UFFINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Spring Courier Submissions. It's that time for Courier submissions again. Please send the editor (Giles Dawson - courier@uffington.net ) any entries for the Spring edition of our local quarterly magazine. Please also let him know if you have a new potential contributor to suggest - the more the merrier. The
DEADLINE is Sunday 16th March. Please send any photographs as separate jpegs, please.
Courier Cover Photos. With different colour covers now being used for each edition of the Courier, we are always on the lookout for suitable cover photos. By 'suitable' we like to have local photos in upright (portrait) format. Photos should be of good quality (high resolution) and we can scan any printed photos if necessary.
With Spring on the way, it's time to get snapping (or sorting through earlier photos on phones, cameras or in shoe boxes). We are interested in potential cover photos for the 2025 summer, autumn and winter editions. To encourage submissions, we are offering a prize of £20 for any photo selected for use (any photos used will have the owner acknowledged in the magazine unless they do not wish to be mentioned). Cover photos for the Spring edition should be submitted to the editor Giles Dawson courier@uffington.net by 16 March 2025.
Uffington Table Tennis Club Demonstration. On behalf of all who attended the Table Tennis Club demonstration event on Monday 24th I would like to thank Paul White and the other organisers for all their efforts to make this an interesting, informative and, most of all, fun evening. Attendees were treated to an expert demonstration of some of the basic shots, a few exhibition games and then an opportunity to put what they may have learnt into practice guided by the two experts Dave and Dev – without too much embarrassment!
If this has piqued your interest, why not keep the momentum going? We run a weekly "turn up and play" session every Tuesday, 6:00–9:00 PM—open to all skill levels, from age 10 to 100! Just £4 for adults and £2 for under-18s. Come along, improve your skills, and enjoy the game with us!
WHAT'S ON - IN & AROUND UFFINGTON
Uffington Market – Sunday 2 March. The next one is to be held this Sunday 2 March, from 10.00 am. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/2ea7dabc-e088-ae56-ae3f-744ce707eecf.jpg
Shrove Tuesday - 4th March. There will be pancakes at 2 Lower Common Cottage, SN7 7SQ both at lunchtime 12 - 2pm, and evening 5.30 - 8.30pm. Savoury and sweet fillings, wine and soft drinks. Donations to ACCESS, the charity supporting the education of children of quarry workers and other needy families in Bangalore, India. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy pancakes, good company and to support this worthwhile charity. Further information from Fenella 07748 792765. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/a6d1d439-a1c0-57ec-4c43-65f954a71253.jpg
Uffington Wednesday Walk - Wed 5 March. Still looking for drier areas underfoot; the March Walk will start from Buckland. A very pleasant circular walk. Easy walking, no hills, no stiles, mostly on good surfaces. 5.6 miles. Initially heading west to Littleworth then south of A420 towards Buckland Warren and returning to Buckland village.
Meeting initially in Uffington Village Hall car park at 9:20 for car sharing and a 9:30 start to Buckland. Walk will leave Buckland Village car park 9:50 for those who prefer to meet us there. Do let us know if you intend meeting in Buckland - phone number below for any hiccups. Map of walk and Buckland Village Hall attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/13d707fb-d714-c02f-ab69-f0ddf13d6a7f/Wednesday_Walk_5_March.pdf
Wed Walking Committee. Verity Cavanagh veritycavanagh@gmail.com 07975861790
White Horse Gardening Club – Thursday 6 March at 7.30 pm - Bee keeping. 'A buzz in the garden', by Richard Rickett. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/2cbf2830-0d71-9110-128d-0bfae9b47d29.jpg
GENERAL
Do you have an old Recipe book? A previous resident of the village is looking for a recipe book that was sold in 1995 called ' The New White Horse Recipe Book'. If anyone has a copy that they would be willing to donate please let karen.pilcher@btinternet.com know or 07391 516149 - thank you.
Uffington Benefice 200 Club.
Dear All, however choppy the waters for the current leadership of the C of E, if you have appreciated any of our services, ministry, and buildings at a local level, I wonder whether you might consider supporting us by purchasing a ticket for Uffington Benefice 200 Club?
Each ticket costs £50 (renewable annually) and there are four draws for a range of cash prizes over the year. This raises about £6,000 annually which is distributed across the Churches of Uffington, Woolstone, Baulking, and Shellingford. Funds like these remain vital for keeping our show on the road in these parishes of the White Horse. If you would like a ticket, or know someone who might (they don't have to be villagers), Julia Lycett-Green, our 200 Club Treasurer, would be delighted to hear from you at julia@lycettgreen.co.uk
Thank you for reading this!
Jeremy Goulston (Vicar) jgoulston@btinternet.com
Thames Water. I have received the following. 'Our prices are changing. We're getting in touch to let you know our prices are going up in April. On average, our bills for typical metered water and wastewater customers will increase by £16 per month in 2025-26. Remember, your bill change could be higher or lower based on your usage. You can find all the details about our new charges on our website'.
FROM THE VALE
South and Vale Leaders write to West Berkshire Council on unitary council proposals. Published 24 February 2025, the Leaders of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Council have written to the Leader of West Berkshire Council to support the creation of a joint forum of senior council members from each authority to support the three authorities to work up a proposal for a possible unitary ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Councils offer help to bring empty homes into use. Property owners are being offered support to bring empty homes back into use, to help meet local housing needs. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Help shape new rules for charity collections in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse. Residents, charities and businesses in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are encouraged to comment on a new policy for charity collections across the two districts. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
New plan to help power Oxfordshire using local renewable energy. Oxfordshire councils have joined together, under the Future Oxfordshire Partnership, to deliver pioneering local area energy plans (LAEPs) for Oxfordshire, to address climate change and secure cleaner, more affordable energy for the county. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Garden Waste Permits: The new garden waste permit payment system will open at the end of February. Please check back on our garden waste page soon.
THAMES VALLEY POLICE
Protect yourself from Holiday fraud: don't let fraudsters trip you up this summer. People looking to snap up online holiday deals ahead of the summer are being warned to stay extra alert and do their research before booking their getaways, as new data reveals victims lost a total of over £11 million to holiday fraud last year. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a holiday fraud campaign, urging the public who are looking to snap up their next holiday deals online to look out for suspiciously enticing offers online, including on social media, and do their research before booking their getaways. More information here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/a0b8ed10-5f1a-5c4e-96bc-6c811b0c5df0/Protect_yourself_from_Holiday_fraud.pdf
Police & Crime Bulletin Feb '25 - antisocial behaviour; drug dogs and more…See: Police & Crime Bulletin Feb '25 - antisocial behaviour; drug dogs and more…
February update from the PCC. See: 🚨 February update from the PCC
Your Path to Policing - Thames Valley Police Recruitment Webinar - 11th March (6pm-7pm).
Are you interested in becoming a Police Officer? Join us for an informative online webinar on 11th March (6pm-7pm), designed to guide you through your recruitment journey and address any questions you may have about becoming a police officer.
You'll hear directly from our recruitment specialists, as well as a serving police officer currently working in Incident and Crime Response (ICR), who will share their personal experience of successfully navigating the recruitment process. We'll also feature a guest speaker from our Foundation Training team, giving you a detailed insight into the training you'll undergo. Our goal is to ensure you feel well-prepared and informed about what to expect on your journey to becoming a substantive officer with Thames Valley Police.
Sign up today for the chance to ask questions, gain valuable knowledge, and feel confident as you embark on your journey to becoming a police officer. This is your opportunity to get answers and ensure you're fully prepared for what lies ahead.
You can sign up to our webinar via this link > Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
FROM THE CHURCHES OF UFFINGTON BENEFICE
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 2 March: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/0283f425-b372-6bab-e729-dfa318791cb6/wsh_2025_03_02.pdf
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
Village news 22 February 2025 Good evening; after an unseasonably nice day and a thriller of a 6 Nations rugby match (England 16 – Scotland 15), here is a brief follow-up to yesterday's newsletter.
90th birthday coming up - from Diana Smith: My father Peter Smith was born in Uffington, and he will be 90 on the 8th of March, we are having a surprise party for him at the Fox @ 2pm that day and are trying to get as many vintage tractors there as possible. Responses and queries to Diana at: di_smith_4@hotmail.com
White Horse WI – Clarification:
White Horse WI – 26 February at 7.30 pm. Just a reminder that White Horse WI have invited Nicholas Gill to our next meeting at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall (small hall) on the 26th February at 7:30pm. He will be bringing along his keyboard and will share his knowledge of the life and works of George Gershwin the American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular jazz and classical genres. Refreshments and a small raffle will be available (cash only) visitors welcome; 1st visit free. Look forward to seeing you there.
From the Vale:
The February edition of Vale News for 2025. See: The February edition of Vale News for 2025
A new council for the Vale, South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire? Councillors in the Vale of White Horse have held a public meeting to discuss the future of the district council in light of the government's plans for devolution and local government reorganisation. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Village news 21 February 2025 WHAT'S ON - IN & AROUND UFFINGTON
Uffington Community Garden AGM – Saturday 22 February. In the Fox and Hounds, at 3.00 pm. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/37a1a68b-b5e2-8e95-05b9-1a17f88ae417.jpeg
Family Service this Sunday in St Mary's at 10am. Children (and parents) are particularly warmly welcome at our Family Service this Sunday 23 February in St Mary's at 10am. We will be making a farmyard with lots of animals and thinking about how God cares for us. We will also be singing some favourite songs/hymns easily sung by young and older. Squash and biscuits on offer after the service. ALL WELCOME!!
Uffington Table Tennis Club Presents: A FREE Exciting Event – Monday 24 February! Join us for a thrilling evening of table tennis featuring a demonstration match and coaching session from a top competitor and coach with extensive experience in regional and national tournaments, including the Table Tennis Daily Super League. Our special guest has even faced off against three-time Olympian Carl Prean—a true highlight for any table tennis enthusiast! More information attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/595ef089-fe0b-6731-3e5b-59cf62c641ae/Table_tennis_Event_Poster.pdf
Friends of Uffington Museum – AGM, on Monday 24 February. In the THMH at 7.00 pm. More information attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/042e1163-a334-f7b9-474b-6998ccdab4fa.jpg
Uffington Museum - 'Spirit of the Ridgeway' on Wednesday 26th February. Jim Gunter will present a talk, in the large hall of the THMH. Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30 start. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/c182b753-b3d6-b30d-f1d5-5e4d3b0bf16f.jpg
White Horse WI – 26 February at 7.30 pm. Just a reminder that White Horse WI have invited Nicholas Gill to our next meeting at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall (small hall) on the 26th March at 7:30pm. He will be bringing along his keyboard and will share his knowledge of the life and works of George Gershwin the American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular jazz and classical genres. Refreshments and a small raffle will be available (cash only) visitors welcome; 1st visit free. Look forward to seeing you there.
Uffington Market. Next one on Sunday 2 March, from 10.00 am. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/35572d3b-0c35-1af3-77c1-b33fcfe3bda4.jpg
Shrove Tuesday - 4th March. There will be pancakes at 2 Lower Common Cottage, SN7 7SQ both at lunchtime 12 - 2pm, and evening 5.30 - 8.30pm. Savoury and sweet fillings, wine and soft drinks. Donations to ACCESS, the charity supporting the education of children of quarry workers and other needy families in Bangalore, India. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy pancakes, good company and to support this worthwhile charity. Further information from Fenella 07748 792765. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/fd5387c9-b295-ca83-3ceb-9ee0b4c21120.jpg
Online public talk – 4th March – 'Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and health inequalities'. South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) have notified details of an online public talk on 'Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and health inequalities across your networks'. 4 March - 7 – 8 pm – Online: https://www.scas.nhs.uk/your-health-matters-online-public-talk-4-march-7-pm/
Please email membership@scas.nhs.uk to register.
Cow Muck Promotions in 2025. We are all sorted out for this coming year with shows in Baulking and Uffington featuring the likes of Lucy Farrell and Catherine MacClellen, Sam Sweeny, the Aldbourne Brass Band, Malin Lewis, The Heather Ferrier Trio and John Spires and Jackie Oates. We will give details of each show as they come up.
The first event will be at St Nicholas Church, Baulking on Friday 25th April and is a talk by Faringdon Town Crier and self proclaimed Tolkien expert, Sjoerd Vogt, entitled "Tolkien and The Folly Tower". Is Faringdon Folly actually Hobbiten Hill? Is The Folly Tower the Tower of Isengard? Baulking is in the middle of the Shire - as in Tolkien's Middle - Earth? Seriously? Come and decide for yourself.
Tickets are £5 each with all the money going to the Restoration Fund for the Folly Tower. Doors and bar open at 7.30pm and the talk begins at 8.00pm
Digital Voice Drop-in event in your area - Tuesday 25 February. Landlines in the UK are going digital. Learn what Digital Voice is, why the change is necessary and what it means for you. Lambourn Library on Tuesday 25 February – 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. More information attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/87e7388e-1124-d5f6-ee2c-16dc8f44933e.jpg
(See also below under TVP. Please note that an Uffington resident was recently hacked/scammed and the way they got in was by pretending to be BT and telling me my digital voice switchover which took place last November had problems which they needed to sort out – be careful).
Save the Date: The Peter O'Sullivan 2025 Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday 18 April. See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/86e60b87-94a4-215f-5979-ae13677ee7af/2025_LOD_Poster.pdf
GENERAL
Championing rural road safety – from NFU Mutual. Rural roads are vital to our countryside, but they also carry unique risks and see a disproportionate number of accidents. That's why we have developed the Code for Countryside Roads – a guide to make rural roads safer for everyone, from motorists and agricultural drivers to cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. With fatal accidents on rural roads 70% higher than on urban ones, this code offers practical guidance based on expert advice and public feedback to promote safer and more respectful road use. For more information and to read the Code, see: Rural Road Safety | NFU Mutual
(For the avoidance of any doubt, I have received this because I am insured with NFU Mutual, and forward it on an FYI basis).
FROM THE VALE
All the updates from the latest Vale Council meeting. The budget was the focus at the first full Vale of White Horse District Council meeting of 2025, alongside investment in housing and approval of a new council plan. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Housing Consultation - Have your say on how we provide homes to those in most need. Proposed changes to the way social housing in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse is allocated for those in the most need will speed up help for homeless households to move into long-term accommodation. The consultation opens on Tuesday 18 February and runs until 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025. To take part in the consultation go to our website theconversation.southandvale.gov.uk
More information attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/0d4a0b2c-d452-f0c5-1947-72721099df84/Vale_Housing_Consultation.pdf
COUNTY NEWS
YourOxfordshire. Support for young people, detail on our budget and how you can get creative – see: Support for young people, detail on our budget and how you can get creative
(Editor's note: Parents please note the consultation on Home to school transport policy and post 16 transport policy statement (2025) – closing date 9 March 2025.)
THAMES VALLEY POLICE
Theft of Number Plates & Prevention. Theft of number plates is an all too frequent occurrence. Stolen number plates will often be used to facilitate a wide range of further criminal activity, including Theft & Traffic Offences. If you notice your number plates have been stolen, please report this to Police as soon as possible. In doing so, this allows us the greatest opportunity to detect, disrupt and prevent further Offences from occurring.
Volunteer support (urgently) required - Oxfordshire Based Events. We are currently organising a range of events across Oxfordshire to coincide with the BT Digital Switchover which will be happening across the country and affecting some of our most vulnerable in our community. Neighbourhood Watch is currently looking for people to come forward to help run these events. You would receive FULL support and training and it is a fantastic opportunity to help others within your community to feel well informed and confident to know what will be happening, what it involves and what is expected of them. This helps reduce the likelihood that they will be scammed and confused with mis-information.
If you live around the following areas and are free on the dates stated, YOU could be that key person who could be a volunteer for us in this project. All of the venues are already booked and the essentials are all covered, you would get travel expenses too. Your local events are: - Chipping Norton Library, Tuesday 18th March, 10.00am - 1.00pm
- Wallingford Library, Tuesday 25th March, 10.00am - 1.00pm
- North Leigh Library, Friday 28th March, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
- Bampton Library, Monday 31st March, 2.00pm - 5.00pm
- Burford Library, Thursday 3rd April, 10.00am - 1.00pm
If you feel that you would like to take part in this exciting partnership between NHW and BT in helping to support local meetings across Oxfordshire, do get in touch with me to find out more.
Emma Drozd | Regional Digital Voice Volunteer Coordinator - South East Region
emma.drozd@ourwatch.org.uk
You can also find out more about the project by visiting our website
Our Digital Voice Project with BT | Neighbourhood Watch Network (ourwatch.org.uk)
Our Digital Voice Project with BT | Neighbourhood Watch Network
FROM THE CHURCHES OF UFFINGTON BENEFICE
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 23 February: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/ebee25a7-73f8-e263-71ae-5f785179d634/wsh_2025_02_23.pdf
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
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