THAME artist, Alan Kidd, is among the exhibitors at an exhibition entitled The Chiltern Landscape, currently running at the Obsidian Art gallery based in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire.
The Obsidian Art Gallery is at Layby Farm (The Bucks Goat Centre), Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks, HP22 5XJ.
Image: One of Alan Kidd’s paintings used on the exhibition programme.
OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s Go Active campaign is teaming up with Fox FM’s Thunder Crew for a De-tox month throughout January, and will be visiting Thame on Monday (January 12).
From midday to 3.00pm, Thame Leisure Centre will be outside the Town Hall, with the Fox FM Thundercrew, encouraging local people to get healthy and active for the New Year.
The crew will be out and about to burn off a million calories – the equivalent of a staggering 715 Christmas puddings.
Have a go on a rowing machine, get a FREE health MOT, a FREE seven-day leisure centre pass and FREE entry in a draw to win a year’s gym membership.
MANY four-year-olds across Oxfordshire will be starting school full-time this month, following a major alteration to school admissions policies.
The change and increased funding by Oxfordshire County Council means that from January 2009, all children are entitled to a full-time school place for the whole academic year in which they turn five.
Oxfordshire primary schools were previously funded to offer half-time places to children from the September after their fourth birthday. This place then became full-time in the term after their fifth birthday.
The county council commissioned an independent survey to investigate parents’ views the results of which indicated that eight out of ten parents of children aged between two and six years old said they would support this policy change.
Cllr Michael Waine, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement, said: “Learning through play in the foundation stage gives children a firm base on which their primary education can build.
“The additional entitlement will increase access to a quality early education for children in Oxfordshire and give them firmer foundations for their life of learning ahead.
“I am very proud that we have been able to achieve this major policy change and improved entitlement for the young children of Oxfordshire.”
Photo: Courtesy of Oxfordshire County council
IF your New Year’s Resolution is to get fit or to learn more about your local area, the Chilterns Conservation Board can help! Our January programme of guided walks in the Chilterns countryside is packed full of interesting routes led by knowledgeable volunteers who can show you the local wildlife and landscapes.
Why not come along and give your body and your brain some exercise? All the walks are free, though donations are requested.
Saturday 10th January at 11am. Chipperfield Common through the Ages. Chipperfield (near Hemel Hempstead). 3 miles. Call Herts CMS on 01727 848 168 for more information.
Sunday 18th January at 9.45am. Chiltern Woodland, Grassland and Farmland Walk. Ewelme (near Wallingford). 3 miles. Red kites almost guaranteed! Call Cathy Rose on 01844 355 506 for more information.
Saturday 24th January at 10.30am. Chess Valley Walk. Chenies, near Chesham. 4 miles. Discover the River Chess. Call Cathy Rose on 01844 355 506 for more information.
Sunday 25th January at 10.30am. Red kites over the White Mark. Watlington Hill. 3 miles. Call Cathy Rose on 01844 355 506 for more information.
Saturday 31st January at 2pm. History of Bottom Wood walk. Near Stokenchurch. 2 miles. Call John Morris on 01844 355 503 for more information.
A BLOOD donation session will be held at the Village Hall in Haddenham on Tuesday, January, 20, 2009, between 13.00 – 14.55 & 15.45 – 18.15.
To book an appointment, please visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0845 7711 711.
New donors are always welcomed.
Please don’t leave it to somebody else – give blood, safe life!
TREK Ireland 2009 – We have now set up our next trek which will explore the heart and sole of Ireland the Kerry Way! Itinerary – Day 1 – Depart London an afternoon flight to Cork.
Met on arrival and transfer to Glenbeigh a small town on the coast of Kerry surrounded by Coomasaharn horse-shoe Mountains to the south, Seefin, and Curra to the east and west and Slievemish to the North for an evening meal and the first taste of the real Ireland! Day 2 – Glenbeigh to Glencar/Lough Acoose (11 miles/18km, 270m ascent) An acclimatising walk leads along a quiet lane high above the beautiful Caragh Lake. It descends down to the Blackstone?s Bridge then through the woods to Glencar, a tiny settlement nestled in the middle of the peninsula besides the McGillycuddy?s Reeks meaning ?The Black Stacks?, a mountain range stretching over 12 miles that includes the highest mountain in Ireland, Caeeantuohill at 1,039 metres. Before walking a little further to Lough Acoose. Day 3 – Glencar to Black Valley (13 miles/21km, 360m ascent) We set off after a good hearty breakfast and walk past Lough Acoose, the starting point for a memorable circuit of Ireland?s highest mountain, Carrauntuohill. Continue past the Lough and isolated farms to walk up through the Reeks on the old lack road and into the isolated Bridia Valley. Climb out of the valley via a second mountain pass through wild and rugged hills descending into the Black Valley directly underneath Ireland?s highest mountains. Day 4 – Black Valley to Killarney (14 miles/22.5km, 360m ascent) Our final day leads out of the Black Valley and back into the Killarney National Park. We will walk past the Upper Lake of Killarney, a site of one of Ireland?s unusual flora, the Strawberry Tree and continue to Lord Brandon?s Cottage into the Derrycunnihy Forest; an ancient oak woodland that is currently fighting a battle with the Rhododendron that is threatening to choke out the indigenous flora! Our final part of the route then joins up with Galway?s Bridge, where we follow the old Kenmare road past Muckross House to Killarney. Tonight we will experience true Irish hospitality starting with our traditional celebration. After this a visit to one of the lively pubs with traditional Irish Music would be a great way to wrap up the trip. Day 5 We have a free morning to explore Killarney and the surrounding area. Ross castle is nearby and worth a visit along with the nearby national park. In the afternoon we will transfer back to Cork Airport for our flight to London. The trek is planned for 26th – 30th June 2009 and the trek packs are now ready if you are interested in coming along.
The registration fee will be
THERE will be police surgeries held at the following venues around the Wheatley area in early 2009. The dates and venues are:
Saturday 24th January 2009, Wheatley Police office (behind merry bells car park) between 4pm-6pm
Sunday 25th January 2009, Garsington Village hall, between 4pm-6pm
Monday 26th January 2009, Horspath Dr?s surgery (part of village hall) between 5pm-7pm
Wednesday 11th February 2009, Tiddington village hall (in conjunction with post office) between 1.30pm-3pm
Sunday 29th March 2009, Sandford on Thames village hall, between 5pm-7pm
These surgeries are an ideal opportunity for local residents to speak to their local police officers and PCSO?s about any local issues. Further surgeries will be publicised locally. no appointment is necessary, just turn up and speak to your local officers.?
A web-based learning programme aimed at transforming teaching and learning is to be rolled out to schools across Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire County Council has signed a
HADDENHAM Toddler Group (formerly known as Haddenham Mother and Toddler Group)is facing closure at Christmas after about 33 years of existence, as the current committee is due to stand down and no-one has come forward to take on the roles of chairman, secretary and treasurer.
If you can help, please call Shelley on 290171. It is known that the club was founded in 1975 or 1976, soon after the Youth and Community Centre opened, but the club?s records only go back to 1989. If you were involved in the early days and/or have any photos, please contact Shelley with information.
….asks the South and Vale Carers Centre.
“Our scheme to train and place volunteers is gathering speed, and we already have a terrific team in the field. But here at the South & Vale Carers Centre in Didcot we would like to recruit more: would you be interested in helping out someone caring for a relative in their own home? You would be introduced to a household where the carer and the cared-for person are living, and asked to stay in the home while the carer took some time off: perhaps an hour a month, perhaps an afternoon a week.
“This would all start off with an interview for you, and references sought, and then a short training course to equip you for any situation and send you free from anxiety into your future as a volunteer! We will take care in matching volunteers and cared-for people, and you would have constant support by phone when you need it as well as ongoing face-to-face meetings with colleagues and with Chris Elliott, the co-ordinator of the scheme.
“Chris is waiting to hear from anyone interested, and has much more information to give. Please email her at the Carers Centre on chris@svcarers.org.uk, or phone her there on 01235 510212. She will be delighted you?ve called!”