PARISH COUNCIL At the meeting held on 18th October

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present were Cllrs James, Cole, Jackson, Gaertner & Willmer. District Cllr Fred Grey also attended.

Some of the matters discussed included: A planning application to build one dwelling adjacent to 40 Pound Lane has been received. No objections were raised.

It has been reported that a number of kerb stones are loose opposite the Tavern and down Mill Lane. The Highways Dept will be contacted to get these repaired.

Cllr Grey reported that a new bus service will take affect as of 28th October. A full report can be found on Page 6.

The new email address for the Parish Council is now up and running. If you would like to send anything please do so at: clanfieldpc@hotmail.comThe Council have heard from the West Oxfordshire Housing Association, who now own the small playing field. It was decided that the PC will hand this land back to them.

After a short delay the re-painted village sign on Radcot Road has now been replaced and will be re-hung The new road marking in Mill Lane are already starting to flake off. This will be reported to the Highways Dept.

The Parish Council heard that permission for the demolition of the existing storage buildings and the erection of four terraced houses at Stonecroft, Main Street has been granted by the planning authority, although conditions do apply.

The date for the next Parish Council meeting is Monday 18th November at 7.30 in the Carter Institute.

BT BROADBAND - INTERNET ACCESS - UPDATE

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The current number of people registering interest is ----- 3 ----- for Clanfield exchange. BT will now collect registration of interest direct. You may still register with your ISP if you prefer.

This site page gives the following information :

Exchange Name: CLANFIELD Exchange Code: SSCLL

The Registration of Interest database shows that no trigger level has been calculated for your exchange.

We are looking at alternative technologies and partnerships with both public and private sector funding to develop a way of bringing Broadband to your area. Please register your interest in Broadband so we can monitor demand levels, which will help us define the most appropriate technology for your area. The barometer opposite shows the total number of registrations on your exchange.

To register your interest in Broadband ADSL please contact your Internet Service Provider or alternatively click What to do next, for a link to the list of ISPs who will accept your Registration of Interest.

Please o sign up o increase our score we nee lots an lots more or we win e forced to have the slower speed satellite systems which will be even further more into the future and come at a higher price.

Barrie Rawlinson

FOOTBALL CLUB

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The football sides are going through a rough time at the moment with the First Team languishing in the bottom three and the Reserves also in the same position. The Sunday Side are in the top three so it is not all doom.

Fixtures at Home for November

Saturday 2nd November 1st vs Cirencester Utd 2.15pm

Saturday 16th November 1st vs Witney Utd 2.00pm

Saturday 23rd November Res vs Milton 2.15pm Entertainment

Saturday 9th November J.R. Disco Saturday 16th November Stag Night.

Tickets from Ian Barrett (01993) 778115 Saturday 23rd November Quiz Night-All welcome. 8.30pm start

BAZAAR HELP NEEDED!

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This year's Christmas Bazaar, in aid of the Frank Ellis Unit at the Churchill, is going to be at the Institute on Saturday 30th November. If you can donate a raffle prize or make something festive for us to sell or just lend a hand at making tea or washing up please let one of us know. All offers gratefully received.

Just to keep you informed - the nurses intend to spend the money this year on a Cairwave Pressure Relieving Mattress for one of the beds in the unit.

Alison 810543 - Caroline 810452 - Mary 810419 - Pam 810248

STRANGER IN THE NIGHT

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`I have a little nut tree'- or - to be more precise - a largish hazel bush which, this year, produced an enormous crop of nuts which fell to the ground and lay, literally, almost touching one another. I gathered up a basketful and thought vaguely that I ought to do something about the rest before the squirrels got them. Too late! What seemed to be only a few days later, it dawned on me that, in place of a carpet of nuts, was a carpet of broken shells. A whole gaggle of squirrels (or one exceedingly fat one!) had got there first. This seemed quite odd as I'd only ever seen one and he/she wasn't all that fat!

The next discovery, at the edge of a nearby flowerbed, was a neat, circular hole, about eight inches across and four inches deep, containing two vintages of large diameter 'poo'l A biggish dog? Dogs don't dig holes. Avery, very large cat? They usually cover the evidence. Fox? Poo too large, the wrong shape and no smell. Several friends and family were now interested and offered more suggestions. The Clanfield puma?! Closer inspection of the contents of the hole indicated that 'whoever' had definitely been eating nuts. Do pumas eat nuts? Doubtful. So - only one possibility left. Could it be .... a badger?

More detective work revealed a hole in the fence and some flattened plants. Aha! Sacrificing a handful of nuts, I laid a trail from the hole to the feeding area under the bush and then spent the evening creeping back and forth from kitchen to conservatory, eyes straining, peering into the night. Ten o'clock came. Was that a slightly darker shape moving in the blackness? Risking everything I snapped on the outside light hoping for a glimpse of some creature scurrying away! And there he was - a lovely badger - cracking and munching the nuts, completely undisturbed by the light. After casually sniffing and rooting around to check that he hadn't missed anything, he ambled away into the shrubbery.

Right! We'll have a closer look at you, I thought, so this time I laid the trail down two steps to a spot immediately outside the conservatory window and that evening three friends and I waited patiently in the dark. At last he came, but not until 10.45. Again the sudden light didn't faze him. He came right down the steps to just outside the glass. Then, suddenly startled by some movement, he galloped off.

Since then I've successfully persuaded him to come to an even better viewing place immediately under the light. But his sense of timing is very erratic. Most nights he doesn't turn up until after my bedtime and yet one evening I just happened to look out at 8 o'clock and had a wonderful close-up of his lovely stripy head and grey body. I could have put my hand out and touched but for the glass in between.

He is still visiting every night but he's on a diet of bird peanuts now (I'm not prepared

to give him all my hazelnuts.) He also takes pieces of apple - preferably half-rotten and after they have been lying around for a day or two. I know he would enjoy cat food, but so would all the cats in High House Close - mine included!

Many have been the dire warnings that he might invite family and friends and trash my entire garden! But I'll risk it. He's giving me such pleasure, all for a few penceworth of peanuts. I wish his timing would improve so that `badger watches' could be arranged for interested parties, but at the moment he's not exactly cooperative!

Incidentally, there are several more holes now - discreetly placed behind a wall and very neatly positioned between plants. I expect badger poo is a good fertilizer! Margery Robertson

THE DISAPPEARING A...C„.T

I have a small, skinny, excitable young cat called Chui (Swahili for leopard). Recently she has been disappearing for between 1 and 4 days, reappearing with only the occasional small wound, and never hungry, but gratifyingly pleased to see me! If only she could talk.

Has anyone recently had visitings from a beautifully marked tabby (who is a sucker for any tasty morsel)? Perhaps you could phone a worried owner?!

Angie Bell 810688

CAROL SINGING Clanfield's Annual Charity Carol

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Singing will take place on Monday 16th December, meeting at 6.30pm outside the Carter Institute. Anyone of any age and ability is welcome to come and join in the fun, which includes refreshments afterwards. Please bring torches or lanterns. Songbooks will be provided.

For further information please contact Liz Stevens - Tel: 810255

NEW BUS SERVICES

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Bampton Clanfield Black Bourton to

Carterton Witney Oxford

I am pleased to be able to provide you with the new bus timetables, which come into effect of 28th October 2002. The contract for the services 18 and 19 was won by Stagecoach, and therefore Thames Travel will relinquish the services on Saturday 26th October.

You will note that the 18 service is now almost hourly, which is a major upgrade compared to the previous timetable, and the service 19 reverts to its original routing of Witney - Bampton - Clanfield - Black Bourton - Carterton - and return.

A big thanks to Oxfordshire County Council for listening to the suggestions of the residents of the area, and providing us with much improved services.

Should you have any comments or suggestions on the schedules, please let me know and I will discuss with the OCC. Should you have any complaints on the service quality, you can either take it up directly with Stagecoach or route the complaint through me - or both! Stagecoach have assured both the OCC and myself that they are looking to provide a quality service, and welcome contact and feedback from users.

Please note also, that we are creating a new bus stop in Bampton Market Square, to allow the easy inter-change between the two services. The bus stop will be located by the Village Hall. The old bus stops by the Romany and the Horseshoe will be converted to normal parking spaces.

And remember:

Please Use the Services or We Lose Them

District Cllr Fred Gray 01993 851653 The timetables opposite are for the routes to and from:

Carterton - Clanfield - Bampton - Ducklington- Witney 19 Further timetables are available from:

Clanfield - Bampton - Standlake - Stanton Harcourt - Eynsham - Oxford 18 Witney - Standlake - Stanton Harcourt - Eynsham - Oxford 18A

To obtain up to date timetables from Stagecoach, call 01865 772250; or access their Website via www.bamptonoxon.co.uk.

CLANFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL Project Cyber Santa

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For further information about Project Cyber Santa contact:

Clanfield CE Primary School Tel, 01367 81025 7

Father Christmas Ltd Press & Communications: 01763 261018 Ext. II

Clanfield Pre-School

Invite you to sell or buy at their Table Top Sale Empty your attics and garages and fill your table Saturday 2nd November 2002 10.00am -12.00noon The Methodist Church Hall Clanfield To book a table contact - 01993 851844 Table - £5.00 Admission - 20p

CLANFIELD PRE-SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE

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We are full for every session at Pre-School until September 2003. If you are considering sending your child to us in January 2004 please could you contact Sara Smith or Karen Cahill, the Pre-School supervisors, as soon as possible. Telephone no. 0 1367 8106141810680. Children can come to Pre-School as soon as they are 21/2 yrs. of age. We always welcome visitors and in fact we make it a recommendation to all parents. As a member of the Early Years Development Partnership, children who attend our Pre-School are now eligible for up to 5 sessions per week for funded education from the term before their fourth birthday.

RED CROSS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR The grand annual Bazaar will be held this year at Burford School on Saturday 23rd November 10.00 am -1.00 pm. There will be the usual Tombola and Cake & Savouries stall, as well as Gifts, Jewellery, Cards & Wrapping, Toys, Brie-a-Brac, Books, Flowers & Decoration. Refreshments will be served all morning. This is also the huge raffle that we hold each year, which is always very successful.

Last year, despite the atrocious weather, the event raised around £5,00. So we hope for sunshine this year and an even higher target.

NEW CLANFIELD TODDLERS

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For children aged from birth onwards and their parents or carers: new day, new time, new venue. Every Friday during term time 9:30am `til 11:30am at the Windmill Barn, Main Street, Clanfield.

We are in a traditional barn setting with ample car parking, inside storage for prams and pushchairs, heated and fully carpeted play area, baby changing area and for when the weather is nice we have use of the gardens with swings and a sandpit. We offer many activities, which include crafts, singing, story time, toys and lots, lots more. FREE REFRESHMENTS FOR ALL

We also offer a twins support group that is run at the toddler group every Friday by Vicky, a mother of twins. For more information on the support group please contact Vicky on 01367 860 475.

Friday 8th November FREE open morning Windmill Barn

Thursday 21st November Body Shop Party (Everyone Welcome)

Clanfield Tavern

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Friday 22nd November 9:30am `til 11:30am Kids World UK Party Windmill Barn Tuesday 3rd December Starting at 8:00pm Ann Summers Party

(Ladies Only) Clanfield Football Club Friday 13th December Starting at 9:30am Avisit to see Christmas trees. Starting from the Windmill Barn

On Friday 20th December we will be holding the Toddler Christmas Party with plenty of food and fun for the little ones, also our Christmas raffle will be drawn with some fantastic prizes to be won. We have Chocoholic Catalogues full of out-of-this-world chocolates for you to purchase. If you would like to have a look, pop along on a Friday. This offer is open to anybody, with little ones or not. BJ Books will also be leaving excellent value books for children and adults, for you to look at and purchase. Arts and crafts up until Christmas are;

1. Bonfire and Firework themed crafts 2. Autumn themed crafts

3. Hand and vegetable painting 4. Christmas decoration making

5. Christmas themed crafts 6. Christmas card

Watch this space for 2003. Our committee have lots of exciting things planned for next year and hope that as many of you will help and support the group in whatever way you can. If anybody would like any more information about the group or any of the events please contact Karina Hooper on (01367) 810 397.

CLANFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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The October meeting of the Historical Society was delighted to welcome Dr John Wilson from the Cogges Museum with a selection of old gardening tools. John explained that many of the tools used by the Romans would be easily recognised today!

He produced a varied selection from the Museum's collection, many of which were known to the members present, including a tree pruner dating from 1850, which was still in wonderfully smooth operation. There were also many other tools, which, apart from being mechanised, seemed to have changed hardly at all in the last 100 years. It was also an interesting fact that gardening under glass was originally known as "French Gardening"!

John told us that he is, at present, cataloguing documents from Knapps Industry of Clanfield, at the Oxford Archives in Standlake and was very interested in any information about the company that he could obtain. Various members present were able to help him in this, and a general discussion resulted.

Members then examined in detail the large selection of tools on show and questions were discussed at length. Despite the weather, the members who attended thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The next meeting will be on November 19th when Bill King will talk about "Dad's Other Army."

Austin Hilditch.

Clanfield WI.

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After dealing with various items of business, the members were delighted to welcome back, at short notice, Tim Bryce who gave a slide show of his holiday pictures of New Zealand.

Having recently taken early retirement from his employment as a professional photographer, it was clear from the outset that we were destined to see some outstanding pictures, and that was certainly the case. Tim traveled 3,000 miles in three weeks in a camper van from Rotorua in the North Island down through a great part of the country to the mountainous fiord country in the South Island. As the cost of diesel fuel was only 75 pence per gallon, this was not an expensive exercise!

We were stunned by a picture of a massive Kauri tree which was 1,200 hundred years old, with the first branch 6.7 metres above the ground! There followed many beautiful pictures of every aspect of New Zealand life, which gave a wonderful impression of the countryside. As far as we could detect, the only drawback was the insect population, which made camping somewhat hazardous and painful.

The evening was a great success and was enjoyed by all. The next meeting will be on November 12th, when David Christensen will speak on "Modern Farming".

Barbara Hilditch.

WHATS ON Clanfield Pre-school

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For children in the age range 2'/z-5 at the Methodist Church Hall. Open every Monday to Friday from 9.00 -11.45 during term time. Contact Sara Smith on 810614. Women's Institute

Meeting held every second Tuesday in the month at 7.30 p.m. in the Carter Institute. All welcome. Contact Elizabeth Stevens, Cavarige House on 810255.

Mothers' Union

The Clanfield & Bampton branch meet on the first Tuesday of the month between September and June at 2.30 pm. See the Church notice board for more information Mobile Library

This service visits the village on alternate Thursdays and stops at the end of Queens Crescent at 11.55 until 12.15, before moving on to St Stephens Church from 12.20 until 12.40.

Historical Society

Meets on the third Tuesday of the month between October and May at 7.30 pm in the Carter Institute.

Snooker Club

6 pm -10 pm every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday evening, upstairs in the Carter Institute. Contact Tony Harrison on 810449.

Community Bus to Faringdon

This bus leaves the village once a week on a Friday at 10.15 am, arriving at 10.30am, and leaving Faringdon for the return journey at 12.05pm, arriving at 12.20pm. Yoga Every Thursday evening from 7.45pm until 9.15pm, in the Carter Institute. Every

one welcome, just bring a mat or blanket. For further info call; Jill (01367) 810696, Karen (01367) 810680 or Chris (01993) 882035

THERE IS NOTHING TO READ HERE

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Just so that you know, and not wanting to waste anyone's time, I thought it best to inform you that there is nothing of interest or importance in this space. Although it may look as though something should be here, nothing was sent in to fill it so it has had to be left blank. However, so as not to confuse things we felt it best to make everyone aware of the situation.

If you think that you know of something that could have gone in here then please let me know so that it can go into the next edition. Although this, of course, will depend on whether there is any space available. Just so you know.

WEST OXFORDSHIRE

Please send hand-written copy to Pat Rushton, Yew Tree Farm, Bampton Rd Tel: 810253 Please send disc copy to Liz Gaertner, 8 High House Close Tel: 810465

Letters and articles can also be sent by e-mail (please use MS Word or Publisher and indicate that it is for the WHAT

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clanfieldwhat@ fsmail.net ADVERTISING RATES

Full page (128 x 190 mm) £20.00

Half page (128 x 85 mm) £10.00

Quarter page (128 x 40 mm) OR

(60 x 85 mm) £8.00 Eighth page (58 x 40 mm) £3.00 PLEASE NOTE - all adverts must be sent either on disk or email in a usable format. Adverts

which require the insertion of pictures, logos, or border art may incur an additional charge.

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