Hello all.
 
It's Virginia Jealous here. (Yes, that really is my name.) I was born in 1960 in Manor Cottage, baptised in St Giles, went to school at Ferndale and the Elms in Faringdon, and moved out of the village in 1971. I've been based in Australia since 1983. Long time ago...
 
I now unexpectedly and wonderfully find myself back in the village, house-sitting Chapel House while the family are away. I'll be here until late August, I think. I'm making some strange and wonderful (re)connections with place and people - thanks so much to those who I've accosted in passing and who have already shared memories and hospitality! It's very interesting to view such a specific part of childhood through adult eyes.
 
I'd be very happy to catch up with anyone in the village who'd like to revisit - however briefly - that different country of the past. These are only some of the names/events that have stuck with me over the years: 

• we village kids included Teagle, Halsall, Hutchinson, van Tinteren, Maitland, Austin, Yates and more
• the 'grown ups' included Morses, Goulds, Payne, Hawkins, King, Scott, Miles, Vines, Nias (we 'Mr and Mrs'd' them then - no idea of first names)
• BBC filming a TV production of 'Beowulf' in the Barn in the late 1960s (?). We kids were extras - serving 'wenches' and such
• bellringers in the church
• carol singing 
• group camping at Badbury Clump to listen to nightingales
• the fab heritage apple tree at Manor Cottage, drooping over the wall, taken down shortly after we left I think
• that Simon and Garfunkel song 'April Come She Will' and its association with Gt Coxwell
• etc etc etc

Do please drop by or leave a note in the letterbox if you'd like to get in touch. Fingers crossed!
 
Virginia
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​Faringdon and the local area has a wealth of writing talent. To support this Faringdon Writers are holding their annual Book Fair on Saturday 22nd November in the Corn Exchange, Faringdon from 10.00am-3.00pm. This is for published and self-published local authors of fiction, non-fiction and poetry who are unable to access the more prestigious literary festivals, thereby giving them a chance to showcase and share what they do with a wider audience. If you are interested in having a table at this event please get in touch at [email protected] for further details.

Please note this event gets more popular each year and there are a limited numbers of tables so do not delay. With books for all this is always a popular place for people to pick up those Christmas gifts that are a little bit different.
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Faringdon Writers would like to invite you to participate in their annual Short Story competition. 

This year’s theme is  ’The Bell’  so let your imaginations ring out.

Open to all members of the local community both young, old and in between. So have a go and send us your stories.

There are three age groups: Child (age 5-11) 500 words,  Youth (age 12-17) 1000 words. and Adult (18+) 1500 words.

All entries are free and the Deadline for entries is 5th October 2025

Each winner will have their story published in the next Voices from Faringdon Anthology with a display in Faringdon Library during December.

Winners and runners-up of each age group will be announced at the Faringdon Writers Book Fair on Saturday 22rd November in the Corn Exchange, Faringdon.

For further information and full rules please email: [email protected]
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I would like to thank everyone of you who contributed to yet another successful Art Weeks in our lovely Village. Many of you made cakes and worked a shift in our pop up cafe. Others contributed items of food or made a cash donation  for us to buy various items of food for the Cafe. 
We were very lucky with the weather, staying dry both weekends and therefore had a constant stream of visitors to the Art Weeks exhibition and our Pop Up Cafe. We now have regular visitors who come every year to support the Artists and come to enjoy the wonderful food in our cafe (their words -not mine). 
This year we took a total of £2735 and covered all our expenses with the Cash Donations   we received. The only Bill we have to pay is the Reading Room Hire. This means that we are able to pay £2500+ to the Community Fund. 
The Community Fund monies are all spent within the Village. If you wish to set up a group we are happy to support you. This year has seen an Art Group set up and a monthly Men's Night. 
If you have any ideas of something you would like to see in the Village and need help please contact one of the Community Fund Group. On this note I would like to wish a fond farewell to Annabelle who is leaving us and was one of the Founder Members of Art Weeks & The Community Fund. She will be sadly missed. 
Thank You all once again and without you all it would not  be the great success it continues to be.  
Pam 

Saturday 31st May 2025
11.00 am at Foxley
Jane is having a
PLANT SALE
Garden Plants, Succulents, House Plants
As well as Tomatoes
And annual bedding plants, cosmos, tobacco plants etc.
All Proceeds for St Giles Church
 
Also
You are warmly invited to a
Farewell ‘Drop In’ Open House for Pat Cook
Wednesday 4th June 2025
From 10.30 in the Reading Room
For Coffee etc 
No need to book                                     All Welcome
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Please make a note of this date:
 
Saturday 7th June 5.00 pm
 
Special ‘Farewell Village Barbecue’ for Pat Cook
 
More details to follow shortly
Contact: Sylvia
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Jane is taking orders for her tomato plants now – the  usual range of varieties  will be ready in two weeks‘  time.  Geraniums, Gazanias, French and African marigolds and tobacco plants will be available then as well.

Ready now are Cosmos, Sunflowers  and Petunias, all being sold from Foxley  (pink cottage towards the bottom of the village) in aid of St Giles church.   01367 241367. 
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"Art Weeks" is happening on:

• 10th & 11th May
  
• 17th & 18th May

As usual we are looking for people to help us in our pop-up cafe in the Reading Room and to bake lots of cakes. We are looking to cover 34 shifts and we need 40 cakes.

Money raised is paid into the Community Fund. This money is all spent on various projects for the benefit of the Village. Over the past few years we have raised over £22,000.

This year we have spent money painting the railings of the Reading room, a new kitchen floor, planting the flowerbeds, supporting the new Art Group, Men's Night and the The Christmas Fayre.

If you are able to work a shift, bake a cake or give a donation of food please contact Pam on 01367 240233 / 07443 636497 or email [email protected]

It is fun but we need your help!
 
Thanks
Pam

Find attached a flyer for a fundraiser concert at Longcot Church.