Quiz Night Weds 10th 7pm Malt Shovel Men's Group Thurs 11th 7pm Village Hall Fête Meeting Thurs 11th 8pm Malt Shovel Coffee Morning Sat 13th 11am Village Hall Pebbles Sun 14th 10.30am Village Hall Friendship Club Tues 19th 2.30pm Trevose Pebbles Sun 28th 10.30am Village Hall Pilates Tuesdays 8pm Village Hall Toddler Group Thursdays 10-11.30am Village Hall Mobile Library Thursdays 4th and 25th
The present cold spell has seen the village littered with unemptied recycling bins and decorative snowmen. It has become almost compulsory to feed the local bird population and a fringe benefit of this is the unusual sightings of unfamiliar species.
In my own garden there has been a daily visit by Herons, Moorhens and Jays who are unfamiliar to the regular Sparrows, Blackbirds, Blue-tits and Chaffinches. The aggressive Starlings keep the more low-profile Wrens, Song Thrushes and Dunnocks around my hen-run. Woodpeckers and Nuthatches have also been a bonus; many people have rung me about other sightings.
On the Banbury Road, which backs onto open country, Buzzards have been eating their prey close to houses and rather scarce Bullfinches and Linnets have appeared. This year I have seen few Greenfinches, though, and Waxwings have probably decided to stay in Scandinavia.
Fieldfares and Redwings, having stripped the berries from hedgerows, are now enjoying frozen windfall apples.
There is a moratorium on some shoots and the sight of Pheasants outside the village hall and on my lawn bears this out. Around the sewage outlet near the public footpath towards the Army Camp there are groups of Snipe and Woodcock because it still has an unfrozen water outlet running. These species get rarer each year and I feel that they should be added to the protected lists; they are a beneficial species which do not deserve to be shot after a long migration. The Quail was once common and is slowly recovering, though will never return to pre-war numbers.
Having plucked the last of my pre-freeze pheasants, I decided to try putting out their guts on a field. Within twenty minutes, two Buzzards had arrived and later a Raven finished off the last bits. In High Wycombe I know they put chicken pieces out for the Kites, so it works: the keen eyesight of Raptors misses nothing on the ground!
As I write, a thaw has begun but the hard weather is sure to return. Yet nil desperandum - we may see the first snowdrops soon...
Bernard Price
The Library will visit Gaydon on Thursdays 4th and 25th of February.
There will be another meeting to try and decide whether there are enough people who want to run a village fête in Gaydon in 2010.
The fête is usually towards the end of the summer term and a venue would have to be found. Only four people came to the last meeting - not enough to run a good fête, the more people involved, the more fun it is and not so much hard work!
If you think we should have a fête in Gaydon this year then come to the Malt Shovel on Thursday 11 February at 8.00pm.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 16th February at 2.30pm at Trevose, Kineton Road, by kind invitation of Mrs Pauline Layton.
The next event is on Thursday February 11th - 7.00 for 7.30pm at the village hall. Our speaker will be Mr John Hoyte who will do a talk entitled 'Aerotoxic Syndromes'.
No, I don't know what it is either, so come and listen, enjoy the company of the usual culprits and nearly the best cuisine in Gaydon!
To confirm, just give me (David Faulkner) a call on 01926 691191, if possible by Monday of that week; and don't forget to bring a plate, bowl and cutlery.
Gaydon Village Store have a fundraising Quiz Night set for Wednesday 10 February from 7pm in the Malt Shovel. Tickets are £15 per head (teams of 4) and the price includes a two course meal. Further details can be obtained from the Malt Shovel on 641221.
Gaydon Village Hall on Saturday 13 February at 11am with Home-made cakes and jam; Bring and Buy; Raffle.
Come and meet your fellow villagers over a cup of coffee and a biscuit! Contributions of produce or superfluous gifts will be most welcome and you can have a flutter on our excellent raffle if you are feeling lucky.
Last year we raised over £300 towards the church fabric fund and I would like to thank everyone who came along to the coffee mornings.
Mary Fox
The lease agreement has now been completed and I am delighted to say that we have now secured an additional £10,000 funding from Warwickshire County Council. This means that we have enough money to start fitting out the barn and work will begin as soon as tradesmen can be lined up.
We have a fundraising quiz night set for Wednesday 10 February in the Malt Shovel. Tickets are £15 per head (teams of 4) and the price includes a two course meal. Further details can be obtained from the Malt Shovel.
We also plan to have a Murder Mystery evening on 13th April in the Village Hall. Tickets are £25 per head and include a 3 course meal (bring your own drinks). Places are limited to 40 in total. Please ask either Bev Pirie or Debi Morisot for further details.
I look forward to seeing you at the quiz night and thank you for your continued support in this project. As ever, shares in the shop are still available to purchase at £10 each. Please see our website www.gaydonvillagestore.co.uk for further details. Claire Hamm
The PCC has applied for a grant of £15,000 from BIFFA to help with the £30,000 cost of repairing the West Window.
Investigations are to be made into the possibility of repairing the lantern over the porch door: offers of help gratefully received.
A vote of thanks was given to Rev. Philip Francis for his ministry over the past years and we wished him well as he follows his calling into his new ministry in the army chaplaincy.
February Half Term Activities
18 February
Valentine-themed craft activities for all the family in our Education Room from 11am to 3pm. Normal museum admission prices apply and children must be supervised at all times. For more information visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.
21 February
'Who Wars'
Beware of the dark side! The museum will be invaded by Dr. Who and Star Wars characters... includes photo opportunities, trade stands and themed family activities in the Education room 11am - 3pm.
Normal museum entry prices apply. For more information visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.
Flirtatious Fondue with Strawberries
Ingredients
150g/5oz plain chocolate, e.g. Green and Black's, broken into pieces
200ml/7fl oz double cream
15g/½oz butter
1-2 tbsp Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1 large punnet of lush, ripe strawberries, long-stemmed if possible
Method
1. Place the chocolate, cream, butter and Cointreau or Grand Marnier in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water and leave until the chocolate and butter have melted. Stir until mixed together and transfer to a small fondue bowl over a lit fondue heater.
2. Wash the strawberries and pat dry. Holding on to the stalks, dip them into the fondue.
7 8.00 Eucharist Burton Dassett
10.00 Eucharist Fenny Compton
11.15 Morning Service Gaydon
11.30 Eucharist Farnborough
14 9.00 Eucharist Fenny Compton
10.00 Morning Service Farnborough
10.00 Eucharist Northend
11.15 Growing Together Gaydon
6.00pm Evening Service Burton Dassett
21 8.00 Eucharist Farnborough
9.00 Eucharist Gaydon
10.30 Eucharist Fenny Compton
10.30 Eucharist Northend
28 9.30 Eucharist Northend
10.30 Family Service Fenny Compton
11.30 Family Eucharist Gaydon
6.00pm Evening Service Farnborough
Flood Defence
We are actively pursuing this.
Allotments
A neighbouring parish has said that it has spare allotment plots for any residents in Gaydon who would like one. The cost is £25 per annum. Please contact the Clerk if you are interested.
Parish Plan
A number of residents have come forward but we would like more. If you are interested in the future of our village please come along to the Parish Plan meeting which will be arranged shortly.
2010/2011 Precept
With rising costs the Parish Council has had no option but to increase the precept by 2%.
Banbury Road Lay-by
Following an incident whereby a lorry attempted to exit the lay-by northwards and dislodged the kerbstones, Highways have decided to remove the kerbstones to make the turning circle wider for lorries. They will also be conducting a safety assessment on whether there is a need for a barrier along the footpath opposite the lay-by. A large refuse bin will be placed in the lay-by and we hope that people will use it.
Christmas Hamper
Ellis Machinery kindly donated a hamper to the Parish Council which was passed to Barnfield, Church Lane. The Parish Council would like to thank Ellis Machinery for their kindness.
Next Meeting
Thursday, 4th March at 7.30pm.
The Parish Council has decided to change the day it meets from a Tuesday to a Thursday and to also start the meeting earlier at 7.30pm.
We welcome Steven, Natalie and Louis Pettie who have recently moved to Church Road; and Keith Liss and family who have just moved in opposite them. We hope they will all enjoy life in Gaydon!
A big Thank You to all my customers for my Christmas gifts and wishing you a Happy New Year, from Andrew the Paperman.
Everyone at Barnfield would like to thank villagers for all the kind gifts received during the festive season.
John and Helen thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas lunch in the Village hall and would like to say 'Well done!' to everyone involved with it. The Carol Singing evening was very much enjoyed by all at Barnfield - we can't wait for next year! Thank you again. Helen Thornton
The Gaydon Inn is being refurbished!
We now have Central Heating and the Red external colour is going to be replaced by Cream!
Come along and see the improvements!
Friday 5th February
Spanish Night
Join us for a variety of different Spanish dishes from 6pm - 9pm
Book your table now!
Friday 12th February
Bingo, Horse Race and Quiz Night -
A full fun packed evening in aid of the Charity Wish House!
Starts at 7.30pm
Saturday 13th - Sunday 14th February
Valentine's Weekend
Join us this Valentine's weekend - Fantastic food and beverages!
Saturday 27th February
Live Music -
Lou James Singing Live at 8.30pm
Telephone 640388 for more information.
Activities for children take place in the Village Hall on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 10.30am.
There are refreshments before they go over to the church to join in the family service.