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Editor’s Column<br />
Anne Fowler writes...<br />
So here we are with the July/August double<br />
issue, which means that we will be back again<br />
in September.<br />
I recently attended an ‘Open Farm Day’ where<br />
Mr Philip Chaimberlain a local farmer and<br />
landowner kindly took the time to show a party<br />
of people around his farmland, and also around<br />
the Agrivert site at Preston Crowmarsh. We<br />
learned about the food waste anaerobic digester<br />
and how organic waste is processed to become<br />
agricultural fertilizer. This stops the waste<br />
going to landfill where it would decompose<br />
and produce greenhouse gasses. Instead this<br />
process is controlled and the methane produced<br />
is harvested to drive the machinery. We also<br />
learnt that there is a lot of technology involved<br />
in agriculture these days, from satellite imaging<br />
of the crops to see where fertilizer should be<br />
applied, to tractors guided by GPS to maintain<br />
parallel lines within 5cms. Amazing. We<br />
were then treated to tea and cakes in one of<br />
Mr Chamberlains’ converted Crowmarsh<br />
Battle Barns office units. I would like to thank<br />
Mr Chamberlain for a most enjoyable and<br />
informative afternoon.<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Volunteer<br />
Helpline<br />
For assistance with travel to/from<br />
medical appointments<br />
Office open Mon-Fri 9-11am<br />
Call 01491 825992<br />
to ask for help or to volunteer<br />
Out of hours contacts:<br />
Elizabeth 01491 838580 or<br />
Eileen 01491 833664<br />
email your letters/articles to<br />
bb.editor@hotmail.co.uk<br />
or deliver/send them to<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
CONTENTS<br />
Letters to the Editor-------------------------------- 2<br />
Parish Council Report------------------------------ 6<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Library Opening Hours Friends of <strong>Benson</strong> Library------------------------ 6<br />
Monday 2-6pm<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Neighbourhood Plan--------------------- 8<br />
Tuesday 9-12.30pm 2-5pm <strong>Benson</strong> Christmas Street Fayre------------------- 8<br />
Wednesday Closed all day<br />
Millstream Surgery--------------------------------10<br />
Thursday 2-7pm<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Waterfront---------------------------------12<br />
Friday 9-12.30pm 2-5pm<br />
PCSO Report --------------------------------------14<br />
Saturday 9.30-12.30pm<br />
Down the Garden Path ---------------------------16<br />
Bird Spot -------------------------------------------18<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Outreach Post Office Church Times --------------------------------------19<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall Pavilion BEST------------------------------------------------20<br />
Opening Hours:<br />
Girlguiding <strong>Benson</strong> --------------------------------24<br />
Tuesday 9.30 - 12.30 & 13.00 - 16.00 Ist <strong>Benson</strong> Scouts ----------------------------------26<br />
Wednesday 9.30 - 12.30<br />
School News ---------------------------------------29<br />
Thursday 9.30 - 12.30<br />
Local Clubs and Societies----------------------30<br />
Friday 9.30 - 12.30<br />
Classified Ads--------------------------------------36<br />
Diary------------------------------------------------37<br />
Cover<br />
Volume 19 No 10<br />
Patronal Tea at the Old Vicarage on Sunday 26th Published by<br />
May when the Military Wives’ Choir from RAF <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> News Association<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> sang. About 180 people attended. Photo Printed by<br />
by kind permission of Revd John Burrell. NP Design & Print Ltd, Wallingford : 01491 824827<br />
BB<br />
1
Letters to the Editor<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
Thank you to the <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> for giving<br />
us the opportunity to say a very big thank you<br />
to the many people of <strong>Benson</strong> who welcomed<br />
and supported us over the past three years.<br />
We really got to meet some lovely people and<br />
thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent with our<br />
customers and wish <strong>Benson</strong> all the best for the<br />
future.<br />
Warmest regards,<br />
Petra & Richard Smith<br />
Dear Anne,<br />
Your readers may be interested to know that<br />
Mr David Tyler of Coach Way <strong>Benson</strong>, who<br />
sadly died last December, was posthumously<br />
awarded the RNLI Gold Badge for 25 years<br />
service to the RNLI. He had been fund raising,<br />
firstly in North London, and then for 18 years<br />
for the Wallingford branch.<br />
Dear Editor<br />
People have been asking us at <strong>Benson</strong> Library<br />
whether our mower has broken down because<br />
of the length of the grass at the front of the<br />
library!<br />
We are actually trying to grow a perennial<br />
wildflower meadow to help our suffering<br />
pollinators, like the bumblebees. It will take<br />
a couple of years for the grass to be replaced<br />
by the many varieties of wildflowers that are<br />
already growing and we will be adding to the<br />
mix in the autumn. Hopefully it will then look<br />
very beautiful during our long, hot summers<br />
(?!). It will be cut down in September once the<br />
flower seeds have set. If anyone would like to<br />
talk to us about it then we are always happy to<br />
see you in the library.<br />
Hilary, Pat and Alison<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
This summer is a key time for the future of<br />
our Library. Please read the FOBL June<br />
Newsletter which will bring you up to date on<br />
the substantial progress we have made over<br />
the last few months. A detailed Report will be<br />
given at our Annual Meeting on Thursday<br />
4th July at 7.30pm at <strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
which will include details of where we have<br />
got to in our negotiations with the County,<br />
our proposals for the future of the Library and<br />
for you to have your say. This is the meeting<br />
where, with your approval, the future of the<br />
Library will be decided, so please put the<br />
date in your diaries now and come along.<br />
George Verdon<br />
2 BB<br />
His widow, Barbara, collected his award from<br />
the Duke of Kent at a ceremony held at the<br />
Barbican in London on 23rd May this year.<br />
Yours faithfully,<br />
Laurie Keys (Neighbour)<br />
The Peal That Never Was<br />
Some of you have asked me what happened<br />
to the three hour Peal on the bells which<br />
was due to take place on Wednesday 17th<br />
April.<br />
This had been booked several months<br />
before. However the band included some<br />
who regularly ring at St Paul’s Cathedral<br />
and at short notice they were asked to ring<br />
on that day for Lady Thatcher’s funeral<br />
service.<br />
The Peal at <strong>Benson</strong> was therefore postponed<br />
and is now due to take place on Wednesday<br />
3rd July starting at about 10.00am. I hope<br />
you will enjoy listening to it.<br />
John Tchighianoff<br />
www.bensonbulletin.com
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3
<strong>Benson</strong> Art Group Exhibition<br />
Trisha Scott, writes ...<br />
Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July 2013<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Art Group, started by Molly<br />
Saunderson, is celebrating its 20th anniversary<br />
this year with an exhibition of paintings from a<br />
variety of local enthusiastic painters.<br />
Works exhibited will be in a variety of media<br />
including pastels, watercolour, oils, waterbased<br />
oils and acrylics. A range of topics is<br />
covered but the main focus is on landscapes,<br />
some of which are local and will therefore be<br />
of interest to local people.<br />
The exhibition will be held at the Millstream<br />
Day Centre in pleasant surroundings in <strong>Benson</strong><br />
(signed from Brook Street and next to the<br />
Medical Centre) and will take place on the<br />
evening of Friday 12 July from 7.00 until<br />
9.30pm and the morning of Saturday 13 July<br />
from 10 am until 12.30.<br />
Entrance at the door on Friday will be £2.50<br />
per head which includes a catalogue of the<br />
paintings on display, delicious nibbles and a<br />
complimentary glass of wine or soft drink.<br />
Admission on Saturday morning will be<br />
50p and includes a catalogue, a cup of tea or<br />
coffee and biscuit. There will be also be a raffle<br />
and, if the weather allows, you will be able to<br />
enjoy the Millstream’s most attractive garden.<br />
Proceeds go to help the Millstream Day Centre<br />
so please come to support us on what is always<br />
an enjoyable evening.<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Brook<br />
Cllr Dave Rushton, writes ...<br />
I hope everyone likes the newly tidied up<br />
Brook? On Saturday 13th April a small team<br />
from the Environment Agency came along<br />
and showed a very small group of volunteers<br />
from the village what to do and how to do<br />
it. Agrivert generously donated a skip to get<br />
rid of the huge pile of green waste and yours<br />
truly took a car load of rubbish up to the tip.<br />
We covered about 200m along Brook St and<br />
could have done more if there had been more<br />
of us. My thanks to the 3 volunteers who did<br />
spare 3 hours of their time and to the other two<br />
4 BB<br />
who helped tidy up the next day. Thanks also<br />
to those who couldn’t help on the day but who<br />
do their bit already.<br />
Hopefully by staying on top of the vegetation<br />
we not only make the Brook look attractive,<br />
but we remove any flooding danger from dead<br />
trees etc when the water is high. Well done to<br />
those who helped.<br />
Cycling in the <strong>Benson</strong> Area<br />
Sue Cooper & Claire Umbers, write...<br />
We are working on a cycling strategy as part<br />
of the <strong>Benson</strong> Neighbourhood Plan. This<br />
involves looking at the present situation and<br />
seeing what improvements might be carried<br />
out. As we are on level ground, cycling within<br />
the village is fairly easy and convenient but<br />
watch out for potholes! Cycling on paths does<br />
require care and consideration. Everyone,<br />
pedestrians and cyclists, should look where<br />
they are going and make allowances for other<br />
users.<br />
While working on the strategy it has become<br />
apparent that not all residents are aware of the<br />
facilities which exist. Bike racks are provided<br />
at the bus stop on the main road, at the doctors’<br />
surgery, at the Parish Hall and in the village<br />
centre outside the Pharmacy. There are also<br />
several other locations in the village where<br />
bikes can be propped or locked. So why not<br />
try shopping in the village by bike rather than<br />
by car sometimes? Do you think we need<br />
more bike racks and if so, where?<br />
If you are interested in cycling, whether as a<br />
leisure activity or as a means of transport, and<br />
you would like to know how we are getting<br />
on with the strategy or contribute to it, please<br />
contact us by email at claireumbers@hotmail<br />
or cooperfamy@AOL.com<br />
Bingo Night!<br />
Every Tuesday in <strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
Do you enjoy a game of Bingo, if<br />
so please come along on Tuesday<br />
evenings in the Parish Hall 7.00pm<br />
and it could lead to a Full House - Bingo!
BB<br />
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5
Parish Councillors Report<br />
Cllr Jon Fowler, writes ...<br />
Sunnyside Play Equipment<br />
The Parish Council has recently installed a<br />
new Cone Climber in the Sunnyside play area.<br />
Below is a picture of the Recreation and Lands<br />
Committee (or “Cone Heads” ☺) next to the<br />
new equipment.<br />
On a similar theme, the Rolling Barrel is<br />
being replaced during the 1st week of July<br />
(weather permitting) so the play area will<br />
need to close for a couple of days whilst the<br />
installation is undertaken.<br />
Friends of <strong>Benson</strong> Library<br />
Cllr Dave Rushton, writes ...<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Library – It’s Decision Time<br />
Just after you receive this copy of the BB we<br />
will have the Annual Meeting of the Friends<br />
of <strong>Benson</strong> Library – and this is the most<br />
important meeting we have had thus far.<br />
The Trustees have finished their discussions<br />
with the County Library Service and have<br />
a plan to staff the library and maintain the<br />
present opening hours. We think our plan is<br />
viable and sustainable and we will be putting<br />
the details to the meeting for approval.<br />
Left to right Cllrs Dave Ollie, Dave Rushton,<br />
Pat Peers, Elizabeth Leppard, Don Fletcher,<br />
Bill Pattison, Jon Fowler.<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Veteran Cycle Rally<br />
The <strong>Benson</strong> Veteran Cycle rally takes place<br />
from Sunnyside on Sunday 7th July.<br />
Milstream Toilet<br />
The Parish Council has submitted a planning<br />
application to re-build the Millstream Public<br />
Toilet. The existing building is in a poor<br />
state of repair and does not provide disabled<br />
access. It is hoped to commence work<br />
during the late Summer / early Autumn.<br />
Watlington Road<br />
Watlington Road will be closed on the 29th<br />
July at Castle Square in order for repairs to<br />
be undertaken.<br />
6 BB<br />
However, it is now up to you to either<br />
accept our plan for the future or not. Come<br />
along to <strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall at 7.30pm on<br />
Thursday 4th July and make that decision.<br />
Naturally I hope you will support all the hard<br />
work that has been put in to get us to this<br />
point, but you can only do this by turning<br />
up and showing your support. Even better,<br />
come along and sign up to be a Friend of the<br />
Library if you’ve been putting it off.<br />
Think back two years to that evening in the<br />
Hall when hundreds of people turned up to<br />
hear about the possible closure of the library.<br />
Following the campaign to keep libraries<br />
open - in which FOBL played a big part –<br />
the County gave us 3 years to change to a<br />
Community Library, and we are well into<br />
that time now. Next year will see changes,<br />
that is still the County’s policy, but we now<br />
have a say in how things will change. There<br />
is a way forward to keep this facility for<br />
all the local communities, and we will be<br />
explaining this on 4th July. However at<br />
the end of the day it all depends on you the<br />
public supporting us, so please come along<br />
and show that support.<br />
I hope to see you there –<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
4th July at 7.30pm<br />
Dave Rushton<br />
Chair, FOBL Trustees
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BB<br />
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7
<strong>Benson</strong> Neighbourhood Plan<br />
Anne Fowler, writes ...<br />
The Neighbourhood Plan has been launched<br />
and work is underway. This is probably the<br />
single most significant project for <strong>Benson</strong><br />
and we are all involved in the decision<br />
about where to build the @125 new<br />
houses allocated to <strong>Benson</strong> by SODC. The<br />
production of the Neighbourhood Plan is<br />
part of a process set out by SODC which will<br />
ultimately result in a village referendum.<br />
This process is closely regulated and must<br />
engage the people living in this area in<br />
the decision. If this process fails, SODC<br />
will allocate the houses where they see fit.<br />
This may not agree with where you would<br />
prefer them to be built. Additionally the<br />
plan gives the village an opportunity to<br />
identify infrastructure and local facility<br />
enhancements to <strong>Benson</strong> and the village<br />
environment.<br />
Therefore a number of committees have<br />
been formed to undertake the work involved<br />
as follows:<br />
Housing chaired by Jon Fowler<br />
Infrastructure chaired by George Craig<br />
Marketing/PR chaired by Pete Eldridge<br />
Information Research & Analysis chaired<br />
by Patricia Baylis<br />
Transport chaired by Dave Rushton<br />
These committees will be meeting over<br />
the consultation period and feeding<br />
their information back to the village via<br />
the <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> and via the www.<br />
bensonnp.wordpress.com website. When<br />
the time comes, they will need input from<br />
the parishioners so please keep an eye on<br />
the BB and website for further updates.<br />
In the meantime if you have any comments<br />
you would like to make please feel free<br />
to contact Pete Eldridge the Parish Clerk<br />
at <strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall (01491 825038 or<br />
email: bensonparish.council@virgin.net).<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Christmas Street Fayre<br />
Pat Hatch, writes ...<br />
YES, that time is nearly here again. The<br />
date you have been waiting for..<br />
BENSON CHRISTMAS STREET FAYRE<br />
Wednesday December 4th<br />
So make a note in your diary now . It starts<br />
at 5pm & finishes at a slightly earlier time<br />
of 7.30 to allow us to clear up. There will<br />
be stalls to buy presents either for someone<br />
special or just something for yourself, the<br />
shops will be open until 7.30. Those of you<br />
who are hungry will find Fish ‘n Chips,<br />
Burgers, Pizza’s, Hotdogs maybe Soup to<br />
keep the cold at bay, also Coffee, Tea, Hot<br />
Chocolate & maybe Mulled wine.<br />
The usual visit from SANTA will take place<br />
between 5:30pm and 6:30pm.<br />
If you wish to book a stall please call me<br />
on 07799381535 or email me pathatch50@<br />
hotmail.co.uk The cost of a stall this year is<br />
£15 if you wish to have a stall you will need<br />
to bring your own cover, tables and lighting.<br />
Unfortunately the RAF are not able to assist<br />
us with as much equipment as they have done<br />
in the past, but we are very grateful for all the<br />
help they have given us. Any persons wishing<br />
to book a space please contact me and I will<br />
give as much information as possible. We<br />
very much look forward to seeing old faces<br />
and new.<br />
Unfortunately we are unable to allocate spaces<br />
to TRADE STALLS we would very much<br />
to keep this as a traditional CHRISTMAS<br />
FAYRE.<br />
Looking forward to seeing each and every<br />
one of you on the night. DONT FORGET<br />
the 4th DECEMBER 5.00pm – 7.30pm.<br />
email your letters/articles to<br />
bb.editor@hotmail.co.uk<br />
or deliver/send them to<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
8 BB
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9
Childhood Memories<br />
Eileen Manning, writes ...<br />
How many people in <strong>Benson</strong> have actually<br />
got a foot wet in the Brook?<br />
There used to be a saying “you don’t belong<br />
to <strong>Benson</strong> until you’ve fallen in the Brook”.<br />
Did this come from the men coming out<br />
of the Farmers Man or The Lamb & Flag<br />
and being a bit tipsy for the walk over the<br />
footbridges to the cottages in Brook Street?<br />
As a child in the fifties the Brook was our<br />
paddling pool and adventure playground.<br />
We spent hours building dams or trying to<br />
catch the little brook trout.<br />
We also enjoyed going under the bridge<br />
beneath Old London Road (now St Helen’s<br />
Avenue). If you called and shouted, it had a<br />
wonderful echo. What puzzled me was how<br />
my Mother always knew that I’d been in the<br />
Brook if told not to.<br />
“Don’t go in the Brook today, try and keep<br />
that dress clean”. “OK Mum”. But later,<br />
when getting ready for bed it would be<br />
“You’ve been in the Brook”, “Oh no Mum,<br />
I didn’t”, “Yes, yes you did, a little bird told<br />
me”.<br />
How was she always right? It wasn’t until<br />
years later we asked her about this, and was<br />
told that if she found we had clean feet we’d<br />
been in the Brook, but if they were dirty, we<br />
hadn’t.<br />
Millstream Surgery<br />
Fran Butler, writes ...<br />
Mill Stream Surgery Patient Panel<br />
Annual Meeting – Tuesday 9th July<br />
7.30pm, at the surgery<br />
Dr Peter Rose will give us an update on<br />
screening programmes including future<br />
developments – here is a taster.<br />
How well informed are you about screening<br />
for disease?<br />
The NHS offers you a number of screening<br />
tests which are designed to identify illnesses<br />
before they cause a problem. These tests<br />
cover chlamydia testing for young people,<br />
screening tests for breast, cervical and<br />
bowel cancer and we will soon offer testing<br />
10 BB<br />
for memory loss in those over 60 with<br />
diabetes, heart disease and strokes. So, an<br />
interesting question for us is why lots of<br />
people do not attend when invited for these<br />
tests? For example, when screening for<br />
bowel cancer was introduced (putting poo<br />
on the magic toilet paper!) fewer than 50%<br />
of people did the test. I wrote in the <strong>Benson</strong><br />
<strong>Bulletin</strong> about this and uptake increased to<br />
60% but it has now dropped again to under<br />
50% again.<br />
There has been a lot of debate in the press<br />
recently comparing benefits with harms<br />
associated with mammography, and PSA<br />
testing for prostate cancer. We are interested<br />
in how people decide to make decisions to<br />
attend for screening and whether we can help<br />
to improve this decision making process.<br />
We do not mind if people do not attend for<br />
screening provided it is the right decision<br />
for them based on the right information.<br />
Here are a few facts:<br />
If 10,000 women attend mammography<br />
screening for 20 years from age 50:<br />
• 681 breast cancers will be diagnosed<br />
• 43 deaths from breast cancer will be<br />
avoided.<br />
For every death prevented, 3 women would<br />
be treated who would not have died from<br />
breast cancer without treatment<br />
For the PSA blood test for screening for<br />
prostate cancer, if 1,000 men are screened<br />
using the PSA test and followed for 11<br />
years:<br />
• 1 death will be prevented<br />
• 37 additional men would be treated for<br />
prostate cancer who would not have died<br />
from prostate cancer without treatment.<br />
Has this whetted your appetite? What<br />
information do you read to decide<br />
whether you will respond to our invites?<br />
Would you like to know more about how<br />
screening programmes work and what new<br />
developments are on the horizon? Then<br />
come along to the Patient Panel Annual<br />
Meeting on Tuesday 9th July, 7.30pm at the<br />
surgery. All welcome.
BB<br />
11
<strong>Benson</strong> Waterfront<br />
Peter Clarke, writes ...<br />
Our former industrial waterfront<br />
Those readers familiar with “<strong>Benson</strong> – A<br />
Century for Change” will have read on<br />
pages 25 & 26 of how the waterfront was,<br />
before it became a swimming, boating and<br />
cruiser station, let alone the site of one of<br />
our most popular cafes which it is today.<br />
It was therefore interesting for me to be<br />
given recently a very old letter. Mrs Eva<br />
Vokins was one of those “heroes” of our<br />
book. So called because of the wealth of<br />
information they could tell us about <strong>Benson</strong>’s<br />
past. Sadly, she died on the 12th March this<br />
year, and the letter came to light when her<br />
effects were being sorted recently. It must<br />
have been written before the end of the last<br />
century, and I fear none of the personalities<br />
are still with us. It came from Alf Gurney,<br />
one of <strong>Benson</strong>’s former illustrious families.<br />
He had retired to Cornwall. I repeat as<br />
much of what he had to say as possible.<br />
“In the 1920s coal (known as Coventry<br />
Cobbles) was transported via the Oxford<br />
Canal and River Thames by two barges<br />
unloading at <strong>Benson</strong> Wharf. This was<br />
done by wheel barrow over two planks. I<br />
well remember in 1926 during the National<br />
Strike, Pym Salter [Bridget Jones’ father]<br />
diving in to collect the coal that had fallen<br />
in the river.<br />
At that time the road from Watlington<br />
[today’s B4009] was still a dirt track. The<br />
granite to improve the road came from<br />
Nuneaton, transported by barge down<br />
canals and the river. My father and brother<br />
were responsible for transporting it from the<br />
Wharf to the road works.<br />
I still have in my possession an engraved<br />
cup that was awarded in 1925 for the <strong>Benson</strong><br />
Boat Race. I was Cox for the winning crew,<br />
who included sons of the Lock Keeper – a<br />
Mr. Moffatt*.<br />
I can also remember one cold winter about<br />
that time. I and my pals rode our push bikes<br />
on the frozen Thames to Shillingford Bridge<br />
to have our photos* taken.”<br />
Alf may have been referring to 1930, and<br />
we have this photo in the Archive<br />
*Would that we could recover these items!<br />
Canons’ Room Hire<br />
St Helen’s Church, <strong>Benson</strong><br />
Great venue for meetings, birthday parties or<br />
gatherings of up to 50 people. Kitchen & facilities.<br />
www.achurchnearyou.com/benson-st-helen/<br />
or Tel: 01491 832008<br />
12 BB<br />
BB<br />
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An Excellent Present<br />
Call Don Fletcher on 01491 838577
Registered Osteopath<br />
Backache<br />
Sciatica<br />
Headache<br />
Sports<br />
Injuries<br />
Joint Pains<br />
Arthritis<br />
Tennis<br />
Elbows<br />
Rohan D Iswariah, D.O.<br />
<br />
01491-838866<br />
Ivy Cottage, Chapel<br />
Lane<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> OX10 6LU<br />
www.localosteopath.com<br />
accepted<br />
by all<br />
major<br />
insurance<br />
companies<br />
MARTIN WIGGALL<br />
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For a prompt and efficient repair to your<br />
WASHING MACHINE<br />
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Tel: 01865 349007<br />
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BB<br />
13
lead thefts. Inquiries are ongoing to identify the<br />
PCSO Report<br />
offenders and we would urge any residents who<br />
may have witnessed or have any information<br />
regarding the incidents to call us.<br />
Here is the latest <strong>Benson</strong> and Berinsfield<br />
If you have information you think may<br />
neighbourhood update from Police Community<br />
be of use to us then please call on the<br />
Support Officer (PCSO) Rebekah Kent and<br />
police nonemergency number 101. To call<br />
PCSO Sarah Jones.<br />
anonymously with information about crime –<br />
Local Priorities<br />
Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or log on<br />
The local priority for <strong>Benson</strong> is Burglary and<br />
to the Crimestoppers website – www.<br />
Attempted Burglary. The neighbourhood team<br />
crimestoppersuk.org<br />
carry out high visibility patrols to help combat<br />
Crime Information<br />
and deter these incidents. We would urge all<br />
Ewelme farms have reported a few incidents of<br />
home owners to make sure that properties<br />
illegal hare coursing. This can cause<br />
are left secure and items such as car keys and<br />
damage to crops and is a general annoyance for<br />
valuables are not left in the view. Please report<br />
farmers. We would urge anyone who witnesses<br />
anything which you feel is suspicious and may<br />
this to call and give us a direction of travel and a<br />
be of interest to us.<br />
description of the vehicle and people involved.<br />
Anti-social behaviour (ASB)<br />
Have Your Say Meetings<br />
We have received complaints of ASB on the<br />
Upcoming Have Your Say meetings are:<br />
High Street, Rivermead and the Mill Stream<br />
July<br />
car park areas of <strong>Benson</strong>. Flowers were<br />
Monday 8th - Outside Village Shop, Burrows<br />
removed from plant pots and notice boards<br />
Hill, Ewelme – 1100 – 1130<br />
damaged. A window of the Parish Hall has also<br />
Friday 12th - Outside the Village Hall, A415,<br />
been damaged. If residents witness any further<br />
Clifton Hampden – 1800 – 1830<br />
ASB then please report the incidents to us with<br />
Monday 22nd - The Lord Nelson Car Park,<br />
a description of the offenders.<br />
Brightwell Baldwin – 1800 – 1830<br />
Parking<br />
Monday 29th – Outside the shops, High Street,<br />
Parking is something that your neighbourhood<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> – 1300 - 1330<br />
officers deal with on a day to day basis and we<br />
August<br />
rely on local residents to keep us informed of any<br />
Thursday 1st - Library Car park, Berinsfield<br />
issues arising. We understand that inconsiderate<br />
5.30pm – 6pm<br />
and illegal parking can both be frustrating and<br />
Friday 9th – Outside Sixbells PH, Warborough<br />
dangerous and we will assess and deal with all<br />
6pm – 6.30pm<br />
reports appropriately. Vehicles parked illegally<br />
Sunday 18th – Village Hall Car Park, Berrick<br />
or causing an obstruction can be fined £30<br />
Salome – 6pm – 6.30pm<br />
by means of a fixed penalty notice. We have<br />
Tuesday 27th – The Village Green, High Street,<br />
received reports of inconsiderate parking in<br />
Culham 5.30pm – 6pm<br />
Castle Square and Old London Road in <strong>Benson</strong>.<br />
These meetings are an ideal opportunity for<br />
Vehicles have been obstructing pathways and<br />
local residents to speak to their local police<br />
causing traffic to swerve into oncoming traffic.<br />
officers and PCSOs about any local issues, no<br />
If we witness a vehicle causing an obstruction<br />
appointment is necessary just turn up.<br />
we may issue a £30 fixed penalty notice.<br />
If you want any advice or would like to contact<br />
General Information/Observation Request<br />
the neighbourhood team you can call us on the<br />
•11 May – criminal damage to vehicle,<br />
police non-emergency number 101 or email<br />
Littleworth Road, <strong>Benson</strong>, a wing mirror was<br />
WallingfordBerinsfieldCholseyNHPT@<br />
knocked off a vehicle.<br />
thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk. Please note this<br />
•14 May – criminal damage to a greenhouse,<br />
email address cannot be used to contact Thames<br />
Mill Lane, <strong>Benson</strong>.<br />
Valley Police to report crimes or for any urgent<br />
Throughout this month there have been<br />
matters. Alternatively you can visit the force<br />
many thefts of garden ornaments across the<br />
website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk<br />
neighbourhood and we have also had some<br />
14 BB
Computer Repairs, Virus Removal,<br />
Computer Lessons for Beginners,<br />
Set up Email, Broadband,<br />
Wired & Wireless Networking<br />
Call Russell on –<br />
01491 838727 or 07770 934677<br />
Email: russell@russit.co.uk<br />
http://russit.co.uk<br />
Roll up, Roll up<br />
YOUTH HALL, OXFORD ROAD, BENSON<br />
Dance, drama & singing classes for<br />
children aged 4+ Summer Dance &<br />
Drama Workshops July 23-26th July<br />
for 3+ year olds<br />
www.stageworks.org<br />
Email: emma_taylor@sky.com<br />
Tel: 01491 877205 Mob: 07956 176166<br />
Advance notice of Seasonal Flu<br />
immunisation clinic<br />
Saturday 19th October 2013<br />
Venue: Mill Stream Surgery<br />
The clinic will be by appointment,<br />
bookable from September. Further<br />
information to follow nearer the<br />
time.<br />
BB<br />
15
Down the Garden Path<br />
Lynn Powell, writes ...<br />
July: Digging the potatoes; a gentle boil<br />
with a few sprigs of mint, a hint of butter<br />
and what more could you ask for? The<br />
question is which mint should you be using<br />
for the potato pot?<br />
There are 25 varieties of mint and the word<br />
mint comes from the Latin Mentha or the<br />
Greek Minthe, which is named after the<br />
nymph who was transformed into a mint<br />
plant. It flowers from July until early<br />
autumn and is related to sages, rosemaries,<br />
marjorams, basil and thymes. Most only<br />
thrive in temperate regions, which probably<br />
explains why it is so happy in <strong>Benson</strong>,<br />
because of course it can be a bit of a thug,<br />
so the recommendation is that to limit the<br />
spread, you should sink a large bottomless<br />
pot into at least 12 inches of ground, but<br />
leaving at least 2 inches above ground level<br />
to stop the roots escaping. Lift and divide<br />
every few years and in late summer (late<br />
July or August), cut back and apply a liquid<br />
feed to rejuvenate. The advice is all very<br />
well, but I don’t think it works, as having<br />
tried a bottomless container, I can confirm<br />
that the mint spreads everywhere! It can<br />
be grown in a container, but if you do this,<br />
apply a liquid feed every two weeks and<br />
don’t let the pot dry out. Place the pot in<br />
partial shade, but be warned that the roots<br />
are likely to come out of the bottom and<br />
find any crack or crevice and duly spread<br />
to where you do not want it. I know this is<br />
probably a job for the Undergardener, but it<br />
is one, he or she, can do without!<br />
It is the menthol which gives all mints<br />
their typical taste and smell, simultaneously<br />
cool and warming and is an antiseptic,<br />
decongestant and analgesic compound -<br />
think of toothpaste. Sowing from seed is<br />
unreliable, so you need to find another<br />
gardener, who is trying to contain it. Just<br />
pull a piece out with the hairy roots and<br />
you will be away. It does not need much<br />
encouragement to thrive. Mint can be<br />
damaged by mildew and rust, but that is<br />
really only likely to be a problem, if you<br />
have seriously managed to contain it..<br />
16 BB<br />
But back to the original question - which<br />
mint? You need 4 in the garden and if you<br />
have feline friends, then you need a fifth.<br />
Mentha Spicata has been a culinary mint<br />
since Roman Times and it is this mint ie<br />
Spearmint which is used to flavour chewing<br />
gum, but you need it to make the mint sauce<br />
or mint jelly to go with the roast lamb.<br />
Mentha Suavealens or Apple mint is the one<br />
you need for the potatoes. It has quite large<br />
hairy leaves and is easy to get out of the pot<br />
as it does not disintegrate and the smell as it<br />
is cooking is wonderful.<br />
Mentha Piperita or Peppermint is the one<br />
you need for making teas or for medicinal<br />
uses and there is nothing nicer on a hot<br />
summer’s day than a glass of cold mint tea<br />
with lots of ice and a sprig of mint left in.<br />
You might not be doing that this summer,<br />
but it is also the mint to add to the Pimm’s<br />
and is the mint for the ice cube tray, to<br />
freeze and keep for real treats in the winter<br />
when the outside mint has died down for a<br />
well earned rest.<br />
Mentha Pulegium or Penny royal, otherwise<br />
known as pudding grass because it is<br />
added to black pudding and sausages, was<br />
historically used to purify drinking water at<br />
sea, but it is the best mint to use between<br />
paving cracks for the wonderful smell,<br />
which is released when you walk on it. It<br />
is used to repel mice and insects and it sort<br />
of works in a pot in the greenhouse when<br />
you are trying to germinate peas or runner<br />
beans. I say sort of because to get this really<br />
to work, you need lots of pots and as it is not<br />
happy being regularly watered, it becomes a<br />
little difficult, when you need to water the<br />
pots of peas and beans.<br />
Nepeta Cataria is for your feline friends,<br />
although there is nothing to stop you<br />
using it for making tea. But they love the<br />
nepetalactone isomers, so plant the catmint<br />
where you are happy for the cats to go. That<br />
way and with any luck they will stay off the<br />
seed bed (throw garlic cloves on that, as<br />
they hate the smell of garlic).<br />
Wishing you all a very pleasant summer<br />
gardening.
NORMAN WEST & SON<br />
DEVELOPMENTS<br />
(ESTABLISHED 1967)<br />
SMALL WORKS & MAINTENANCE DEPT<br />
ALL TYPES OF WORK UNDERTAKEN<br />
i.e. Decor, Gardens, Fencing, Patios,<br />
Walls, Extensions, Repairs<br />
N.H.B.C. Reg.<br />
NORMAN 01491 838662 LEE 01235 818850<br />
0787 9244851<br />
• decorating services<br />
• interior and exterior<br />
• paper hanging<br />
• coving<br />
• home maintenance<br />
phone james (Chalgrove)<br />
01865 890436 / 07796 966123<br />
BB<br />
17
The Bird Spot<br />
Tom Stevenson, writes...<br />
And so this incredibly changeable weather<br />
continues but at least we have had the odd<br />
day of sun and warmth. I guess it will be<br />
some time until the data is collated to assess<br />
the success or otherwise of the breeding<br />
season. So far I have seen plenty of signs<br />
of success with adults feeding youngsters<br />
all over the place. The only trouble is that<br />
I have only seen very small families with<br />
one or two young at most. Hopefully this<br />
is just my observation and not widespread<br />
though not all is lost as the fewer the chicks<br />
the more food they tend to get and the<br />
quicker they grow and are able to look after<br />
themselves. It does mean a slightly harder<br />
time for predators such as Sparrowhawks<br />
but they are longer lived and the odd failed<br />
breeding year is not so important.<br />
There is still plenty of time for those birds<br />
that have multi nesting attempts but please,<br />
if you have tree work to do or hedges to<br />
trim, either carefully check for nests before<br />
starting or better still wait until later in the<br />
year when all breeding has finished.<br />
sandwiches with you make use of the picnic<br />
bench down there.<br />
On the mammal front – we have recently<br />
taken delivery of 13 hedgehogs at the<br />
Watercress Beds from Tiggywinkles. These<br />
animals were nursed back to health by the<br />
animal rescue centre and were ready for<br />
release. I provide food and water for them<br />
for the first few days and leave a night time<br />
camera out to record their activities. I have<br />
film of one apparently protecting its territory<br />
or perhaps its food source by wrestling with<br />
another though a third looked on being left<br />
alone. No idea what is going on though it<br />
is interesting and indicates that they have<br />
settled in to their new home. Also the<br />
camera has picked up a fox and a pair of<br />
muntjac deer so far – fascinating stuff and<br />
some available for view on my blog (http://<br />
benewetom.blogspot.co.uk/).<br />
Email: thomas.stevenson@ntlworld.com<br />
Tel: 01491 836888<br />
Mob: 07773251301<br />
In spite of the conditions this spring the<br />
flower meadow at Ewelme is generally<br />
looking good though some areas are<br />
suffering from lush grass growth which tends<br />
to prevent the more delicate annual flowers<br />
from germinating. Unfortunately the same<br />
is true of the wild flower areas on Aldridge<br />
Triangle and outside the library though<br />
they are both showing promising signs and<br />
proving an attraction to pollinating insects.<br />
In fact the only 7 spot ladybirds I have seen<br />
this year were outside the library and a pretty<br />
moth, a Scalloped Hazel, was hiding on the<br />
Aldridge Triangle area. I hope those who<br />
think these areas look scruffy will be patient<br />
as it takes some time to establish wildflower<br />
areas and the prize is a wealth of pollinating<br />
insects which have been severely depleted<br />
in recent years. Just pop in to the Millbrook<br />
mead nature reserve to get an idea of what I<br />
hope it will eventually look like – take your<br />
18 BB
The Church of England Parish of <strong>Benson</strong><br />
St Helen’s Church<br />
Vicar: The Revd John Burrell tel: 01491 832008<br />
email: gjburrell@btinternet.com<br />
Associate Priest: The Revd Jean Travis tel: 01491<br />
838713 Curate: The Revd David Gifford tel:<br />
01865 343309 Churchwardens:<br />
Barbara Smart tel: 01491 837951<br />
Rodney Davis tel: 01491 838494<br />
email: benson.warden@btinternet.com<br />
The Catholic Parish of St Birinus<br />
Dorchester-on-Thames<br />
Priest: Fr. John Osman, MA., STL.,<br />
Bridge House Presbytery<br />
1 Bridge End, Dorchester-on-Thames<br />
Telephone: 01865 340417<br />
Sunday Services<br />
8.30am Holy Communion (BCP)<br />
10.00am Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)<br />
with Children’s Club and Creche<br />
3rd Sunday of the month: Orchestra and a service<br />
for all the Family.<br />
Further details:<br />
www.achurchnearyou.com/benson-st-helen/<br />
For Baptism and Wedding enquiries, please<br />
contact one of the clergy.<br />
Holy Mass<br />
Weekdays 9.30am<br />
Sat 6.30pm Vigil Mass for Sunday<br />
Sun 9.30am (Berinsfield Church)<br />
11.00am Solemn Mass<br />
Confessions<br />
Sat 5.45 - 6.15 or upon request<br />
Exposition & Benediction of The Blessed<br />
Sacrament: First Sunday of each Month 5-6pm<br />
Children’s Liturgy of the Word<br />
Sun 9.30am during Berinsfield Mass<br />
Wallingford Quakers<br />
13 Castle Street, Wallingford<br />
Enquiries to Warden Tel: 01491 837835<br />
Ridgeway Community Church<br />
The Ridgeway Christian Centre<br />
21b/22 St Mary’s Street, Wallingford<br />
Gareth Lloyd-Jones (Senior Pastor)<br />
Church of England Parish of Berrick Salome<br />
St Helen’s Church<br />
Vicar: Canon Ian Cohen<br />
The Vicarage, 58 Brinkinfield Rd, Chalgrove<br />
Email: ianghcohen@hotmail.com<br />
Churchwardens: Dr. Marian Shaw - 01865 890915<br />
Salli Pelling 01865 890970<br />
Meeting for Worship<br />
Sunday at 10.30am with Children’s Class.<br />
Discussion groups during the week.<br />
Sunday Services<br />
10.00am Worship & Ministry at Christian<br />
Centre<br />
For all other activities see our website<br />
www.ridgeway-church.org.uk or telephone<br />
01491 832718<br />
Sunday Services at 11.00am<br />
1st Sunday of Month - Family Service<br />
2nd Sunday - Holy Communion (BCP)<br />
Other Sundays - Family Communion<br />
Baptisms & Weddings to be arranged with the<br />
Vicar<br />
Wallingford Methodist Church<br />
St Leonards Square, Wallingford<br />
Minister: Revd Dr David Rankin<br />
Tel: 01235 813242<br />
Email: minister@wallingfordmethodistchurch.org<br />
Website: www.wallingfordmethodistchurch.org.uk<br />
Wallingford Baptist Church<br />
Thames St, Wallingford<br />
Minister: Pastor Simon Hudson<br />
Tel: 01491 839904<br />
Email: pastorsimonwbc@ymail.com<br />
www.wallingford.org.uk<br />
BB<br />
Sunday Services at 10.30am & 6.30pm<br />
Lunch on Tuesdays 12.30pm - 1.30pm<br />
Friendship Group alternate Tuesdays 2.30pm<br />
‘Tots Time’ Wednesday 9.30am - 11.00am<br />
Boys & Girls Brigade Wednesday evenings<br />
Coffee Morning every Thursday 10.30 - 12.00 noon<br />
All welcome, please contact David Rankin for details<br />
Sunday Services at 10.30am & 7.00pm<br />
Holy Communion 3rd Sunday each month<br />
19
BEST<br />
Keith Tibbs, writes...<br />
Recording & Caring for the Local<br />
Environment<br />
I am sure that many – if not all – who read<br />
last month’s article will have spotted the<br />
“howler” and concluded that yours truly<br />
does not know his hazel from his hawthorn.<br />
The white blossom referred to is a feature of<br />
the latter, not the former, of course. That will<br />
teach me to check what I have written more<br />
carefully.<br />
A small, select group of BEST members<br />
attended to be amazed at the variety of<br />
moths and by the knowledge and skill of<br />
Marc Botham of CEH in rapidly identifying<br />
individuals as well as telling us about some<br />
of their life histories. We were also treated<br />
to “bacon butties” care of Helen Stevenson<br />
and chunks of fresh pineapple courtesy<br />
Marian Shaw. A very enjoyable couple of<br />
hours but why did not more people take up<br />
the invitation?<br />
The next BEST event is a visit to Wytham<br />
Woods on Friday 12 July, leaving <strong>Benson</strong><br />
at 9.30 am. Wytham Woods is an area<br />
of ancient woodland which is owned by<br />
Oxford University and used for<br />
environmental research. Their<br />
website claims that it is one of the<br />
most researched areas of woodland<br />
in the world. The visit will entail<br />
a two hour walk through the<br />
woodlands, led by the conservator<br />
Nigel Fisher. If any non-member of<br />
BEST is interested in joining us for<br />
this visit, please contact one of the<br />
numbers or email addresses listed<br />
below.<br />
Contacts: Tom Stevenson<br />
(chairman) 01491836888 or thomas.<br />
stevenson@ntlworld.com: Keith<br />
Tibbs (secretary) 01491 838689 or<br />
keith.tibbs4@ntlworld.com<br />
Eyed Hawk Moth<br />
The planned May visit to Hurst Meadow<br />
was cancelled because of – you’ve guessed<br />
it – the weather. However June saw the<br />
BEST annual moth-trapping event, over the<br />
weekend of 15 June at Millbrook Mead.<br />
Moths, like butterflies and other small<br />
creatures are good indicators of climate<br />
change so that our annual surveys make a<br />
small contribution to the understanding of<br />
what is going on in the natural world. In spite<br />
of the appalling year for members of the<br />
Lepidoptera family (moths and butterflies)<br />
and rain during the night when the traps were<br />
deployed we were very pleased with the<br />
results. A total of 158 moths of 50 different<br />
species were caught, identified and released.<br />
20 BB<br />
From the Registers at<br />
St Helen’s <strong>Benson</strong><br />
Baptisms:<br />
21st April Benjamin William Woods<br />
5th May Riley Steven Negus<br />
Funerals:<br />
3rd April Eva Constance Vokins<br />
5th April David Charles Edward Caswell<br />
22nd April Margaret Lilian Pattison<br />
News & Diary Dates<br />
Available on ‘A Church Near<br />
You’ website:<br />
www.achurchnearyou.com/bensonst-helen/
Email: roypassey@btconnect.com<br />
<br />
BB<br />
21
Sex and Affairs<br />
Peter Abbott, writes...<br />
Is it really going on? Well yes, certainly in<br />
the nest! It would seem that with passerines,<br />
the perching or song birds, such goings<br />
on are the norm! In recent years the use<br />
of DNA analysis has provided a powerful<br />
tool to examine this subject more closely<br />
and more rigorously. For those who have<br />
been following BBC “Springwatch” you<br />
will know that some birds are faithfully<br />
monogamous, e.g. Jackdaw, while others,<br />
e.g. Dunnock are notorious philanderers.<br />
In passerines, A recent study has shown<br />
that passerine faithfulness is quite low, with<br />
monogamy just 15%. Examples:<br />
Percentage of nests with at least one chick<br />
whose father is not its genetic parent:<br />
% Species<br />
20 House Sparrow<br />
20 House Martin<br />
30 Swallow<br />
30 Great Tit<br />
30 Starling<br />
40 Blue Tit<br />
70 Yellowhammer<br />
75 Coal Tit<br />
90 Reed Bunting<br />
Walking with the Ramblers<br />
Kate Hart, writes...<br />
Those readers who regularly look through<br />
the Diary on the back page of the BB will<br />
have noticed that each month (usually)<br />
a number of Ramblers walks are listed.<br />
Judging by those who do come on our<br />
walks and who tell us what they anticipate<br />
in advance of their first one, there are many<br />
misconceptions about the Ramblers which<br />
sometimes deter people from “giving it a<br />
go”.<br />
The Didcot and Wallingford group, which is<br />
the group that puts the entries for its walks<br />
into the BB, is made up of almost 200<br />
people, but only a small percentage of those<br />
are regular walkers. However, a significant<br />
number come from <strong>Benson</strong>, so any new<br />
22 BB<br />
walker from the <strong>Benson</strong> area would be<br />
highly likely to know someone else in the<br />
group. Numbers who turn up to walk on<br />
any one day are variable, but on average the<br />
numbers are from about 8 to 20 people.<br />
The beauty of the walks is that everyone<br />
(except the leader!) can decide on the day<br />
if they want to come. Walks go ahead in all<br />
weathers, unless it would be dangerous –<br />
for example due to ice or snow. However,<br />
it does mean that if you are deterred by bad<br />
weather then you can just wait for a walk on<br />
a better day. If you do want to come, then<br />
you don’t need to tell anyone in advance: you<br />
just turn up to the advertised starting place.<br />
Non-members are welcome, but after 2 or 3<br />
walks to try them out, the Ramblers would<br />
expect non-members to consider joining if<br />
they wanted to continue on a regular basis.<br />
The walks are of varying lengths, again as<br />
advertised, but the pace is not too demanding<br />
unless you really haven’t walked for a long<br />
time, in which case choosing one of the<br />
shorter walks would be best.<br />
The local walks tend on the whole to be<br />
graded “moderate”; generally the pace is a<br />
comfortable walking pace, about the pace<br />
that most people set out to walk to the shops.<br />
In the Chilterns there are bound to be hills<br />
but everyone needs time to rest / catch their<br />
breath and there are stops about every hour<br />
for drinks etc. The walk description will<br />
advise if you need to bring a packed lunch,<br />
but most people always bring a snack.<br />
The Ramblers walks are advertised on the<br />
Oxfordshire Area Ramblers website which<br />
will also have details of walks in other parts<br />
of the county and walks in this area run by<br />
other Oxfordshire groups. The walks are<br />
very sociable as well as a good way to<br />
explore the countryside round about and<br />
get healthy and we have been told by new<br />
members that our group is very welcoming<br />
to new walkers. So please do think about<br />
giving it a try. If you can’t find what you<br />
need to know on the web site then do please<br />
give me a ring - my telephone number is<br />
01491 838689.
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BB<br />
23
Girlguiding <strong>Benson</strong><br />
Helen Stevenson, writes...<br />
The summer term sees all of our Rainbows,<br />
Brownies and Guides making the best of the<br />
long summer evening and good weather and<br />
getting out and about in the great outdoors.<br />
Activities this year have included penny<br />
hikes, scavenger hunts, outdoor cooking<br />
on Trangias and following the history trail<br />
around the village. Still to come is the<br />
Guides annual bike ride over to Warborough<br />
for rounders.<br />
The Brownies and Guides spent an enjoyable<br />
evening at the Ewelme Watercress beds. The<br />
Brownies fed and watered the newly released<br />
hedgehogs and made and raced boats. The<br />
Guides tried out the newly installed pond<br />
dipping platform and caught an awful lot of<br />
fresh water shrimps! According to one Guide,<br />
it was the ‘...best guide meeting ever!’. We<br />
look forward to a second visit next month.<br />
Sunday 16th June saw 60 of our members<br />
(from <strong>Benson</strong> village and Berinsfield) taking<br />
part in a district fun day at our county centre,<br />
Jubilee House. Rainbows up to Leaders had<br />
a go at abseiling down the fixed tower. Our<br />
other main activity was outdoor cooking<br />
on a wood fire. Toasted sandwiches (some<br />
of which were toasted a little too much!)<br />
and cake cooked in oranges were much<br />
enjoyed! The day culminated in a traditional<br />
campfire.<br />
We are always looking to recruit new adult<br />
volunteers and it doesn’t have to be all or<br />
nothing. Taking on one task for a unit, or<br />
perhaps helping once a month can really<br />
help to share the load. Get in touch to find<br />
out more. If you daughter is interested in<br />
becoming a member, visit ‘www.girlguiding.<br />
org.uk/interested’ to register her with a unit.<br />
Even if your daughter is too young for that<br />
section, it is really useful for us to have her on<br />
a waiting list so we can plan for the future.<br />
Please contact Helen Stevenson email:<br />
Girlguiding<strong>Benson</strong>@gmail.com<br />
24 BB
1st <strong>Benson</strong> Scouts<br />
Alison Wood, writes...<br />
As you may know, we are in urgent need of<br />
new Leaders and Assistant Leaders to share<br />
the running of our group. The group is really<br />
thriving but with Scout Leader Marty Lock<br />
going on a 9 month residential course from<br />
Sept and Beaver Leaders Gemma and Simon<br />
Funnell about to depart for camp-sites new,<br />
the group REALLY needs to identify some<br />
additional adult support.<br />
Some of the exciting and valuable activities our<br />
kids have enjoyed in recent months include:<br />
• orienteering<br />
• survival camping on Bertie West field<br />
• foraging for natural foods<br />
• backwoods cooking<br />
• first aid<br />
• shelter building<br />
• cycle rides<br />
• nature walks<br />
• road safety<br />
• firelighting<br />
These experiences build confidence and selfesteem<br />
while nurturing vital life skills and<br />
a sense of self reliance. We all want this to<br />
continue.<br />
Parents helping out on specific activity nights<br />
is very valuable and means more gets done,<br />
however we need some dedicated commitment<br />
to support each of our sections which effectively<br />
means more Leaders or Assistant Leaders<br />
are required. Our remaining Assistant Scout<br />
Leaders Simon and David for Scouts, Derek<br />
and Alan for Cubs and Neil for Beavers all have<br />
variable work commitments that mean their<br />
future guaranteed weekly involvement will<br />
prove to be difficult. Our hope is that enough<br />
new adults will come forward so that an adult<br />
rota can be drawn up to allow all sections to<br />
continue to meet ideally on a weekly basis.<br />
Unfortunately we do run the risk of having to<br />
fold at least 1 section (Beavers, Cubs or Scouts)<br />
if new full or part time Leaders are not found<br />
for September onwards. Our existing leaders<br />
can vouch for how rewarding it is to see the<br />
kids develop and how much fun is had along<br />
the way.<br />
No previous experience is necessary and<br />
nobody will be thrust into the thick of it against<br />
their wishes. Full training and support at the<br />
District level will be provided. Also keep in<br />
Continued overleaf....<br />
BB<br />
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Tel: 01491 834467<br />
25
1st <strong>Benson</strong> Scouts (Cont)<br />
Alison Wood, writes...<br />
mind that badge work programmes are all<br />
online now making weekly activity planning<br />
much easier.<br />
If you or someone you know can dedicate<br />
a few hours a week and feel strongly about<br />
supporting 1st <strong>Benson</strong> Scout Group to ensure<br />
its survival, please contact the Group Secretary<br />
at <strong>Benson</strong>scouts@gmail.com or phone the<br />
Group Chair (Ali Wood) on 01491 824398.<br />
1st <strong>Benson</strong> Scouts<br />
Marty Lock (Leader), writes...<br />
Taming the Dragon<br />
Scouts from 1st <strong>Benson</strong> recently participated in<br />
Oxfordshire District’s Aqua Camp. The camp<br />
is an annual water activities extravaganza held<br />
at Standlake, near Witney, and involved over<br />
300 scouts from across the district. The aim on<br />
the camp was to give the scouts an opportunity<br />
to camp, whilst also having a taster of a<br />
variety of water activities including canoeing,<br />
kayaking, raft building, sailing, rowing in gigs,<br />
water games and dragon boating.<br />
Scouts arrived on Friday evening to set up camp<br />
and started activities on Saturday morning.<br />
Despite ‘fresh’ winds and some occasional<br />
downpours, activities all ran on schedule.<br />
Although unconvinced at times by the<br />
statement that “skin is waterproof”, the scouts’<br />
spirits were not dampened and they all put in<br />
their best efforts at the activities. After some<br />
basic paddle skills and safety lessons on the<br />
Dragon Boats, the scouts were soon racing to<br />
the heavy beat of the drum and the boat ‘Bilbo<br />
Baggins’ was cutting through the water at an<br />
impressive speed. Victory in the race was the<br />
reward for their efforts and hard work as well<br />
as the satisfaction of undertaking a completely<br />
new activity that was also great fun.<br />
Activities carried on throughout the day until<br />
the slightly soggy group made their way back<br />
to their site where they were greeted with hot<br />
1st <strong>Benson</strong> Scouts Kayaking<br />
26 BB
food, hot chocolate and the opportunity to<br />
share their experiences and stories. Having<br />
worn every piece of dry clothing by the end of<br />
the first day on the water, the scouts understood<br />
the true meaning of the name “Aqua Camp”.<br />
After an evening disco the scouts retired to<br />
bed and silence quickly descended across the<br />
site. There was very little rocking required to<br />
put the weary souls to sleep as the fresh air and<br />
days exertions took its toll. A bright and early<br />
start followed on Sunday, and after a hearty<br />
breakfast the scouts once again descended on<br />
the water for another full day of activities. The<br />
sun emerged at the end of the afternoon just in<br />
time for the closing ceremony. The flag was<br />
taken down for the final time to mark the end of<br />
a fantastic weekend of water based adventures.<br />
I suspect there would have been a few snores<br />
from the back of the cars as the scouts were<br />
driven home.<br />
To see pictures and videos from Aqua Camp,<br />
go to our website at http://bensonscouts.co.uk/<br />
photo-galleries.html If you would like to help<br />
children be part of the amazing and rewarding<br />
Scouting adventure, please contact the Group<br />
at bensonscouts@gmail.com.<br />
Wallingford Spiritual Cafe<br />
Frances Stacey, writes...<br />
Wallingford Spiritual Café has recently been<br />
formed to provide a forum for people to<br />
explore spirituality in a relaxed and informal<br />
atmosphere. This is not a religious organisation<br />
and has no affiliation to any religion. Under<br />
the auspices of the Wrekin Forum (www.<br />
wrekinforum.org) the Spiritual Café provides<br />
a place where people can come together to<br />
explore spiritual topics and concerns in an open<br />
and supportive atmosphere.<br />
So do join us for a relaxed evening in<br />
comfortable surroundings. We start with a<br />
short talk with a lively discussion afterwards.<br />
You can join in as little or as much as you like.<br />
We meet once a month from 7.30 – 9.30 pm,<br />
either at the Corn Exchange, Market Place,<br />
Wallingford, OX10 0EG or Magda’s Cafe,<br />
Castle Street, Wallingford OX10 8DL .<br />
For further information including dates, topics<br />
and venue please contact: Liz Bubbear by<br />
e-mail: spiritualcafewallingford@yahoo.co.uk<br />
BB<br />
27
RAF <strong>Benson</strong> Community<br />
Primary School<br />
Hello from RAF <strong>Benson</strong> Primary!<br />
Term 5 has been action packed as we have had<br />
a number of events that have taken place and<br />
visitors come to our school.<br />
One of our School visitors, Dr Kate Tiller,<br />
returned to speak with us following her visit to<br />
school to share information about the Queen’s<br />
Jubilee. We were intrigued to know more<br />
about her role of Deputy Lord Lieutenant so<br />
our journalists invited her back to find our<br />
more. Over to them -<br />
When the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Dr Kate<br />
Tiller, visited us, we asked her a few questions<br />
about her job and this is what she told us.<br />
Instead of applying for the role, Dr Tiller<br />
was asked to do the job. She has been doing<br />
this job for nine years and thoroughly enjoys<br />
it. Dr Tiller supports the Lord Lieutenant in<br />
representing The Queen in Oxfordshire. Her<br />
work is voluntary and she will have the job<br />
for life or until she reaches the age of 75.<br />
She has many different duties, from carrying<br />
out citizenship ceremonies to attending and<br />
sending invitations to The Queen’s garden<br />
parties, at Buckingham Palace, along with<br />
four to five thousand other special people.<br />
Lord Lieutenants were around in Tudor times<br />
in the 1500’s and worked for Elizabeth I, when<br />
they would have called out the militia. They<br />
once had a uniform but now Dr Tiller only has<br />
a badge. Even now, when a member of The<br />
Royal Family visits, it is the job of the Lord<br />
Lieutenants to make them feel welcome.<br />
Dr Tiller works in the university in Oxford as<br />
a historian and one of her favourite duties was<br />
attending the Diamond Jubilee, where there<br />
was a fly past and The Central Band of the<br />
RAF were playing.<br />
We really enjoyed Dr Tiller’s visit. We felt<br />
very lucky to have been joined by her for the<br />
second time, as she came to represent The<br />
Queen for the Diamond Jubilee last year. She<br />
told us lots about herself and sounded like she<br />
really loves her job.<br />
Dr Tiller, if you are reading this, we want to<br />
say a big THANK YOU and come back any<br />
time you like!<br />
Written by: Ebony Pinn, Jessica Gray, Maisie<br />
Kellett, William Hamilton, Zach Boyd, Finley<br />
Halliwell, Hannah McGrath, Maddie Kellett,<br />
Sam McCrindle, Ellie Lyes and Ellie Tandy.<br />
Next month we will be letting you know all<br />
about the learning that has taken place this<br />
term along with a report from our journalists<br />
about a very special royal visit.<br />
Steph Fawdrey (Headteacher)<br />
28 BB
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29
Are you ready for a spine tingling<br />
summer at your library?<br />
From 13th July until 14th September children<br />
across Oxfordshire are invited to explore the<br />
Creepy House. Are you brave enough to take<br />
on the Summer Reading Challenge and enter<br />
the Awful Upstairs, the Gruesome Ground<br />
Floor and the Spine Tingling Cellar?<br />
You can join the gang Liv, Ollie, Rhys, Saeed,<br />
Tilda, Zoe and Baskerville the dog as they<br />
meet the hair raising residents like Spookitty,<br />
Frankenmouse and Headless Harry to reveal<br />
the secrets of the house.<br />
All you have to do is pick up your Creepy<br />
House poster from your local library. During<br />
your spooky adventure read six books to<br />
collect stickers and prizes!<br />
Look out for fantastic new books, exciting<br />
puzzles and fun activities at the library too!<br />
Log on to the brilliant interactive website<br />
which you can find at www.creepy-house.org.uk<br />
We look forward to seeing you all!<br />
Hilary, Pat and Alison<br />
The Mikron Theatre Company<br />
Sue Cooper, writes...<br />
The Mikron Theatre Co., who travel<br />
around the country by narrowboat, will be<br />
performing their new production, “Don’t<br />
Shoot the Messenger” at the Waterfront<br />
Café on Tuesday 30 July at 8pm this year.<br />
Tickets are £12 (£8 for children).<br />
Proceeds are to be divided between Mikron<br />
and the Friends of <strong>Benson</strong> Library.<br />
Please contact Sue Cooper 835631 or<br />
cooperfamy@aol.com for tickets or further<br />
information.<br />
30 BB<br />
Local Clubs & Societies<br />
Clubs Sec: TBA<br />
Bensington Society<br />
The passport is a document familiar to us all,<br />
used and recognized worldwide. At our May<br />
meeting, our speaker Martin Lloyd (ex of HM<br />
Immigration Service), gave us an intriguing<br />
account of how passports have been influenced<br />
by assassins and spies. Along with other<br />
stories, we learnt how a passport linked Lord<br />
Palmerston to the attempted assassination of<br />
Napoleon 3rd. Over 100 members and visitors<br />
enjoyed this excellent talk.<br />
Also in May our members visited the newly<br />
renovated Cutty Sark at Greenwich. We<br />
were shown around the ship by two Blue<br />
Badge Guides and all agreed that it was very<br />
impressive. Some of us were also able to<br />
visit the Royal College and in particular the<br />
fully restored Painted Hall. There was also<br />
the Greenwich Market and the Maritime<br />
Museum in the area – we were certainly spoilt<br />
for choice but just too much to take in on a day<br />
trip. A return visit is highly recommended.<br />
Our next outing will be to the new Mary Rose<br />
Museum with a boat trip around Portsmouth<br />
Dockyard on 19th September. Please contact<br />
Paul Booker on 01491 825864 for details and<br />
availability of places.<br />
The Society’s Historical Sub-Group met on<br />
22nd May to discuss research projects and<br />
a future study day. The group are hoping to<br />
compare the <strong>Benson</strong> Census data from 1861<br />
and 1911 to get a picture of changes in the<br />
village over 50 years. The date for the study<br />
day has yet to be decided. If you were not<br />
able to attend that meeting but would like to<br />
be included, please contact Sue English (HG<br />
Secretary) on 01491 837907.<br />
The Society’s next main social evening will<br />
be on 27th September with a visit by Liz<br />
Woolley of the Oxfordshire Local History<br />
Association to talk to us about Child Labour<br />
in 19th Century Oxfordshire. The Society<br />
subscribes to the OLHA and Liz has spoken<br />
to us previously. Visitors are always welcome<br />
(£4 entry) with buffet supper and drinks<br />
available to purchase. Society details can be<br />
Continued overleaf....
MICHAEL GEE<br />
MARKET GARDEN<br />
Basket a n d Pat i o p la n t s<br />
Ha n g i n g Baskets a n d Tu b s<br />
Se a s o n a l Be d d i n g a n d Vegetable Pla n t s<br />
Pe r e n n i a l s a n d He rb s<br />
Co m p o s t, Ca n e s a n d s u n d r i e s<br />
Find us at: PYRTON<br />
Nr. WATLINGTON<br />
OX49 5AN<br />
01491 612479<br />
BB<br />
31
Local Clubs & Societies (Cont.)<br />
Clubs Sec: TBA<br />
found in the <strong>Benson</strong> Library, on our village<br />
notice board and on our website at www.<br />
spanglefish.com/thebensingtonsociety.<br />
Sue Brown (Secretary) 01491 837885<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> WI<br />
Our May meeting was well attended with 30<br />
members and 2 guests. The usual business<br />
was discussed and several items from the<br />
News and Views were mentioned, namely,<br />
the Supreme Court and Somerset House visit<br />
and Wisley Gardens. There were two very<br />
successful trips organized by Delia in May. An<br />
art exhibition at Brightwell was well attended<br />
with lunch at Root One then off to Geoffrey<br />
Harcourt’s house to view his wonderful<br />
paintings. The whole trip was in conjunction<br />
with Oxford Arts Week. The second outing<br />
was to the Earth Trust at Little Wittenham<br />
where we had an hour’s walk, a lunch and a<br />
short talk about the Trust and the good work<br />
they do for the environment. A W.I. coach trip<br />
to Cambridge took place on 21st May with 6<br />
members from <strong>Benson</strong> enjoying the day. We<br />
then discussed the resolution for the national<br />
federation’s annual meeting. It concerns<br />
the “Decline of our High Streets and Town<br />
centres” and the damaging effect this has on<br />
local communities. All members were urged<br />
to support their local shops and make the High<br />
Street their choice for goods and services. An<br />
unanimous vote to support this resolution<br />
went through. Then on to a lighter note when<br />
Sandra introduced David Beasley who had<br />
brought with him his wonderful collection of<br />
local slides dating back pre-1914. His easy<br />
manner and interesting facts about <strong>Benson</strong><br />
and surrounding areas kept our attention and<br />
it was fun to link the “then and now”. The vote<br />
of thanks was given by Jill. Tea was served<br />
by Lynn and Gwenda, the raffles were won by<br />
Delia, Jill and Dorothy.<br />
Our next meeting on July 17th features<br />
Duncan brown talking to us about “Mayors of<br />
Abingdon”.<br />
32 BB<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> W.I. meets every 3rd Wednesday<br />
in the month at the parish Hall at 7.30pm.<br />
Visitors always welcome. Ring Mary on<br />
01491 838748 for further information.<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Tennis Club<br />
Junior Summer Camps 2013<br />
At <strong>Benson</strong> Tennis Club we offer a professional<br />
and fun filled tennis coaching program during<br />
the holidays, with our professionally qualified<br />
coach, Mandy Nall. Our focus is to provide a<br />
holiday camp experience that is safe, mixing it<br />
with a big dose of fun to ensure your child has<br />
a great time. It is recommended to book your<br />
place early as our holiday camps are always<br />
over subscribed!<br />
Each camp will run for three days,either in the<br />
morning or the afternoon. Groups are limited<br />
to a maximum of 8 players and are organised<br />
by age and ability. Camps for children aged<br />
between 5-7 and 8-10 years will be run on<br />
Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th August. For<br />
older Juniors aged 11 years and upwards the<br />
camp will run Monday 12th to Wednesday<br />
14th August. Cost is £40-45 for members and<br />
£50-55 for non-members. Courses run for 2 or<br />
2.5 hours per day. If you would like your son<br />
or daughter to attend one of our Camps then<br />
please visit http://www.bensontennisclub.<br />
co.uk/ or email gina_btc@btyahoo.co.uk for<br />
a registration form.<br />
Rusty Rackets<br />
If you have not picked up your racket in<br />
a few years or if you would like some<br />
non-pressurised coaching in a friendly<br />
environment, then get down to <strong>Benson</strong> Tennis<br />
Club on a Wednesday morning 9.30 - 10.30,<br />
where our qualified coach, Liz Bowles, runs<br />
a friendly Rusty Racket session. Coaching<br />
for the summer finishes in July but restarts<br />
on Wednesday 4th September. Any questions<br />
please contact liz_btc@yahoo.co.uk<br />
Gina Russell<br />
Email your club news to<br />
bb.edtior@hotmail.co.uk
We are a friendly club<br />
with excellent facilities!<br />
• 4 all weather courts<br />
• flood lights<br />
• social & match play<br />
• coaching for all ages<br />
• junior & senior club nights<br />
• great value individual & family<br />
membership<br />
As we are right on your doorstep,<br />
why not come and join us this year?<br />
For more information &<br />
contact details:<br />
www.bensontennisclub.co.uk<br />
Mini Digger / Skip Loader With Operator<br />
598856<br />
BB<br />
33
Local Clubs & Societies (Cont.)<br />
Clubs Sec: TBA<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Garden Club<br />
Our June outing in glorious sunshine was to a<br />
lovely hidden garden in Upper Buckleberry.<br />
A valley garden with a lake surrounded by<br />
woods and rhododendrons, which, because of<br />
the late spring and summer, were in flower at<br />
the same time as the roses, making an unusual<br />
sight. The coach outing was a bargain with<br />
two gardens and Batsford arboretum to delight<br />
us all in one trip. In early July we will visit<br />
a walled garden with a 5 acre vineyard near<br />
Witney, so there is something quite different<br />
each time for our members to enjoy. August<br />
will see us at our annual summer social in a<br />
members garden, where after seeing other<br />
nearby gardens, we will share plates of food<br />
brought along by each member. This always<br />
brings forth some nice surprises and members<br />
will be informed of the venue nearer the time.<br />
The plant sale earlier in the year went very<br />
well and thanks to all our supporters we have<br />
been able to make a nice donation to the Mill<br />
Stream Day Centre. If you bought plants we<br />
hope they are doing well for you and thank<br />
you for supplying or buying. Members need<br />
to inform Jane if they would like to go to RHS<br />
Wisley in September. Phone 01685 891208.<br />
Penny Noble<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Trefoil Guild<br />
14 of our Trefoil Group spent an enjoyable<br />
day out in Oxford (16th May 2013), we had<br />
glorious sunshine all day. We took an open top<br />
bus tour of the city, around the back streets of<br />
Oxford is another world the architecture of the<br />
Universities is really beautiful and not always<br />
appreciated from the ground. We enjoyed a<br />
lovely lunch then went our own ways to see<br />
and do different things. Five of us went to<br />
look at the Sheldonion, Radcliffe Camera and<br />
the Bridge of Sighs.<br />
Five of the <strong>Benson</strong> Guild and two of the<br />
Chipping Norton Guild had a week away<br />
in Bournemouth (May 2013) and had great<br />
weather, good food and a really lovely hotel.<br />
We enjoyed days out on the buses with Fay Crabbe<br />
34 BB<br />
our magic passes. If you would like more<br />
information about this happy group of people<br />
please ring Jackie on 01491 839934.<br />
Jackie Spencer<br />
South Oxfordshire Generals<br />
Your local wargamers are putting on another<br />
demo game in the Mill Stream Centre and<br />
visitors are very welcome!<br />
Saturday 3rd August from 10am will see<br />
the first big battle in the American Civil War<br />
refought in <strong>Benson</strong>, as the Battle of 1st Bull<br />
Run (yes they had several of them!) was fought<br />
between the Union and the new Confederacy<br />
– the Blues v The Greys. The North believed<br />
that it would be simple, an easy victory over<br />
the outnumbered rebels and then the Civil War<br />
would be over. Didn’t quite turn out like that<br />
on the day, but can history be changed? Why<br />
not pop in for a few minutes and see!<br />
We always welcome new players, no<br />
experience required, no membership fees and<br />
we provide the miniature soldiers. Got to be<br />
the best offer around.<br />
Dave Rushton (01491-838711)<br />
Wallingford U3A<br />
Wallingford U3A’s programme of talks for<br />
the summer are :<br />
July 3rd Martin Sirot–Smith: “Washington at<br />
Sulgrave Manor”<br />
August 7th Dr. Tony Maisey: “How and Why<br />
We Age”<br />
Our Meetings are held at 2.00 pm on the first<br />
Wednesday of the Month, in Crowmarsh<br />
Village Hall. Visitors are always welcome.<br />
For more information ring Hermione<br />
on 01645 858024, or visit our website at<br />
googlesites/wallingfordu3a.co.uk<br />
Wallingford Flower Club<br />
Wednesday 10th July 2013 at Crowmarsh<br />
Village Hall 7.15 for 7.45 pm<br />
A Floral Demonstration “Arranging with<br />
Garden Flowers” by Jo Wise – Florist Green<br />
and Georgeous Cutting Garden Littlestoke.<br />
Non Members welcome £4 each. For more<br />
information phone (01491) 834303
BB<br />
35
Classified Ads....<br />
Tel: 01491 201734<br />
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning by your local<br />
specialists. Wet or dry systems used. Trained,<br />
insured & NCCA approved. Quality work at<br />
unbeatable rates. Call Grimebusters 01491 670013<br />
/ 01235 555533<br />
Cleaning Supplies & Machines - Hire - Sales<br />
- Advice - Repairs - Domestic/Industrial. Call<br />
Clean Machine on 01491 825600 or e-mail info@<br />
machinesthatclean.com Find us on Facebook/<br />
CleanMachineLtd<br />
Lady Gardener available for general garden<br />
maintenance, also home cleaning. Reasonable<br />
rates. Phone Diana on 07880 691704<br />
Man & Van Low cost removals and rubbish<br />
clearance. Enquiries welcome 7 days a week. Call<br />
Mark 01235 511846 or 07770 862413<br />
Longpine Roofing & Property Maintenance.<br />
Local village family firm. Tel: 01491 652494<br />
Email: info@longpine.co.uk<br />
Film and Video Transfer Service to DVD, LP’s<br />
& 45 Records to CD at sensible prices. For quote<br />
phone 01491 825964 or email:<br />
johncritchley1940@fastmail.fm<br />
Two adults plus dog wanting SHORT-TERM<br />
LET from September for 4-6 months, in <strong>Benson</strong><br />
or surrounding area. Please phone: 01491-<br />
835481.<br />
VHS, Camcorder Tapes Transferred to DVD<br />
from £3 per tape. Computer Repair, Setup,<br />
Tuition from £12ph. Wallingford 01491 200524<br />
/ 07910975248 Email: motionflyerpictures@<br />
gmail.com www.motionflyerpictures.com<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Parish Office: 01491 825038<br />
Office hours: Mon, Wed, Thu and Fri<br />
0930 am to 1230 pm<br />
Short Mat Bowls Mon 1.45-4pm/Wed 7-10pm<br />
Badminton Mon 8-10pm<br />
Bingo<br />
Tues 7-9pm<br />
Floodlit Tennis Thurs 7.00pm<br />
TO HIRE<br />
BENSON PARISH or YOUTH HALL<br />
TEL/FAX 01491 825038<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> Youth Hall<br />
Table Tennis<br />
Fri 8 - 10pm<br />
email your news to<br />
bb.editor@hotmail.co.uk<br />
About <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong><br />
bb.editor@hotmail.co.uk Est. 1994<br />
The <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> is published by <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong><br />
News Association, and delivered free to all households in<br />
<strong>Benson</strong>, RAF <strong>Benson</strong>, Roke, Rokemarsh, Berrick Salome<br />
and Ewelme. All concerned in its production and delivery<br />
are volunteers. Material published in The <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong><br />
is copyright, but the Editor may grant permission for<br />
reproduction upon request. Whilst every effort is made<br />
to ensure the accuracy of information printed in The<br />
<strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong>, the Editor and Publishers cannot accept<br />
any responsibility for the consequences of any errors<br />
that may occur. Neither are the opinions published in<br />
The <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> necessarily those of the Editor or<br />
The <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> News Association. The Editor is<br />
pleased to receive material for publication, but reserves<br />
the right to shorten, clarify or reject it at her discretion.<br />
Copy may be submitted via e-mail to bb.editor@hotmail.<br />
co.uk. Typed and handwritten copy is also acceptable and<br />
should be delivered/sent to <strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall before the<br />
12th of the month previous to publication. All printed<br />
photographs will be scanned and returned.<br />
BB’s Deadlines<br />
Copy: 12 th of month previous<br />
Advertising: 12 th of month previous<br />
The <strong>Benson</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong><br />
c/o <strong>Benson</strong> Parish Hall<br />
Sunnyside<br />
<strong>Benson</strong>, Oxon. OX10 6LZ<br />
BB<br />
BBNA Committee Members:-<br />
Advertising<br />
Chair Jill Parrick 838634<br />
To advertise in BB contact Anne Fowler on Treasurer Kyri Kyriakoudis 839810<br />
Secretary Patricia Baylis 826289<br />
01491 201734 or bb.editor@hotmail.co.uk Advertising Anne Fowler 201734<br />
Clubs’ Sec<br />
TBA<br />
Distribution Don Fletcher 838577<br />
www.bensonbulletin.com Distribution Ivor Allen 839003<br />
Editor Anne Fowler 201734<br />
Asst Editor Tom Stevenson 836888<br />
36 BB<br />
John Burrell 832008