The stream bed is blocked with vegetation and debris in many places and parts of it look rather neglected. It would be lovely to restore this small waterway some time, in the hope that wetter winters we have been promised will materialise to fill it.

Our thanks to all the 22 parishioners who turned out on such a cold morning to help us with our annual litter pick.

As you will have seen from the huge pile in the recreation ground after the event, the tidy up was again much needed We collected 49 sacks of litter and an amazing array of other rubbish including 2 Calor gas cylinders, a 40 gallon oil drum, 16 car wheel hubcaps, 3 car wheels with tyres, 4 highway maintenance signs, a complete telephone from a call box (presumably the one ripped out of our box 6 months ago) various steel cables, a car battery, and a plastic decoy pigeon!

Thanks again for everybody’s help and well done us.