Dear Villagers
 
Now is the perfect time to declutter for the summer months plus make some money into the bargain.  Admit it, we all have just a little bit too much ‘stuff’.  So take this opportunity put those unloved or little used items to one side and sell them from the comfort of your front drive in June.
 
We will be holding a Garage Sale on Sunday 11th June to coincide with the wonderful Village Teas.  A map will be available of all the houses participating in the sale.  So after a cuppa and a cake people can wander around our lovely village and grab themselves a bargain.  All those taking part are invited to donate half their proceeds to the Church and Park Fund.  So it is a win-win all round.
 
We have set up a What’s App group, if anyone wants more information.  Or you can email or call me direct if you have not yet indicated your interest in taking part:
07508 443234
[email protected]
 
Chrissie

I am told that some of you will remember Bob Miles who used to farm pigs at the top of Puddleduck Lane.  Bob passed away on 7th March and is to be buried with his late wife in our churchyard on Maundy Thursday, 6th April at 12 noon.
 
His daughter, who grew up in the village, and her family would welcome anyone from the village who remembers Bob to join them at his funeral. 
 
Pat
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I have a number of spaces available on a Basic First Aid course, that is due to take place at a venue in Faringdon on Saturday 25th February starting at 11.00am and finishing at 3.00pm. I am charging a fee of £25.00 per candidate for this course, that has been organised by a local community organisation.
 
The course content will be suitable for candidates to gain knowledge and practice the skills in dealing with an emergency incident,  involving a casualty who is unresponsive and breathing, the casualty who is not breathing and requiring CPR (for adult/child/infant) and involving the use of the Defibrillator.
 
The course will also cover treating bleeding and some common medical conditions.
 
A certificate and first aid booklet will be provided for candidates who participate and complete the course. Tea/Coffee provided. Please bring your own lunch if required.
 
This course will cover a basic level first aid content to provide skills that may be needed at home or in the community. Those candidates requiring first aid training for their workplace may need to consider enrolling on a more in-depth course consisting of a full day, or 3 day first aid at work course.
 
If you wish to enrol on this course, or have an interest in learning more on one of the extended courses above, including sports or outdoor first aid training, then please get in touch with me using the contact details below:
 
Malcolm Gee
 
[email protected]
 
M: 07796 572752
 
MG Training – Training you in skills for Life
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I have two builder’s planks (wooden) outside, abandoned by our builders about a year ago. 
 
Free to good home – size: 3.4m long, 22 cm wide, 4 cm thick.  
 
Anyone can come and pick them up from our drive anytime.
 
Cheers,
Russ Payne
Stonevale
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The Story so far….
The tradition of the Christmas Crib in the Barn at Great Coxwell goes back to the year 2000. It was inaugurated by a group of villagers led by Geoff Lee (formerly of Stonelea), whose idea it was to have a collection at the end of the service for St Giles’ Church and The Batemans Trust (a local charity which supports disadvantaged children in South India).

The nativity/crib scene will be in place at the Barn from Saturday afternoon 10th December 2022.

As with all great traditions, the Great Coxwell Christmas Nativity Scene and Christmas Eve Carol Service has developed over the years and now includes a Christmas Eve Procession through the village with Mary, Joseph and a donkey! This gives us a chance to remember Emma Watters (formerly of Warenne House), who played a part in this later addition to the tradition.

In 2021 we introduced the opportunity to buy and share Christmas drinks from Danes Cottage (“Danes Inn”) raising money for the village Community Fund; Ainslie and Dan look forward to welcoming guests to the Inn this year after the Carol Service.

This year volunteers from the ‘Longcot Ringers’ will be jingling their Bells to Christmas and Carol tunes outside the Barn for those who are unable to walk along with the procession.

Timings         

The Procession and Carol Service are on 24th December 2022, Christmas Eve:

5.15 Bell Ringer outside the Barn (for those unable to walk with the procession)

5.20pm Procession gathers at the southern end (bottom) of the village outside Foxley (pink cottage).

5.30pm Procession starts.

6.00pm (or earlier; Service will commence on arrival of the procession) Carol Service in Great Barn (cash donations to the charity collection will be gratefully received).

6.50pm Danes Inn Christmas Drinks (outside). Please bring cash (proceeds to the Community Fund).

**Advanced Notice. Road Closure**

The VOWH has granted a road closure on Christmas Eve 24 December 20022 from 5.15pm to 6pm.
Holloway Road will be closed from the Barn to Spicers Cottage to provide protection to the Christmas Eve Village Procession. Annabelle’s Nursery has offered their car park for vehicles during the road closure. Access to the village can be made on foot using the public footpaths/pavements.

Keeping everyone safe

There will be marshals with torches to guide us and first aiders on hand. Please:

•         Stay behind the mule during the procession
•         Keep dogs and children under control
•         Take care on uneven ground by the barn
•         Do not smoke or have any naked flames in the barn

 
Our sincere thanks goes out to: All of our village Christmas volunteers; St Giles Church; the National Trust for hosting; Kiera and Muffin the Donkey, The Longcot Ringers; and to O&O Electrics for overseeing the electrical safety.
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A parcel for Mr Aditi Satija has been misdelivered, if you know of the recipient can you let Sally Tipple know please.

Thanks

We would just like to Thank everyone who attended our Fundraiser for the Church on the 7th October in our Beautiful Church followed by Canapes & Fizz in the Reading Room afterwards.
 
A total of £503.78 was raised for the Church.
 
Special Thanks to our talented Musicians in the Village, Lynette, Katherine, Oliver, Russ, Anna, Joanna, Glyn & Nick. You all entertained us with such a professional standard of delightful & varied music.
 
The Church looked beautiful and we thank Mandy and her team for making it look so welcoming with all the hedgerow flowers & greenery along with the lights both inside and out. Thanks also to Melissa who helped with the canapes and our able Barmen Robbie & Mike.
 
Thank you again to everyone who helped us make it such a splendid evening for our Village.
A True Community Event.
 
Pam & Pauline
 
The Community Fund supported this event by contributing to some of its cost. If you or anyone you know would like to organize an event the Community Fund can help fund it. It could be anything: a sporting club, a film night or a celebration. We are here as a group to enable fun things to happen in our Village. If you have children who would like to start a group we would be happy to help fund its start up.
 
If you need our help contact one of our members.
Sylvia Athawes, Pauline Durham, Steve McNally, Pam Smith, Annabelle Zinovieff. 
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The Act of Remembrance will take place as usual at the War Memorial at 12 noon.  Revd Maureen will officiate in the short service.

Those who are new to the village may not know that the timing of this is determined by the fact that Revd Maureen has to take a ceremony in each of the four parishes in the Benefice on this day, so she is kept very busy!

We hope to see you there.

Faringdon Writers are holding an Independent Book Fair on Saturday 12th November, 10am -2pm, in the Corn Exchange, Faringdon. This is for traditionally and self-published local authors of fiction, non-fiction and poetry who are unable to access the more prestigious literary festivals, giving them a chance to showcase and share what they do with a wider audience. With books for all ages to enjoy there will be something for the whole family. So, pop a note on your calendar and come along to meet the writers - we would love to see you. It might just be the perfect place to pick up that Christmas gift for a friend or loved one. Free admission! Refreshments available.

With Christmas just around the corner, plans are gathering pace for the traditional Great Coxwell  Christmas Eve Procession and Barn Service. One thing we're missing is three people to join the marshaling team. 
 
The role of marshals is vital, in order to ensure we are meeting the health and safety actions we have listed in our risk assessment for the council. All you need to do is don a high-vis jacket and grab a torch (these items can be supplied if you don't have them) and help to keep the procession moving in a safe, orderly and timely fashion between the bottom of the village at 5.30pm and the Barn, where the service will start at 6.00pm.
 
Please email [email protected] if you would like to volunteer to be a marshal.