Missing persons appeal
I understand that the two boys missing yesterday have been found; many thanks to an Uffington resident who saw them and rang the Police.
Spring tidy of the Jubilee Field
Meet tomorrow morning at the Village Hall, at 10.00 am. The forecast at the moment is windy but dry!
Winter Lunches
The last of the 7 Winter Warmer lunches was held on 25th February, and we have now handed the magnificent profit of £1,230 to the PTA, who will in time let us know to what use they will put these funds. We were delighted and heartened by the numbers of people who came, often on cold and miserable days, to enjoy a simple lunch in the hall, and to donate so generously. There was always a buzz of conversation at the long tables, so we think that the varied company had as much to do with the success as the food!
Thank you to everyone who supported the lunches (and particular thanks to those who stayed and helped clear up afterwards), and you may be pleased to hear that we plan to continue them, starting in the autumn, so watch out for our publicity later in the year.
Fenella, Hilary, June, Nikki and Sarah.
Story of first woman infiltrated into France as radio operator during WW2 to be told by author Shrabani Basu in Oxfordshire this month
Best-selling author Shrabani Basu will be coming to Oxfordshire on 29th March 2019 to speak about the story of the first woman to be infiltrated into occupied France as an SOE (Special Operations Executive) radio operator during the Second World War – Noor Inayat Khan.
The talk will take place at Banbury Town Hall, starting at 7pm on 29th March, and will be a fundraiser for the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, based in Woodstock. The museum includes a 'Secret War' exhibit featuring Noor Inayat Khan and other women involved in wartime espionage operations along with its other county and regimental collections. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the museum's work in preserving the county's military heritage and launch a series of events and exhibitions focusing on the Second World War as numerous key anniversary commemorations approach. See the press release attached: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/a401a8fb-4cd0-458a-9014-5bef944e7de6/Shrabani_Basu_Spy_Princess_Press_Release.pdf
Tickets can be booked from Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum's website: www.sofo.org.uk/product/spyprincess/ or by calling 01993 810 211.
From the Police
The Faringdon Neighbourhood Policing team newsletter for March 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/06dc0a89-be6a-4f4a-bc87-859cf2dd4f0f/Faringdon_NH_newsletter_March_19_2_.pdf
Scam Warning - Fake TV Licensing Emails
An ongoing TV Licensing phishing campaign, first identified by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) in September 2018, continues to be reported to Action Fraud in high numbers. Fraudsters are sending the public fake TV Licensing emails that are designed to steal their personal and financial information. Since April 2018, Action Fraud has received over 900 crime reports with victim losses totalling more than £830,000.
How you can protect yourself: - Don't click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails and never respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial details.
- Don't assume a phone call or email is authentic, even if someone knows your basic details (such as your name or address). Remember, criminals can spoof phone numbers and email addresses to appear as companies you know and trust, such as TV Licensing.
- Your bank will never call and ask you for your PIN, full banking password, or ask you to transfer money out of your account.
What to do if you've fallen victim: - Let your bank know as soon as possible and monitor your bank statements regularly for any unusual activity.
- If you suspect your identity may have been stolen you can check your credit file quickly and easily online. Use a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results.
- If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Friends of the Ridgeway Vale of White Horse Group meeting
The next meeting is to be held on Thursday 21st March at 7:30 p.m., at Old Town Hall, Faringdon. Speaker: Sarah Wright. Topic: Update on the Ridgeway National Trail.
Meeting Charge: £5 non-members, £3 members Further details: Phone 01367 710743.
From the Vale
Charity Golf Day A charity golf day is taking place on Friday 12 April for individuals, teams and businesses, hosted by Cllr Monica Lovatt; teams and sponsor opportunities available. See: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-03/charity-golf-day-%E2%80%93-teams-and-sponsor-opportunities-available
Government pledges £218m for major transport improvements in Southern Oxfordshire. See:
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-03/government-pledges-%C2%A3218m-major-transport-improvements-southern-oxfordshire
Charity fund raiser – an evening with Al Sylvester
Josh Rosum has organised a fundraising event which takes place on Saturday 30th March in Faringdon - there will be an afternoon and evening event - to fund the cost of going to Kenya to volunteer in a small village, and he will also be making a donation to the charity Combat Stress. See attached: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/8a72987b-86b9-425d-ad86-dd17eeb0f695/Charity_fundraiser_30.3.19_pdf.pdf
For tickets please contact traceyrosum@gmail.com;
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 17 March 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/fd2b24d0-1981-40d0-8987-54e90f7b247c/wsh_2019_03_17.pdf
From the Police at 18.24 this evening
URN 276 14/03/19
We are appealing to the public to assist in the search and location of two missing teenage boys last seen at Faringdon Community College this morning. They are believed to be travelling on foot together and within the Rural Vale area between Faringdon, Shrivenham and The Ridgeway.
Callum Holmes is a white male, 150 cm tall with short dark hair. Clothing is not known but is not believed to be school uniform. Oliver Chaston-Rogers is a white male, around 160cm tall with medium length dark brown hair. Both are 13 years old.
We would request that landowners, farmers and the public check outbuilidngs, barns and areas of woodland to help locate the two boys as soon as possible. If found or sighted please call 999.
Officers are out searching and we have concerns for their safety and well being. # end | | | | 
Village news 8 March 2019 Uffington Market
Uffington Market this Sunday - 10.00 am till 12.30 pm. Stalls inside and out. Bacon rolls, cake and hot or cold drinks also available. Please support the market.
Chris (07884 167800)
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party Many thanks to everyone who supported this so generously. Over the day 50 of us consumed about 175 pancakes (!), and raised a magnificent £575, which will shortly be on its way to ACCESS in Bangalore.
From Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC)
BREXIT. We are told that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) continues to closely engage with local authorities so that they and their residents are well-prepared for the UK (possibly / probably / or whatever) leaving the European Union on 29 March 2019. To support this activity, a network of 9 local authority chief executives from across England has been established. They will engage with councils in their region to share information on preparations to support an orderly exit. Simultaneously, the chief executives will be kept well-informed on national policy on EU exit that could have implications for local services, businesses and residents.
The government has set up what it calls a landing page where information about the potential effects of Brexit can be found - click on these .gov.uk links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhclg-eu-exit-local-information-sharing
And: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-government-brexit-preparedness
From OCC.
The February 2019 newsletter from OCC is here: https://mailchi.mp/9e965262d92b/oxfordshire-matters-february-2019?e=8a2a2b30de
From the Vale
Children can win book tokens as part of a drawing competition for the Oxfordshire Plan 2050; see: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-03/book-tokens-grabs-children-invited-draw-their-oxfordshire-2050
From the Police
Rural Crime Week Rural crime can be an issue for large areas of the Thames Valley. As spring approaches, we would like to take the time to remind you of simple steps you can take to help prevent becoming a victim of rural crime. Keep an eye out on our social media channels for key rural crime prevention tips and local activity that we carry out daily in support of rural crime prevention. These range from how to keep your machinery and equipment safe, to how to protect your land and boundaries.
At this time of year, livestock worrying is also an increasing problem. It is important that dogs are kept under control to protect both livestock and your pet. There is also lots of detailed advice on our website.
It is vital to report all crimes. If it is an emergency and happening right now, call 999. If the incident has already happened or you have information that does not require an immediate response, please make a report online or call the non-emergency number 101.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on their dedicated rural crime line 0800 783 0137, or through their online form
National Knife Crime Awareness week runs from Monday 11 March – Sunday 17 March.
During that time Thames Valley Police, along with other forces will be taking part in a variety of activities designed to challenge and reduce the threat of knife crime. This includes: - Work with our professional partners including local schools, colleges and trading standards (including school talks around the dangers of carrying knives)
- Knife surrender bin at Abingdon Police Station
- Information and advice being posted on social media – follow us on Twitter @TVPSouthandVale and Facebook www.facebook.com/TVPSouthandVale
- Enforcement patrols
- Engaging with local knife retailers
You can safely deposit any type of knife or bladed article in our red surrender bin between Monday 11 and Sunday 17 March. This is the ideal time to dispose of these items that you are not sure what to do with. If you have any such items, please bring them down to Abingdon Police Station, Colwell Drive, Abingdon, OX14 1AU.
If you are worried about knife crime in your area or if you want to speak to anyone about a specific concern then please do get in touch, please call 101 or alternatively please ring crime stoppers on 0800 555 111
Friends of the Ridgeway Vale of White Horse Group meeting
The next meeting is to be held on Thursday 21st March at 7:30 p.m., at Old Town Hall, Faringdon. Speaker: Sarah Wright. Topic: Update on the Ridgeway National Trail.
Meeting Charge: £5 non-members, £3 members
Further details: Phone 01367 710743 or email Joyce Gardner@hotmail.co.uk
Press release from Citizens Advice
Please find attached a press release issued by Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale about benefits changes for mixed age couples. Legislation that will come into effect on 15 May 2019 could mean difficult choices for mixed-age couples deciding whether to live together or separately. From that date, a "mixed age couple" (in which one partner is a pensioner and the other is under pension age) will be considered to be a "working age couple" for the purposes of means-tested benefits. See: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/7f3524ba-08ed-43f9-a4e2-d325a08158ce/Citizens_Advice_Mixed_age_couples.pdf
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 10 March 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/d58e6c5d-0549-4dde-bc0e-7903e2c88cba/wsh_2019_10_03_2_.pdf
Village news 1 March 2019 Shrove Tuesday 5th March, 12 - 2.00 pm and 6 - 8.30 pm
You are invited to Norton House, Broad Street, Uffington, to enjoy pancakes with both savoury and sweet fillings, so come and make a meal of it! Donations will be welcome for ACCESS, the charity we support in India helping with the education of the children of quarry workers around Bangalore.
Any enquiries to Carl and Fenella, 820230.
Reminder – Jubilee Field Tidy
The Spring Tidy of the Jubilee Field will take place on Saturday 16 / Sunday 17 March – meeting at the village hall at 10.00 am as usual on Saturday 16 March. Sunday should only be necessary if we do not finish or are delayed by bad weather. In addition to the normal tidying up jobs around the Jubilee Field, we hope to start a new project – if enough people turn out to help. This will be to start to remove the old barbed wire and brambles etc from what currently passes for a hedge on the Upper Common Lane side of the Jubilee Field, in preparation for re-planting with new hedging in the autumn.
So we hope that lots of willing hands will turn out on 16 March, to enable us start on this new project, as well as doing the routine maintenance of the field.
Christian Aid Lunches
Simple lunches of Homemade Soup, Bread, Cheese, with tea and coffee, will be held weekly during Lent, from 12.15 - 13.45. The dates and venues are attached: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/de13e38b-8b10-49ae-9a2d-5b5624f94cc1/Christian_Aid_Lunches.pdf
Uffington Wed Walk 6th March
Details for the March Uffington First Wed Walk are below and map attached here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/ab2c5227-a6f6-421f-bc99-8fb62389965f/Wed_walk_map_6_March.pdf
I believe we are still promised a drop of sunshine even if the temperatures will be ten degrees less. After meeting in the village hall car park at 9.30 as usual we'll pool cars to go to the parking area at Sparsholt Firs on the Ridgeway above Sparsholt. From there we'll walk SSE on a byway across the downs. Where four paths meet we'll head NE along another byway then bridleway to the minor road that takes us to The Ridgeway. We'll follow that W back to the start, with the Devil's Punchbowl on our right. This is a walk with no steep hills, of just under six miles.
The 'Up the Hill' Group on the second Wednesday of each month are still meeting, so those who would like to join in please meet at THMH in Uffington at 9.30 on 13 March.
Any queries please contact veritycavanagh@gmail.com
White Horse Garden Club – March 2019
Hello Everyone
Spring has certainly sprung and we have been blessed with beautiful sunny weather recently, which is perfect for gardening. The next meeting is on Thursday 7thMarch at 7.30pm in THMH, Uffington. Talk on Bristol Botanic Garden, by Nick Wray, Curator of Bristol Botanic Garden.
We look forward to seeing all our members - now totalling 71!! Please bring along your friends, relatives, neighbours. Hopefully we will get to 100 members this year as we celebrate the 30thanniversary of the club.
Membership: £10 per year (includes free packet of seeds)
Visitors: £2.50. Raffle £1
Hedgehogs!
As spring approaches, it is to be hoped that we may see some hedgehogs around the village again. Hedgehogs are in severe decline in the UK and they are a priority species (Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006) – as referred to in Core Policy 46 of the Vale of the White Horse District Local Plan (Conservation and Improvement of Biodiversity - Page 143). They are therefore an important consideration in the construction of new developments and provision should be made to ensure continued permeability through urban areas, including gaps under or through garden fences and walls. Habitats and features could also be created as part of the green infrastructure design of developments and community projects.
'HEDGEHOG HOLES': please think about where gaps through fences and walls could be provided as part of developments, particularly housing on the edge of settlements/villages, or in the countryside. Close-boarded fences and stone walls are essentially barriers to dispersal and gaps or holes would also be of benefit to other garden wildlife such as frogs and toads, and ground-feeding birds such as Dunnock (another priority species).
LAND MANAGEMENT: the leaflet also provides guidance on how to consider hedgehogs when managing vegetation lighting bonfires and disposing of litter – this is relevant to the management of land by developers, allotment societies, householders and schools. We could all do our bit and promote hedgehog conservation whenever we can. Please disseminate this information to others that you think should be aware of hedgehogs in their line of work.
Lots more information about hedgehogs, and what can be done to help them, is available in the leaflet in the village website here: https://www.uffington.net/app/download/16309005/Hedgehog+Ecology+and+Land+Management+Leaflet+-+PTES+2019.pdf
From the Vale
Ten people have been fined after they failed to return information relating to demands for unpaid council tax; more information here:
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-02/ten-people-fined-over-unpaid-council-tax-information
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 3 March 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/26692a86-8c15-46fd-9608-14b6a64fd6f5/wsh_2019_03_03_2_.pdf
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