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The Women's Tour bike race - help make Charlbury look great

The Women’s Tour bike race, one of the top tier races in international women’s cycling, is coming through Charlbury on Wednesday 12 June.

The route will be Forest Road (past the railway station) → Dyers Hill → Market Street → Church Street → Park Street / Grammar School Hill → Woodstock Road. The riders are expected to arrive between 1.50pm and 2.30pm.

With the race finish at Blenheim Palace a few miles on, the race will be in full flight and Charlbury is very likely to be featured on the TV highlights programme that evening.

Can you help make the town look wonderful?

There will already be flags and bunting up for the Charlbury Festival in the town centre, but it would be great if we could make the whole route look great – from the town entrance by the station through to the Woodstock Road.

If you live (or work) on the race route, why not decorate your house/shop for the day?

The Charlbury Festival flags will be purple and white, so you could choose decorations that match those… or use your imagination!

You can find out more about the race at www.womenstour.co.uk. Riders confirmed for the race include previous champions Lizzie Deignan (team Trek-Segafredo), Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) – arguably the world’s greatest woman cyclist – Coryn Rivera (Sunweb), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), and Lisa Brennauer (WNT-Rotor).

Richard Fairhurst · Tue 28 May 2019, 21:43 · Link


Charlbury Festival Photographic Competition

Just ten days to go to the Charlbury Festival and the Photographic Competition deadline on 6th June

All entries will be displayed in St Mary's Church on 8th and 9th June and there will be prizes for each of the six themes as well as the children's competition.

Each photo needs to be 20cm x 15cm or 17.5cm x 12.5cm and mounted on white A4 paper with your name, age (for children's competition), contact details and category on the back. You can enter as many photos as you like.

Entry fee 50p per photo for adults and children under 16yrs is 20p.

Please hand in your photos on Thursday 6th June between 4 and 6pm or Friday 7th June between 9.30 and 11am at St Mary’s Church.

Adult themes are:

1. Red

2. Textures

3. Transport

4. Doors/Windows

5. Flowers/Gardens

6. Churches /Buildings

Children's theme:

“My Favourite ........”. For example, an animal, colour, food or whatever you like

Tony Lloyd · Tue 28 May 2019, 21:23 · Link


West Oxfordshire result for European election

The West Oxfordshire area, of which Charlbury is part, voted this way in the European elections:

  • Liberal Democrats 32%
  • Brexit Party 31%
  • Green Party 14%
  • Conservatives 11%
  • Labour 5%
  • Change UK 4%

Seats were allocated across the whole South East region: 4 Brexit Party, 3 Liberal Democrats, 1 Green Party, 1 Conservatives, 1 Labour.

Richard Fairhurst · Mon 27 May 2019, 00:00 · Link


Charlbury Museum is 70!!

On the 25th May 1949, 52 people met at Charlbury School and agreed to form The Charlbury Society. One of its main aims was to establish a museum, in the words of Miss Prescott, 'not a place to accumulate dust (physical and mental) but rather a home for the Society ...' 

And so on this day, 70 years ago, the foundations of our town's museum were laid, and continuing in that aim of our founders we try to provide a place to stimulate the mind and show just how life was in the Charlbury of years past.

Peter Bennett · Sat 25 May 2019, 08:57 · Link


CRAG publishes booklet of its mezze lunch recipes

CRAG (Charlbury Refugee Action Group) has published a collection of the recipes used in its extremely popular Saturday lunches, the second of which takes place today (Saturday May 25) in St Mary's from 12 noon.

Recipes include flatbreads, roasted carrot and cumin hummus, tabbouleh (cracked wheat salad), muhammara (walnuts, roast red peppers and spices), aubergine chermoula (aubergines in a spiced lemon sauce) and others, all tried, tested and greatly enjoyed at the lunches.

The booklet is yours for a minimum donation of £3 (CRAG will be open in St Mary's from 11 to 5) and again at the CRAG café in the church on Bank Holiday Monday, also 11-5.

Or email enquiries to charlburyrefugee@gmail.com

Jon Carpenter · Fri 24 May 2019, 22:34 · Link


Station platform extensions now in use

The longer platforms at the railway station have finally come into use. Train doors now open along the full length of the platform. 

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 23 May 2019, 08:33 · Link


New chair for Charlbury Town Council

At the Annual Meeting of Charlbury Town Council yesterday (Wednesday 22 May), Richard Fairhurst was elected as chair for the year. Peter Kenrick was elected as vice-chair.

All seats on the council will be up for election in May 2020.

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 23 May 2019, 08:12 · Link


Charlbury Town Football And Sports Club.

Building work will be starting on the new sports club on Tuesday 28th May.

We will also be at the farmers market on Saturday 8th June.

And the boys six a side on Sunday 9th June. 

We also have a New website Charlburytownfsc.co.uk 

Mandy cooper · Wed 22 May 2019, 21:44 · Link


Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

  • 53 Nine Acres Close Charlbury
    Discharge of Conditions 4 (Sample Panel) and 5 (Roof Tiles) on Planning Permission 18/01593/FUL.
    WODC reference: 19/01432/CND - Thu 16 May 2019 - Under consideration
  • Coach Road Agricultural Building Cornbury Park Charlbury Oxfordshire
    Change of use of an existing storage building to provide workshop and general storage facilities and erection of three buildings to provide livestock housing and associated storage facilities.
    WODC reference: 19/01194/FUL - Mon 13 May 2019 - Under consideration
  • Reeves Barn Pound Hill Charlbury
    Erection of single storey extension.
    WODC reference: 19/01087/HHD - Fri 10 May 2019 - Under consideration

Mon 20 May 2019, 06:15 · Link


Last HST in service through Charlbury

Today’s 19.40 to Hereford - one of the farewell services to depart Paddington this evening. 

Richard Fairhurst · Sat 18 May 2019, 20:07 · Link


Ten-day fundraiser for CRAG begins today (Saturday)

Ten days of continuous teas, coffees, cakes and (on the Saturdays) lunches mark Charlbury Refugee Action Group's most ambitious fundraiser yet.

A team of cooks are baking cakes and -- for the lunches -- a choice of ten middle eastern mezze dishes and dips, all veggie and all homemade. 

They are being served in St Mary's.

All proceeds will go to Refugee Community Kitchen who supply daily hot meals to destitute refugees and asylum seekers stranded in northern France.

Exact dates and times are under Events. (And CRAG is having a day off on the bank holiday Sunday (May 27) when St Mary's has a fundraiser of its own.)

  • CRAG is very grateful to the Artweeks artists exhibiting in the church for their enthusiasm and support, and to St Mary's for making it possible.
  • CRAG's final tea concert of the season, last Sunday, raised over £1200 for the Asylum Welcome hardship fund, which helps homeless asylum seekers in Oxford.
  • The group is also collecting emergency items for refugees sleeping rough in the Calais and Dunkirk area. Donations of sleeping bags and small lightweight tents can be brought to the church while the café is open, and will be taken to the distribution centre in Calais. A list of all the things they need (and some they don't!) can be found here.   

Jon Carpenter · Sat 18 May 2019, 09:19 · Link


"There's just a few more hours that's all the time you've got "

To steal a line from one of this shows great songs, this is your last  reminder to say its "show time" with a matinee today at 2.30pm  and the final show tonight at 7.30pm  and it's your last chance to grab the last remaining tickets for each of these performances of " My Fair Lady ", so don't dilly dally get online and book your tickets and come and see some of CADS members performing with The Chipping Norton Amateur Operatic Society in their production of “ My Fair Lady “ at the Chipping Norton Theatre, It's a cracking show hope to see you all there.

Here's all the info you need:

Playing at The Chipping Norton Theatre on Thurs 16th - Sat 18th May

My Fair Lady is one of the best known musicals of all time -. Phonetics professor Henry Higgins is so sure of his abilities that bet to transform Cockney flower-girl Eliza Doolittle into a cultured member of society. Higgins and Eliza initially clash then, unexpectedly, form an unlikely bond.

The show is full to the brim with classic songs, like I Could Have Danced All Night and Get Me to the Church on Time.

A show not to be missed

Ticketing Info go to the Chipping Norton theatre website

www.chippingnortontheatre.com/whats-on/my-fair-lady

Show dates are:

Thursday 16 & Friday 17th May 7.30pm,

Saturday 18th May 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tickets £15, £13 Sat matinee.

All prices include any booking fees.

Please book in person, online or call the Box Office on 01608 642350

Tim at Cotswold Frames · Thu 16 May 2019, 09:54 · Link


Charlbury Patient Participation Group Newsletter

The April newsletter from Charlbury Patient Participation group is available for you to read. Please visit Community and then Health and Wellbeing. The newsletter is the last item on the page.

susan smith · Wed 15 May 2019, 09:43 · Link


Please support Charlbury Riverside Festival.

We are a FREE family-friendly music festival in an idyllic riverside setting with more than 40 acts playing across four stages, with all kinds of music from rock, indie and folk on the main two stages and all sorts on the Riverside Fringe and Buskers stages!

Established for 24 years, we are one of the biggest free events in Oxfordshire, and a big fixture on the local music calendar too!

All the bands who perform are mainly Oxfordshire based bands who willingly give up their time to perform for free. Just like the dedicated team of volunteers, who are all from the local community, who each year give up so much of their time to plan, build, run, and break down the festival, again, we all do it for free. We have never charged our visitors to get in to Riverside, and that’s how we want it to stay… FREE!!

During 2018 the UK experienced 6 weeks of beautiful weather, officially a heatwave! However, there was just one real blip in the glorious weather when the clouds rolled in and the wind and rain came…. that was the last weekend of July… Riverside weekend.

As we are a non ticketed event, the weather makes a big difference to our visitor numbers, and as you might imagine, cold blustery wind and rain kept the crowds away.

We raise the majority of our funding from sales at the bar, and as a consequence of the weather, for the first time ever, we didn’t cover our costs.

For Riverside 2019 we have a big shortfall in our funds that we are looking to plug, and that’s where we’re asking for your help. Can you help us to keep Riverside FREE and ensure we can continue to put on this fantastic event for the local community, and for music lovers far and wide, some who come from many miles away to spend an afternoon or evening watching great music.

And of course, we would love to see you all down on the Mill Field in Charlbury on the 20/21 July.

Please Click the link to Donate: GoFundMe

Thank you,
The Riverside Crew x

Gary Walker. · Tue 14 May 2019, 08:55 · Link


Charlbury Primary School Ofsted report

The report from Charlbury Primary School’s most recent Ofsted inspection has been released. 

The school was judged ‘Inadequate’. Of the five main categories, “Quality of teaching, learning and assessment” and “Outcomes for pupils” were found to be good. “Effectiveness of leadership and management”, “Personal development, behaviour and welfare”, and “Early years provision” were inadequate.

The full report is on the Ofsted website at https://files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50077264 .

The inspection’s key findings, taken verbatim from the report, are:

  • Safeguarding is not effective. Leaders do not fulfil their statutory responsibilities. Governors do not check the systems in place effectively enough.
  • Leaders do not have systematic procedures for staff to record safeguarding concerns. When concerns are raised, leaders cannot demonstrate that they always take effective action to keep pupils safe. This includes reporting concerns to other agencies, when appropriate.
  • Staff do not receive regular safeguarding training. Teachers are not adequately trained to spot the signs of abuse.
  • Incidents of poor behaviour and bullying are not tracked systematically. As a result, issues are not always tackled satisfactorily.
  • School development plans are not focused on the things that make a difference to learning. They do not provide any means of measuring how effective planned work is.
  • Leaders do not provide suitable opportunities to develop the capacity of staff who have middle leadership roles.
  • Leaders are not doing enough to improve the frequent absence of some pupils. Some disadvantaged pupils do not attend regularly enough.
  • Statutory welfare requirements are not in place in the early years. Safeguarding is, therefore, not effective.
  • Pupil premium funding is not used effectively to improve rates of progress for those pupils it is intended to support.
  • The effectiveness of teaching and learning in the school is good.
  • Most pupils achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics.
  • Pupils develop a wide variety of knowledge and skills through the carefully planned curriculum.

Department for Education guidance states that “Academy conversion is mandatory when a maintained school is rated inadequate”. The Regional Schools Commissioner identifies an academy trust for the school to join. (Charlbury Primary School is currently a maintained school under Oxfordshire County Council rather than an academy.)

A meeting for parents has been arranged.

Mon 13 May 2019, 13:57 · Link


Hurry! - WODC grants for community activities which bring people together

With rather short notice WODC have just issued a press release drawing attention to the fact that applications are being sought for funding from their Community Activities Grant scheme. The scheme’s criteria have been broadened this year to include not just arts and heritage projects but any type of activity which brings people together.

WODC are looking for community groups wishing to develop arts, heritage or community-based projects in West Oxfordshire which contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents and quality of community life. A total of £11,000 is available for the 2019 awards with grants ranging between £100 and £500.

For more details and an application form go to the News section of the WODC website: https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/news/may/cag-appeal/ or call 01993 861080.

The deadline for applications is 12pm on 20 May with applications to be made to the Council’s Woodgreen offices.

Meryl Smith · Mon 13 May 2019, 09:30 · Link


Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

Mon 13 May 2019, 06:15 · Link


CHARLBURY FESTIVAL TICKETS

Tickets for all five bookable events are now on sale at the Charlbury Deli and Cafe. Call by for a coffee and pick up your tickets (cash only). The last Charlbury Festival was sold out so don't leave it to the last minute.

Brickworks Lizards & The Four Wordsmen - 8th June

Speakeasy Latin Music Evening - 14th June

Shadow of the Desert - What happened to Lawrence of Arabia - 15th June

Story Telling with Georgie Steele - 16th June

Festival Finale - 17th June

Festival Programmes are available all around the town and will be delivered to every home shortly.  All events are on this website.

Tony Lloyd · Fri 10 May 2019, 20:55 · Link


Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

  • Thornycroft Woodstock Road Charlbury
    Discharge of conditions 4 (Surface water drainage scheme) 10 (Superfast broadband strategy) 11 (Stone and timber cladding samples) 15 (Aboricultural method statement) and 18 (Bat and bird boxes) on Planning Permission 16/01866/FUL.
    WODC reference: 19/01226/CND - Fri 26 Apr 2019 - Under consideration

Mon 6 May 2019, 06:15 · Link


Thanks to Town Council!

The Thomas Gifford Trust is very grateful to the Town Council for their grant for the maintenance of the beautiful Playing Close and towards the provision of some free activities at the Community Centre.

Tanya Stevenson · Sun 5 May 2019, 10:47 · Link


Information about Blandford Fly bites

This fly, which is 2 to 3mm in size, lives near areas of water and gives a particularly nasty and painful bite. It normally bites ankles and legs, flies low to the ground and is most common during May and June.

The Charlbury Patient Participation Group is passing on the information below as advised by Public Health England:

If you get bitten:

1. Clean the bite area and dry gently

2. Don't scratch the bite, as this can lead to infection

3. Apply a cold compress or calamine lotion

4. Antihistamine creams are not recommended, as they can sometimes cause skin reactions

5. Cover large blisters with a dry dressing

6. If bites are on the lower limbs, there may be swelling of the ankles and feet for several days. Don't worry about this, simply rest with your feet supported on a stool

You should seek medical advice (phone 111 or see a GP) if you have:

1. Discomfort, swelling or red lines in the groin or armpit

2. A fever

3. A spreading redness or hotness around the bite, which lasts longer than three days

If you do get bitten, it can often feel very uncomfortable with swelling, blistering, joint pain and sometimes a high temperature. However, there’s normally no need to visit a GP or the Minor Injuries Unit.

If you do feel unwell after a bite, please call NHS 111 or visit your local pharmacy for advice on how to ease your discomfort.

For the majority of people, the symptoms will only last a few days before clearing up.

Meryl Smith · Sat 4 May 2019, 15:03 · Link


Big result for local rider

Charlbury rider Nikki Page not only qualified for this years’ Mitsubishi Cup at Badminton but on Wednesday in the Final came 6th out of 66 competitors drawn from all over the country. For the afficionadoes she was riding her Alvescot Made You Look , she got a sub-30 dressage and then went clear cross-country and show-jumping. An awesome performance.

Sat 4 May 2019, 12:36 · Link


Andy Graham retains District Council seat

Andy Graham (Liberal Democrat) has retained the Charlbury & Finstock seat on West Oxfordshire District Council. The turnout was 48.66%.

Full results:

  • Andy Graham (Liberal Democrat) 666
  • Philippa Phelan (Conservative) 445
  • Liz Reason (Green) 231
  • Sue Richards (Labour) 118

Elections for West Oxfordshire District Council are held in thirds, staggered from year to year. The council remains Conservative-controlled but with a reduced majority after Labour wins in Witney and Chipping Norton, and Lib Dem wins in Stonesfield and Eynsham.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 3 May 2019, 10:51 · Link


Charlbury Festival 7th - 16th June

The Charlbury Festival programmes are now available and are being placed in key locations around the town and in the surrounding villages.

A copy will be delivered to every home with the next edition of The Leaflet. A big thank you to The Leaflet delivery team.

The full Charlbury Festival programme is now in the Events section of this website.

With fifty events to choose from we hope there will be something for everybody. Events include:

DRAMA • MUSIC • POETRY • PAINTING • HERITAGE WALKS • LECTURES • STORYTELLING • SINGING • PHOTOGRAPHY • MASK MAKING • OPEN GARDENS • FILM • LITERATURE • PRINTMAKING • LOCAL HISTORY • DISCUSSIONS • SCULPTURE  

Tony Lloyd · Wed 1 May 2019, 18:54 · Link


The Makers’ Monthly Market

The market is not happening in May, the next one will be the 2nd week in June as part of the Charlbury Arts Festival.  Following the June one there will be a long break until September.

Patricia Freeman · Wed 1 May 2019, 16:59 · Link


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