www.roundandabout.co.uk

R O U N D & A B O U T Magazine

abingdon / kingston bagpuize MAY 2023

FEST friends A round-up of 2023’s summer festivals

there's no place like home Love where you live but in need of a freshen up or is it time to move? open studios & pop-up exhibitions

More than 100 artists in Abingdon and the villages welcome you in to browse, chat and buy their work

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W HAT ' S I N SI D E

Contents MAY 2023 | Vol. 30 | No. 5

5 Community spotlight

27 Festival fun & frolics

6 Quilters spell it out

34 A safe & loving home

8 Studios and exhibitions

38 Older & wiser

15 Love where you live

42 Classics and premières

20 Big Beer Bash

48 Classified

Local news and charity events

Alphabet inspiration

Oxfordshire Artweeks

Home is where the heart is

Tasty tipples at TOAD

Windows

Get out your wellies & rock

Foster Care Fortnight

8

Noel Gallagher Q&A

English Music Festival

38

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AB OUT US

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The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted without prior permission. The publishers cannot accept liability for loss or damage of material submitted to the magazine. LOOSE INSERTS delivered with your copy of Round & About have absolutely nothing to do with the magazine. Our inserts are secured into the magazine with staples. WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OTHERS. Round & About Publications Ltd does not endorse any advertisements published in Round & About Magazine. Please note all phone calls to and from Round & About are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

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ON MAY

Your Community events and activities

Far-flung holidays are fabulous, but a fine summer's day in an English country garden (well, field) will lift spirits even higher. Throw in beats, best buddies & beer and you're on to a winner. I was off to volunteer at Glastonbury next month before deciding the whole palaver was too overwhelming. This month brings Coronation parties, an extra bank holiday & the start of festival season. ome legends are set to dazzle, from Grace Jones at Hampton Court to Guns n’ Roses at Hyde Park and The Chemical Brothers on the Isle of Wight. But our festivals guide is also about celebrating the great & the good closer to home, such as FleurFest, The English Music Festival & Truck... ˜˜˜ St Helen's Church, Abingdon, will welcome you for a service at 7.30pm on Friday, 5th May, to celebrate the coronation and pray for King Charles III as he begins his reign. As part of the Big Help Out, the church will also host an open volunteer day on 8th May, 10am to 1pm. Pop by to find out about all the activities – maybe you'd like to learn about bell ringing? Could you help lead tours of the church? Have you always wanted to learn about flower arranging? Do you have experience in fund raising? How about joining the choir? There will be craft for children, a quiz, music, and bacon butties and homemade refreshments for sale. ˜˜˜ May is such an arty month. From 7th to 13th May, the Abbey group will hold their Oxon Artweeks exhibition at St Nicolas Church;

˜˜˜ My local hero of the month is Charlotte Storrs whose pottery at 8 The Green in Culham, OX14 4LZ is the perfect day out. She’ll welcome visitors for Oxfordshire Artweeks, from 6th to 14th May (which includes Coronation Day and bank holiday), except Weds 10th & Thurs 11th May) 11am-6pm, site 28. Children are welcome and can have a go on the swings or slide. Visitors might like a beaker of home-pressed apple juice, wander around the garden and look at the hydroponic greenhouse. Charlotte will also exhibit with a number of local artists at the Earth Trust Gallery in Little Wittenham. For info visit charlottestorrs-stoneware.co.uk & follow @charlotte.storrs on Instagram.

2-5pm on Sunday, 10am-5pm at all other times. Artists include Claire Cross, Margaret Horton, Connie Addison, glass artist Chris Eccles and potter Mags Cuttle. There will be lots to look at and buy, including paintings, prints, cards, glass works and ceramics. Entry free, all welcome. ...Continued on page 10.

d

Tell us about your group’s activities by 4th May. Email [email protected] Scan our QR code to download the new R&A App and connect with your community All information correct at time of going to press – check with event organisers before travelling.

R&A | 5

QUI LT IN G

Perfect patch Check out Abingdon Quilters’ Alphabet Exhibition at the Abingdon Museum over the next two months. Judy Harris tells us more ighteen members of Abbey, Fitzharrys & Barns Café Quilters have been inspired by the alphabet in its many forms and have an exciting exhibition in the museum from the until 25th June.

buildings, local gems like Masons shop, the Thames and many other subjects, accompanied by a quiz to entertain the eagled eyed!

Each panel is a gem, so different from each other and varying from a brilliant Abbey Road zebra crossing with characters from the past inspired by the Stratton Way underpass, to some of our beautiful

We are also delighted to be part of ArtWeeks (Site 19) and you can find information in the guide and online.

We have risen to the creative challenge of interpreting alphabets and letters using many techniques. Both modern and medieval letters are depicted, whole alphabets in books and quilts and a tactile version devised for blind children.

There are demonstrations in the museum and hand sewing workshops in the basement. To book a workshop please call 01235 523703. The museum is open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday and on bank holiday Mondays. The exhibition is on the first floor of the museum and sadly does not have disabled access.

We have a joint project, an Abingdon Alphabet of the history, people and places of our town.

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ARTWE E KS

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This year, Oxfordshire Artweeks, the UK’s oldest and biggest artist open studios event bursts into life on 6th May with a festival that promises to be fit for a king cross the county you’ll find hundreds of open studios and pop-up exhibitions as artists and makers open their doors and welcome, for free, anyone who would like to see their art and chat about their materials, methods and inspiration. From the traditional to the contemporary and multidisciplinary, there’s something to delight, intrigue and inspire everyone. Explore painting, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking; look out for fashion and furniture; discover glass art, mosaics and other marvels; and perhaps choose a treasure or two to take home. This year in Abingdon and surrounding villages over 100 artists are throwing open the doors of 30 venues from 6th-14th May, with new places and people to see alongside the ever-popular spots including St Nicholas Church and the Sewell Centre Gallery at Radley College. You’ll find the Abingdon Quilters in the Abingdon Museum, the Oxon Artmakers in The Abbey Cinema, a celebration of Chinese Brush Painting in all its styles, on paper and on silk, at 35 Ock Street and a Goat with a Pearl Earring sculpture at Peachcroft Farm alongside a wide range of art and jewellery. The Charter Studios in The Charter on Broad Street also welcome you – it’s a space reanimated by Makespace Oxford who are on a mission to transform empty and underused spaces in local urban centres. Nearby, in St Ethelwold’s House on East St Helen’s Street, alongside regular exhibitor artist Caroline 8 | MAY 2023

Harben, you’ll find newcomer Emma Williams whose semi-abstracted mixed media paintings are colourful and vibrant, often based on ‘sunprints’ and reminiscent of surface pattern and textile design. Others use natural pigments and materials such as real indigo, true sepia, foraged chalk and sea salt to create intriguing patterns and vivid contrast, a shorthand for the landscapes they represent. Jan Morter and Julie Edge are two new exhibitors hosting a show with a botanical theme on St John’s Road: enjoy paintings with abstract landscape elements drawn from the coast and wild places alongside bold and stylish jugs for flowers, lamps and bird feeders, all hand-thrown and fired in Abingdon. On Suffolk Way, Oxford Wood Recycling present art from local children who have interpreted what it means to ‘Reduce, Reuse, Repair’ whilst in Culham, photographer Daniel Taylor is holding an exhibition of both landscape and abstract photography in the 179-year-old railway station and popular potter Charlotte Storrs welcomes you into studio, her greenhouse gallery and her riverside garden. Whether you’re an enthusiastic day-tripper or an experienced art collector there’s plenty to catch your eye so get your hands on a copy of the festival guide from the library or other local information point or browse the full exhibition listings at artweeks.org and get out and explore. Check out the online showcase at artweeks.org/latestshow for starters.

R&A | 9

SPOTLIG HT

á ...Continued from page 5. ˜˜˜ Thanks to Radley History Club, on 8th May (after King Charles's coronation, with celebratory drinks too) Josie Midwinter will recollect Growing Up In A 1950s Corner Shop, 7.30-9pm at St James the Great Church. Josie’s parents, Henry and Esther, ran Midwinter’s Grocery Shop in Didcot opposite the railway station. Josie, a retired Church of England minister, has returned to her roots in Didcot and will recall memories and the role of corner shops at that time. Non-members welcome; £2.50 donation towards the meeting costs appreciated. Doors will open at 7pm.

Radley Retirement Group will celebrate the King's coronation with a party on Tuesday, 9th May, at 2pm in Radley Village Hall. For this month only it will be a ticket-only event. However open to all is a visit to the Glenn Miller Museum near Bedford, and Milton Keynes, on Tuesday 14th May. Tickets for this are £27 for members and £29 for non-members from Graham on 01235 555187 or [email protected]. NB: the museum is a cash-only venue. ˜˜˜

Meet local author Steve King at Abingdon Library on Thursday, 11th May, at 6pm, when he will talk about his latest book Now I Grow Oranges: a detailed, painstakingly researched and passionately written account of one man’s journey from childhood in Abingdon through to his WW2 conscription and involvement with kidnapping of Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann…is this story fact or fiction? Tickets are £2pp including a free glass of wine, from the library or call 01235 520374. ˜˜˜

˜˜˜ Ewelme Horticultural Society's annual plant sale in Ewelme Village Hall on 13th May, 10am-1pm, will offer a huge selection of good quality bedding and perennial plants, vegetables, herbs and hanging baskets, at competitive prices, light refreshments and a raffle. ˜˜˜ The Isis Chamber Orchestra will perform at All Saints Church in Marcham from 7.30pm on 20th May, including Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.3 (includes Air on a G String), Handel’s Water Music and Haydn’s Symphony No.88, conducted by Neil Farrow. £15, £5 for under-16s. Please visit isischamberorchestra.org.uk ˜˜˜ The Abingdon branch of Riding for the Disabled will hold their annual fundraising plant sale with craft and children's stalls, a cake stall and refreshments on Sunday, 14th May, 10am to 1pm at Lower Lodge Riding Centre in Southmoor, OX13 5HW. If you have any enquiries email [email protected]

d...Continued on page 19.

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Think "chess on grass" and learn how to swing that mallet at Thames Valley Croquet Club at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club grounds at Hales Meadows, OX14 3HP, on Mondays & Fridays. For further information contact Lesley on 01235 835092 or Gillian on 01235 526033 or visit thamesvalleycroquetclub.co.uk ˜˜˜

On Monday, 15th May, at 7.30pm, the Abingdon branch of Berkshire Family History Society will enjoy a visit from star guest author and researcher Jenny Mallin after a short AGM. Her talk My Great Aunt Constance will give insight into her life as a woman of high social status as a wife of a British official during the days of the British Raj in India. The group meet at Long Furlong Community Centre in Abingdon. All welcome; £5pp.

˜˜˜

The RSPB Vale of White Horse Local Group will meet on Monday 15th May at 7.30 pm in the River Room, 4 Church Street, Sutton Courtenay, OX14 4NJ, for a members’ evening preceded by a short AGM. It will not be Zoomed. Visitors welcome; £5pp. For more info please call 01235 818072 or visit rspb-vwh.org.uk

˜˜˜

˜˜˜ Trinity Evergreen Club warmly welcomes all over-60s at the Conduit Centre, OX14 1DB, on the third Monday of the month, 2.30-4pm. On 15th May Ann

Latham will visit, with her poodle Mya, to talk about Pets As Therapy. Raffle, tea & biscuits. £1pp. Contact Tricia on 01865 736153 or [email protected] ˜˜˜ The ATOM Society brings you a fascinating talk by Prof Sally Shuttleworth at 7.30pm on Tuesday (new weekday this year!) 16th May in Abingdon United Football Club, OX14 1PL. Middle-class Victorians had always travelled in Europe, but from the 1860s there was a surge. Sally is Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, where she was previously Head of the Humanities Division. atomsociety.org.uk ˜˜˜ Downton To Gatsby: Jewellery & Fashion from 1890-1929 is the topic Andrew Prince will explore on 17th May as the guest of The Arts Society Abingdon at the Abbey cinema at 10.30am & 2pm. For the beloved TV series and film, Andrew was commissioned to make jewels for the main characters. Andrew will explore the extraordinary decades and events between 1890 and 1929, when the great couturiers collaborated with the finest of jewellers to produce jewels and clothes of outstanding quality and glittering opulence. For more details about this highlight please email info@ theartssocietyabingdon.org.uk

d...Continued on page 24.

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F OOD & DR IN K

Big Beer Bash Calling all real ale lovers! Make a date at the distillery to enjoy some tasty local brews op – on a bus – to TOAD (The Oxford Artisan Distillery) on Saturday, 20th May, to enjoy the best local brews in and around Oxford at the Big Oxford Beer Bash. The one-day festival celebrates the very best of local independent craft beers alongside food and festival vibes to ensure it’s a day you won’t want to miss.

beer”, along with the ales, there are a whole range of local food producers in the food market as well as a day of great live music from local bands. The Beer Bash is set in the beautiful grounds of the TOAD distillery in South Park. You can take a tour and meet Nautilus and Nemo and enjoy

a local gin in the historic Barn Bar. The Big Oxford Beer Bash is organised by the Oxford Brewers Alliance (oxfordbrewers.org), a co-operative of local breweries supplying beer into the city, all promoting quality real ale. Among its members are Abingdon-based Loose Cannon and White Horse Brewery at Stanford in the Vale. Doors open at TOAD from midday until 8pm, admission is just £12 and includes a special tasting glass. Be aware there is no parking so you’re advised to walk, use Thornhill Park and Ride or take the bus.

Take a walk along Beer Street packed full with brewery bars run by the brewers themselves and meet the artisans who lovingly craft the brews for you to sample as you interact and learn about the art of brewing.

Buy tickets from tickettailor.com/ events/bigoxfordbeerbash

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here is a great deal going on this month. For along with the usual two bank holiday Mondays that take place each May, we have an additional celebratory one on Monday 8th to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey two days earlier on 6th May. May is a significant month for us Methodists. We recall how at around 8.45pm on the evening of 24th May 1738 during a church meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, John Wesley felt his heart ‘strangely warmed’. At that moment in time and space, God became real to him. Each year on the closest Sunday to 24th May, Aldersgate Sunday is observed in the life of the Methodist Church. It gives us an opportunity to reflect on that pivotal moment in the life of John Wesley and its relevance to us today. That feeling of a warmed heart is of course not exclusive to those of faith. Over the years, countless people who do not attend church and have no allegiance to any particular religion have shared with me those profound moments and intense experiences when they have been stopped in their tracks and, for a while, been aware of that which is beyond what can be seen, known or explained. Those breath-taking moments of awe, wonder, beauty, magnificence and splendour that transcend the ordinary and the everyday, help us to reach out beyond the limits of who we are to something far greater. Whatever we find ourselves doing this May, however we will be spending our bank holiday Mondays, may we be aware of those moments of wonder that break into our lives and, in doing so, warm our hearts and make the world a better place. Revd Keith Underhill, Methodist Churches, Wantage and Abingdon Circuit

22 | MAY 2023

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SPOTLIG HT

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˜˜˜ Jim Moray's 21st anniversary tour is a celebration of two decades of his innovative and genre-defying approach to folk music. He will play at Abingdon Unicorn Theatre on Thursday, 18th May. Doors 7pm. Tickets £16.50: please call 01235 525339 to buy yours. ˜˜˜ St Helen’s Church Dry Sandford Restoration Appeal Concert generously put on and performed by pupils and staff of Cothill House and choristers from New College, Oxford. The choral performance will be held at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, OX14 1DS, on Friday, 19th May, from 7.30pm. The evening of classical music is free to attend with a retiring collection in aid of St Helen’s Church Dry Sandford Restoration Project. ˜˜˜ The Environmental Debate Live and Unscripted on Saturday, 27th May, 3.30-9pm at Bothy Vineyard promises to stretch your thinking, explore opportunities and delve deep into the issues of food and water. Guest panellists Tommy Serafinski of Tommy's Outdoors podcast, Oliver O'Dell of Smart Greens UK, and Richard Benwell of Wildlife and Countryside Link will star, and you can enjoy a guided walk. There’s also an optional buffet meal cooked by Earth Ale who are based on site. For more info and tickets, visit bitly.ws/zBBc

˜˜˜ More people are trying Nordic Walking, and realising they can use their whole body to propel themselves by use of poles. It’s like having an extra pair of legs; posture, balance, breathing, with less perceived effort. Head to Sutton Courtenay Recreation Ground, OX14 4AR, and be taught for free, all included! Contact Graham on [email protected] to book a one-to-one on a Wednesday or Friday from 9.30am, and then join in the walks, if you wish. ˜˜˜ Northcourt Centre in Abingdon will host another quiz night to raise funds for the upkeep of the building on 9th June, from 7pm. £12pp to include a pizza supper. There will be also be a bar. Cash only please. To book a table for four please contact Jenny Ward on [email protected] or 01235 52843. ˜˜˜ On Sunday, 18th June, from 10.30am, Ros Biggs will welcome you for a Doggy Treasure Hunt and Fun Day with agility and a dog show at the football club in Long Wittenham, OX14 4QW, with walkies fun to raise funds for Beagle Welfare (registered charity number 328633). There will also be a marquee full of stalls, games, tombola and competitions plus a bar and barbecue. Visit beaglewelfare.org.uk for more info.

d...Continued on page 32.

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Summer is on its way which means festivals season! Here’s our guide to the best festivals near & far

& re you ready for the buzz of live music? Thousands of people are busy behind the scenes, preparing another summer of love, with something for everyone. Are You Listening? Black Honey, Thomas Headon & dozens more will rock Reading in aid of Mencap on 6th May; areyoulistening.org.uk Cookham Festival is a celebration of the arts by the village for the village, 6th to 22nd May. Enjoy music, spoken word, workshops, kids’ fun, sculpture & more; visit cookhamfestival.co.uk

Family & planet-friendly WOOD returns to Ipsden, 19th-21st May; woodfestival.com And Let’s Rock the Moor in Cookham on 21st May offers OMD, Roland Gift, Kim Wilde, Space, Soul II Soul & more; letsrockthemoor.com Classical music fans will love the 16th English Music Festival at Dorchester Abbey, 26th -29th May; englishmusicfestival.org.uk “Probably the finest free music and beer festival in the world...” Rokefest will rock its new home The Chequers, at Berrick Salome, near

And arrive thirsty for Twyford Beer Festival, raising money for male cancer charity Orchid, 9th & 10th June; twyfordbeerfest.co.uk Scouting For Girls, The Feeling and Barrioke, (with Shaun Williamson) will make for a great Fi.Fest in Maidenhead on 8th July; fifest.co.uk

direct

Join Tom Kerridge & foodie friends for Pub In The Park Marlow, 18th-21st May. The shindig also has a sizzling music line-up, too, including Sugababes, The Jacksons, Tinie Tempah, a Dick & Dom DJ set, Ministry Of Sound Disco and Bananarama. pubintheparkuk.com/marlow

Wallingford, 26th-28th May, with great bands & more, all for great causes; rokefest.com

Jungle Brothers, Professor Green, Sleeper, Roni Size & many more will dazzle at Readipop in Caversham, 14th-16th July. Established in 1998, the highlight helps vulnerable young people and older folk, plus aspiring artists; readipop.co.uk

Royal Blood, The Vaccines, alt-J, Shy FX & David Rodigan are among the delights Truck is packing, 21st-23rd July in Steventon; truckfestival.com Richard Ashcroft, plus Ocean Colour Scene & The Sherlocks, will star at Englefield House in Berkshire on Saturday, 22nd July. Hozier will star with Far From Saints on 23rd. Pre-register for tickets at arep.co/p/richard-ashcroft

R&A | 27

F ESTI VALS

WIN!

For tickets & full festivals guide, visit roundandabout. co.uk

Live

August will star Soft Cell, The Boomtown Rats, and many more; south.rewindfestival.com Boomtown will boom on the theme of The Gathering, 9th-13th August in Hampshire’s Matterley Estate; boomtownfair.co.uk

& Our fave bash (and that of our cover star Noel) PennFest is back in Bucks on 21st & 22nd July. As well as Mr G’s High Flying Birds, Johnny Marr will star, along with Gaz Coombes, Bad Manners, DJ Fresh & many more. pennfest.co.uk Marvellous will offer mighty tribute acts including T*Rextasy and Coldplace & fun, 22nd & 23rd July in Hurst; marvellousfestivals.com

direct

Fairport Convention will star at the Fleur De Lys in East Hagbourne on 23rd July ahead of FleurFest, the community institution, 28th30th July, along with Scott Doonican, Gregg Cave & more; thefleurdelyspub.co.uk

28 | MAY 2023

Wilderness, at Oxfordshire’s Cornbury Park, 3rd-6th August, offers The Chemical Brothers, Christine & The Queens, Fatboy Slim, feasting, mindblowing boutique camping options, theatre & more; visit wildernessfestival.com Fancy a trip to the past, maybe with a hair do to match? Enjoy vintage steam at Retrofestival in Newbury, 11th-13th August; retrofestival.co.uk Towersey Festival will impress with comedy, music & fun, 25th-28th August near Buckingham, including The Proclaimers, Frank Turner & The Divine Comedy; towerseyfestival.com Reading (& Leeds) is back to rock the August bank holiday weekend, 25th-27th August. Sam Fender, FOALS, Loyle Carner, Billie Eilish & The Killers are on the line-up; readingfestival.com Love cars, love music? Then you’ll love CarFest, the family music & motoring festival founded by Chris Evans in 2011, at Laverstoke Park, 27th-29th August; carfest.org

Rag’n’Bone Man, Westlife, Nile Rodgers, Ministry of Sound Classical, the Kanneh-Mason Trio and Jack Dee, as well as an Aretha Franklin celebration will make for another great Henley Festival, 6th-10th July; henley-festival.co.uk

Big Feastival on Alex James’ Cotswolds farm will serve family fun, food and frolics, 25th27th August. Justin Fletcher will delight along with Sigrid, Rick Astley, Blossoms, Melanie C & a DJ set from Hot Chip. at thebigfeastival.com

Stowaway near Buckingham will stimulate all the senses, starring David Rodigan, Irvine Welsh, Little Dragon, with feasting, revelry & more, 18th-20th August; stowawayfestival.co.uk

Wallingford’s BunkFest is in its 21st year. The free-access community festival returns with its winning brew of beer, music and dance, 1st-3rd September; bunkfest.co.uk

Retro fave Rewind South in Henley 18th-20th

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SPOTLIG HT

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˜˜˜ Female a cappella chorus Harmony InSpires will welcome you on the first Wednesday of each month, 7.15-10pm at the Marcham Centre. For more info please email [email protected] ˜˜˜ VOWH Ramblers have five Thursday morning walks this month, across the Vale including start places in Abingdon, Faringdon & Wantage. The bluebells of Badbury Clumps are the destination on the first Thursday of the month. For details of these and more visit ramblers-oxon.org.uk/vwh/walking/walks ˜˜˜ Do you care about the way health and social care services are run in Oxfordshire? Would you like to play a part in making these services better for all? If so, Healthwatch Oxfordshire needs you to become a trustee! Healthwatch Oxfordshire is the county’s independent health and social care watchdog. If you want to make a difference locally and can spare around 20 hours of your time a year please consider joining Healthwatch Oxfordshire as a trustee. Applications are welcomed from people of all ages and backgrounds and no previous trustee experience is needed. Visit healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/news/ becomeatrustee or call 01865 520520.

˜˜˜ The Wallingford Chamber Music team are back with a summer season of nine concerts between now and September, all in the congenial setting of St Mary's Church Wallingford with an 8pm start. The first concert on 13th May welcomes back the ever-popular Sacconi Quartet & violist Philip Dukes for Mozart's Viola Quintet in G minor, and other works by Haydn and Caroline Shaw's Haydn minuet. The Mithras Piano Trio are next up on 3rd June, with works by Haydn, Tchaikovsky and the 20th century Armenian composer Arno Babadjanian. Book at wcm.org.uk or for any queries email [email protected] or call 07551 482678. There are benefits if you become a Friend; for this call Roger Morgan on 01491 837494. ˜˜˜ Blewbury Pre-School is a small, non-profit making, early years education setting that's served the community for 50+ years. Help them keep up this good work by enjoying a quiz & curry fundraiser at the village hall on Saturday, 20th May, at 7pm. There will also be a cash and card bar with all proceeds to Blewbury Pre-School. Tickets £22 including an excellent curry, prepared by Creative Catering, glass of fizz and fun quiz. Buy yours at preschoolfundraising.co.uk or Blewbury Post Office so get a team together and get revising!

d...Continued on page 40.

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R&A | 33

CARE

a life-changing difference

“Fostering is incredibly rewarding” is the message from Oxfordshire County Council ahead of Foster Care Fortnight, May 15th-28th

here are so many benefits of fostering, it can be positive for everyone involved, here a few reasons that may help you to take the first steps on your fostering journey. You’ll be giving a child a safe and loving home and keeping a child local. Our children may have experienced trauma and instability in their lives and being provided with a loving home can be a life-changing experience for them. As a foster carer, you can reassure them that they are now safe, and this will help them to thrive and grow. By fostering with Oxfordshire County Council, you will help more children stay in Oxfordshire, so they remain close to the things that are important to them, their friends, family and remain in their education setting. Fostering makes a life changing difference to the foster child as well as the carer and birth children. Fostering can also provide you and your family with a real sense of purpose. You have the opportunity to make a positive impact to the child and help them reach their full potential. Seeing the children grow into strong confident little people is a joy. When caring for a child who has faced trauma, you will be faced with challenges that help 34 | MAY 2023

you develop new strengths and broaden your mind. You will have access loads of training and information. And you will be working with a team of professionals who will provide you with valuable experience and knowledge that helps to you grow as a foster carer. You’ll be helping the community. By providing a stable and loving home for a child, you are making a real difference. You change the future for a child, which changes the future for us all. Michelle and Will from Oxford are new to fostering. They told us: “Our experience of fostering so far has been exciting and joyful. There has been lots to get our heads around, but we have been so well supported by our amazing social worker. The children who we have had the privilege of fostering so far have brought so much fun, laughter and purpose into our, we have absolutely no regrets. “Our advice to anyone thinking of fostering is to take your time to research and really think about it. Be reassured that there is lots of support out there for foster carers should you choose to take the plunge like we did. We’ve never looked back.” If you think fostering maybe for you, then we are here to help you get started. You will see such a positive difference to both you and your family.Get in touch on 0800 783 5724, email [email protected] and visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering

Fostering is rewarding Seeing children grow into strong confident little people is a joy.

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R&A | 35

COMPETITION S

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A Smeg espresso coffee machine in white, cream, black, red or pastel blue Create the perfect espresso, cappuccino, latte, or latte macchiato in the comfort of your own home with this Smeg appliance. Produce thick velvety foam using the adjustable wand which mixes steam, air, and milk. It features washable and durable stainless-steel filters and holders, friendly controls and a removable drip tray base to accommodate different mug sizes. Enter as above or visit shop.smeguk.com to browse & shop!

Win! Outstanding independent pet care for South Oxfordshire 24 hours a day www.larkmead.co.uk

A two-night, midweek B&B stay for up to four people at Little Barn in Kingham, Oxfordshire Little Barn is a new wooden-clad barn owned and run by renowned Cotswolds foodie pub with rooms, The Kingham Plough. Located 300m from the Plough in the centre of this idyllic village, Little Barn, comes with a fully fitted kitchen, wood-burning stove, king-sized suite and king/twin suite, and sun-drenched courtyard with BBQ outside. This perfect bright & airy bolthole costs from £375 a night on a B&B basis & our winners can enjoy hearty breakfasts at The Plough. Enter as above & find out more at thekinghamplough.co.uk Closing date for competitions is 12pm on Friday 26th May

36 | MAY 2023

R&A | 37

S TAR Q&A

Rock music legend & dad Noel Gallagher, 55, shares his thoughts ahead of his star turn at PennFest in Buckinghamshire this summer

Noel in one

Hello! You must be excited about playing songs from the new album Council Skies at PennFest. Any songs standing out as potential live favourites? “Well, I haven’t started rehearsing yet! I’d be amazed if Easy Now and Pretty Boy aren’t great live but, as of yet, we just don’t know.” Q. “Johnny Marr will be on stage just before you at PennFest. You’ve collaborated previously many times and he also plays on your new album. What was it about The Smiths you particularly loved..? And how does Johnny continue to inspire you? “Like all the great bands they had an undefinable thing. Yes, the tunes were undeniably great – and they were amazing live – but there was ‘something’ else. As for what that ‘something’ was? I still don’t know.” 38 | MAY 2023

Q. Apart from Johnny, who are you always happy to see backstage at a festival? “The Invisible Man.” Q. Council Skies is your first studio album in five years and the first you recorded at your own studio, Lone Star Sound. Has it always been an ambition to have your own studio and were you involved in kitting it out? “Yes and no. it was born out of necessity really. Luckily it sounds and feels and looks amazing.” Q. On Council Skies you write about themes of youthful yearning and unbridled ambition – can you reveal more? “It’s going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be… That’s as true to me now as it was in the early ‘90s. When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that. Top of the Pops on TV transformed your Thursday night into this fantasy world – and that’s what I think music should be. I want my music to be elevating and transforming in some way.” Q. How did the remix of recent single Pretty Boy by Robert Smith come about? Are you a fan of The Cure? “Well, I just asked him. I never thought he’d even listen to it, far less actually agree to do it. A lovely man. He’s from The north-west so I should have known he’d be cool as! I do love The Cure – one of THE great British guitar bands.” Q. Do you think you appreciate making music and touring more now than you did in the early days? “100%. Like life itself, one tends to appreciate things more the older and more handsome one gets.”  PennFest takes place on Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd July. To find out more and win tickets, please visit roundandabout.co.uk

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á ...Continued from page 32.

˜˜˜ There will be two Astons Online events in May. The monthly Zoom meeting on 9th, 10.30- 11.15am is about making the best use of ICT when on holiday; to book your place email theastonsonline@gmail. com. On 16th May, 10am-noon will be Astons Online’s monthly event in Astons Village Hall, OX11 9DQ. Please tell the team, if you can, that you’re going and wear a mask. Visit astonsonline.uk and email is [email protected] ˜˜˜ To get this season’s planting off to a flying start, on Saturday 20th May head to Bob’s Corner for Benson Garden Club’s annual plant sale, 9am to noon. This sale is always very popular and there will be a wide selection of plants, with advice on how to grow them. ˜˜˜ Howbery Business Park, in Crowmarsh, will welcome you for another free family-friendly tree trail during the May-June half term holidays. A free tree trail pack with map will be available from the Manor Café from Tuesday 30th May to Friday 2nd June, 9am-4pm. At the end of the trail, children can collect a small reward. Young children will need to be accompanied on the trail, as there are some roads and slow moving vehicles, and beehives.Visit howberypark.com

Window and door repairs

˜˜˜ The Friends of Ewelme Church have organised a talk in the church at 7.30pm on Thursday, 1st June, entitled Katherine Swynford: John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Mistress. The illustrated talk will be given by Alison Weir, who wrote the book of the same name, and her talk will focus on a fascinating period of history particularly significant to Ewelme. The Wallingford Bookshop will have a pop-up shop in the church and will be selling copies of some of Alison's many other books. Tickets available from March from ticketsource.co.uk/ friends-of-ewelme-church ˜˜˜ The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) is a national charity with an Oxfordshire support group. The ROS is a charitable organisation raising awareness about bone health and aiming at eradicating the many negative impacts of the condition, such as disability following fractures. Over the age of 50, osteoporosis (fragile bones that can cause fractures) affects half of women and one in five men. It also affects younger people. The local team of volunteers offer information about treatment and care, so you can get support and meet others with osteoporosis. To find out more, please call 07900 303510, email oxfordvolunteers@theros. org.uk or visit theros.org.uk

d...Continued on page 44.

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R&A | 41

MUS I C

English ensemble Dorchester Abbey will again be alive with the sound of musical masterpieces as the 16th annual English Music Festival takes centre stage highly anticipated visit by the BBC Concert Orchestra to perform major works by E. J. Moeran and Ralph Vaughan Williams, as well as world premières by William Lloyd Webber, William Alwyn and Paul Lewis are among the highlights of the English Music Festival.

A vibrant and varied programme for flute, oboe and piano comes from the French-Italian ensemble of Nicolas Vallette, Marika Lombardi and Agnès Bonjean on 28th; while a particular highlight of the Festival’s atmospheric lateevening concerts will be the superb young Portuguese guitarist Fábio Fernandes.

The festival from 23th to 26th May celebrates the brilliance, innovation, beauty and rich musical heritage of Britain with a strong focus on unearthing overlooked or forgotten masterpieces of the late-19th to mid-20th century.

Well-known to Oxfordshire audiences, and following their well-received recital at the EMF last year, tenor Daniel Norman and pianist Sholto Kynoch will present two of the most distinctive song cycles by British composers.

For the Festival’s opening concert in addition to three premières, EMF patrons will be making a special pilgrimage to Dorchester Abbey to hear a rare live performance of E.J. Moeran’s glorious Cello Concerto when soloist Raphael Wallfisch joins the BBC Concert Orchestra with conductor Martin Yates. Enjoy a pre-concert talk too.

Soprano Sara Stowe and pianist Charles Wiffen provide an opportunity to hear songs by Walter Leigh, amongst others, in their showcase of song; and a different tradition is celebrated by the British folk band Moonrakers, who will perform ancient mystical ballads.

Live choral music is to feature in two major programmes with The Godwine Choir and The Holst Orchestra bringing a programme of popular favourites. Vocal ensemble The Strand Consort end the Festival in style by celebrating the Coronation of Charles III with works including Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Mass in G minor, Hubert Parry’s I was Glad, and John Ireland’s The Hills. The Festival’s increasing international activity will be recognised by the presence of artists from across the world in Oxfordshire in May, including the brilliant South African pianist Peter Cartwright who will join the violinist Rupert Marshall-Luck in a showcase of music. 42 | MAY 2023

The EMF’s late-evening concerts are a very special feature of the Festival, the intimate warmth of Dorchester Abbey providing the perfect setting for audiences to relax and enjoy the lighter side of British composers. This year, seven-piece dance band The New Foxtrot Serenaders make a welcome return to showcase the golden age of dance-band music. The Guards Association Band will perform some much-loved favorites such as Malcolm Arnold’s vigorous English Dances, the imposing Suite from Things to Come by Arthur Bliss, Edward Elgar’s much-loved Salut d’Amour and Eric Coates’s bustling Knightsbridge. Further information, tickets and full programme please visit englishmusicfestival.org.uk

R&A | 43

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interesting cottage gardens. You can meet the garden owners, relax with tea and cake (£3), buy plants and, if time permits, visit the historic village church. Entry £6 on the day cash or card (under-14s free).

We hope you enjoy our Artweeks article. From 6th to 14th May head to The Clubhouse in Boham’s Road (opposite Savages), OX11 9HF, to enjoy textiles & embroidery by Yvette Phillips, paintings by Josie Clouting and collage & painting by Valentina Gonzalez. This light and welcoming space in Blewbury, with its ancient chalk streams, cob walls and historic oakbeamed houses, promises a vibrant day out. ˜˜˜

˜˜˜ Wild Didcot was launched last year by local community action group Sustainable Didcot, with the aim of creating more green spaces and improving those that already exist. The first Wild Didcot Cafe was an inspiring, fun day for the whole family with free activities, expert advice as well as nature-related art and crafts, quizzes, games and a treasure hunt. Wild Didcot is back on 13th May, 11.30-4pm at Didcot Civic Hall. This year Sustainable Didcot would like the community to explore the local green areas on their doorstep and get creative to connect the spaces. Follow @sustainabledidcot on Instagram.

˜˜˜ And Blewbury Table Tennis Club welcomes new members! This friendly bunch play inside Blewbury Village Hall every Tuesday 5-6pm (sometimes longer) where there are four excellent Cornilleau tables. All welcome, whatever age or standard. £3 adults, £1 for 18s and under. Coaching available if needed. There’s also an outdoor table on the Tickers Folly Field recreation ground. For more info call 07903 299940.

˜˜˜ New singing group Chilton Song Circle invite you to join in beautiful harmony songs from many traditions, all taught by ear in a fun, informal circle for a revitalising and uplifting hour! Thursdays in term time, 7-8pm, The Morris Room, Chilton Village Hall. £40 per term of six sessions or £8 drop-in. Details, dates and booking at upliftchoir.com

˜˜˜ Pretty Ridgeway village North Stoke is home to about 75 houses in the village and a number of locals have kindly offered to open their gardens, 2-6pm on Sunday, 11th June, with all proceeds to the upkeep of the beautiful, historic village hall. Several are particularly large gardens with river frontages, two other gardens border the spring-fed lake and others are

We’re excited to announce the launch of our app, a community space for our readers.

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RECI P ES

CRESS

Ingredients: • • • • • •

master

One nectarine (or peach) Feta cheese 85g watercress One large tomato Half a red onion Runny pesto, either store-bought thinned with oil or home made Prep: Ten minutes Cooking: Five minutes Serves: One

May is watercress season so we’re serving up some green goodness!

Ä Grilled nectarine & feta salad atercress features in this delicious salad, along with tomato and red onion, livened up by a good drizzle of watercress pesto If you are making your own pesto, you can blitz together some roughly chopped watercress, olive oil, crushed nuts and grated hard cheese. Use the oil to reach your desired consistency and season to taste. Quarter the nectarines and in a hot griddle pan, and lay them on one side. Try not to move them until it’s time to flip them over – about a minute on each side should do. 46 | MAY 2023

Chop the tomato and red onion. If you are using homemade pesto, make it now. Toss the tomato, watercress and onion together before tipping it on to a plate. Top with your grilled nectarine quarters and crumble some feta over that. Drizzle everything with lashings of pesto!  Please visit watercress.co.uk

R ECIPES

Ingredients: • One pack of your favourite sausages – these can be meat-free • One carrot, diced • One leek, sliced thinly • 80g watercress, chopped • 75ml white wine • 3 cloves garlic, chopped finely • One tin of cannellini beans • One tin of borlotti beans • 1tsp rosemary • 1tsp herb de provence • 200ml water/vegetable stock • Olive oil

Prep: 10 mins Cooking: 40 mins

Ä Classic cassoulet Method: hop the sausage into slices, and brown them off in a large pan. Set them aside for later. In the same pan, fry the onion, carrot and leek in a little oil until they begin to soften. Add the garlic, thyme & herb de provence and allow to cook for a minute or so. Deglaze the pan with the white wine before adding everything apart from the watercress back into the pan, including the sausages, beans and water. Allow it to simmer until everything is cooked through and the sauce begins to thicken. Add the watercress and allow it to wilt in the sauce before serving. Best served with crusty bread. Additional step: You can sprinkle the top with cheese and breadcrumbs and cook under the grill for a couple of minutes to give it a golden, cheesy crust.

Serves: Six

R&A | 47

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CLAS SIFIE D

CORD ELECTRICAL Colin Byrne, Son and Daughter. Over 30 years in the trade. No job too small. Fully registered with N.A.P.I.T 01235 814428 / 07972 223369 or [email protected]

CATERING, EVENTS & VENUES CREATIVE CATERING, Blewbury Flexible, affordable menus for all catering requirements. Short notice bookings welcome Tel: 01235 850342 mobile 07743368373 [email protected] or visit www.creative-caterer.co.uk

IT & TELECOMS LOCAL EX BT / OPENREACH TELEPHONE & BROADBAND ENGINEER FROM £35. 25 Years’ Experience, phone line faults, extensions and sockets, successful wireless networking in all types of properties, broadband speed issues resolved, master telephone sockets, all materials are BT approved, half the cost of all leading service providers, 7 days a week. Rapid Service. Tel: 01189 845184 mobile 07787 934883 [email protected]

PC Repairs

Counselling Services Therapeutic counselling and psychotherapy Providing help with: • Bereavement • Relationship issues • Eating issues

• Life & career change • Depression • Anxiety

• Family problems • Couple counselling • Children & young people

Patricia Talmage MBACP Psychotherapist T: 01491 651262 M: 07747 733318 E: [email protected] www.patriciatalmage.co.uk

Online Psychological Therapy for • Eating Disorders • Post Traumatic Disorder • Anxiety and Depression • Couple and Relationship Issues Specialist in EMDR and Cognitive Analytical Therapy If you would like to talk over what you are struggling with please book an initial free appointment.

Email: [email protected] Phone: 07946400257 Look up: www.wingscounselling.com

INTERIOR DESIGN & UPHOLSTERY

Computer Specialist Virus Removal Email problems Internet Recovery Wireless Set-up

No Fix! No Fee! Anything PC That's Me. Now Includes AppleMacs. Covid Vaccinated.

Bitcoin consultan cy & advice available

Call Mark 07985 149612 [email protected] ABINGDON PC SERVICES Home PC Repairs, Virus removal. Free Quotations, £35 Call out. 07928514822

SELF-DEVELOPMENT & COUNSELLING Angela Stanton Therapeutic Counselling

Do you experience stress and anxiety?

Supporting adolescents and adults

angelastantoncounselling.com • 07727 609436 • [email protected] Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

50 | MAY 2023

CURTAINS BY KAREN Made to measure Curtains/Roman Blinds. You supply the fabric, I do the making! Free estimates and measuring Tel: 01235 200832

PAINTING & DECORATING CHILDS CONTRACTS Painting & Decorating Interior/ Exterior - Domestic/Commercial Artexing/Coving – Insurance Quotations/Estimates. A friendly reliable service/ References available Free quotations – Contact Glenn or Annette on 01235 527000 or 07821791186 email: [email protected]

C L A SSI F I E D

LES THE PAINTER Interior/exterior and commercial/ domestic fully insured best prices guaranteed. Tel 07971973030 [email protected] EAGLES PAINTING AND DECORATING DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL Interior Property Painting including End of Tenancy Refresh and Insurance Quotes. Exterior painting including Walls, Window Frames, Sills, Soffits, Garages, Fencing, Sheds, Outbuildings and Garden Furniture. FREE QUOTES! Over 15 years’ experience, fully insured call 01235 401813 or 07791805257 [email protected]

MARK HARRISON QUALITY PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES Honest, Friendly and Reliable. Free Quotes, mobile 07879450388

HEALTH & BEAUTY CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS Suzy Willis & Associates MCSP HCPC AACP clinic / home visits. Please call Drayton 01235 531269 for an appointment

TAYSON

Ear Examination

Painting, Decorating & Property Maintenance

with self-visual otoscope

Wax Removal Irrigation & Microsuction

• Interior & Exterior work carried out to the highest standards • Professional & trustworthy staff • Domestic & Commercial FREE QUOTATIONS AND ADVICE

Tel: 01865 820792 | Mobile: 07872 962588 Email: [email protected] | www.tayson.co.uk

Chris Dawson & Son Painting, Decorating and Plastering Property Maintenance

Professional service using quality materials Fully insured - endorsements available

For friendly advice and a FREE quote Phone 01235 817957 Mobile 0774 8601471 email: [email protected]

Hearing Tests Su Chantry Tel: 01235 606080 (leave a message for a call back) For more info: suchantry.com/personal-health-solutions Wantage Clinic OX12

GENERAL SERVICES DRESSMAKER Friendly one to one service. Making garments, day, evening, Bridal and prom. Alterations, Soft furnishings. No job too small. Please call Cynthia 01235 559151 / 07904196068 / 07500429379

PAUL DALLIMORE PAINTING & DECORATING Quality interior & exterior decorating. Free quotations. Friendly reliable service. Call Paul 01235 200016, mob 07952293577 or [email protected]

Abingdon Handyman Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance / Handyman Services Plumbing

Darren Hudson Home Services

Abingdon 559558 - Mobile 07985 241510 www.ablngdonhandyman.weebly.com

ANDREW ALDER ASSOCIATES LIMITED Building design & planning services, all Local Authority Approvals obtained. Health & Safety Consultancy services also available. Tel: 01235 763742 Mob: 07850064343 Email: [email protected] R&A | 51

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PAMPERED PADDOCKS - From paddocks to parks, or grounds to gardens, we can offer the following on a oneoff or regular basis: mowing, scarifying, fertilizing, weed control and other services. Call us for a no-obligation quote. Wantage 01235 767692 pamperedpaddocks.co.uk

The Window D ctor CARE & REPAIR FOR ALL YOUR UPVC & ALUMINIUM WINDOW & DOOR PROBLEMS • Replacement of broken down sealed units - misting up inside glass • Adjust front & back doors that do not shut • New handles, hinges and door locks • Replacement of patio door wheels • New security handles with keys • New door panels and cat fl aps • New Georgian style or leaded style sealed units • All insurance work • Burglary damage • Servicing PLUS INSTALLATIONS OF NEW UPVC WINDOWS & DOORS Call us for a FREE Survey and Quotation,

No call out charge Friendly Family Established Business

Cowling & Co.

Mob: 07860 435742 Tel: 01865 891776

email: [email protected]

www.windowdoctor.co.uk

THE RUBBISH VAN The Simple, Quick, Low-cost way to clear all your Bulky/Household/Garden Waste. Enquiries welcome 7 days a week. Phone Mark 01235 511846 or 07770 862413 (Licensed Waste Carrier)

Domestic Appliance Services

Repairs and Servicing to all Major Brands of Domestic Appliances Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers, Dishwashers, Cookers, Ovens, Hobs, Cooker Hoods, NOT Refrigeration Fast and friendly service

Phone: 01235 426234 Mobile: 07555 124355

Email: [email protected]

OXPRO WINDOW AND CARPET CLEANING, Professional Service, NCCA qualified. Contact on 07889413128, [email protected], www.oxprocarpetcleaning.co.uk OAKWOOD CARPENTRY Fitted kitchens & bedrooms, bathrooms, joinery, flooring, doors, locks, decorating, plumbing & all general maintenance. Full Refurbishment & Renovation Specialists. Experienced & reliable. Free quotations. Local rates 07833 636656 or visit www.oakwoodcarpentry.co.uk [email protected] P.M WILLOUGHBY PROPERTY & GARDEN MAINTENANCE Small extensions, external and internal work all aspects of work undertaken. Tel: 01235 550204 mob 07970723407.

Affordable Building Plans

Creative Planning Drawings Structural Calculations Building Control Compliance Estimating & Project Management Free initial site visit Boyes Building & Dev. Ltd Est 1995

07711 943135 [email protected]

WATER SOFTENER OWNER? Call Softener Surgeons for sales, service and repair. Over 25 years industry experience. Drinking water systems and salt also supplied. Tablet and Block salt available. Call 07939 204455 52 | MAY 2023

LOCKSMITH SERVICE Door & window locks fitted, repaired & opened. UPVC door locks repaired & replaced. Checkatrade member. Which? Trusted Trader. Free quotes. Over 35 years’ of experience. For reliable service call Richard Homden on 07710 409216 www.acgservices.co.uk

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MA BARNES Carpentry, Kitchens, Tiling, Bathrooms, Plumbing, Painting and Decorating. Contact Martin on : 07789203876 or 01865 820188 CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Low moisture specialists. Competitive rates. Trading Standards approved. GRIMEBUSTERS (01865) 726983 / (01235) 555533 / (01993) 868924 BLOCKED DRAINS? Sewers, sinks, toilets, baths unblocked. Emergency plumbing. Call GB DRAINAGE 07850 624997

BEFORE

Ovens Grills l Extractors

N EE S T V A SO N

TIME TO CLEAN YOUR OVEN? LET US DO THE JOB YOU HATE

AFTER

Filters BBQs l Microwaves

Hobs Ranges l AGAs

l

l

l

l

l

l

I’m simply delighted at how sparkly clean my oven and hob look now! It really does look like the cooker is brand new again!

Call Helen or go online today for your FREE quote!

07542 833120 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS Design/Planning/ Building Regulations - Extensions, Garage/Loft Conversions, Garden Buildings, New Builds. FREE Initial Site Consultation. Tel: 01865 244178 www.otprojects.co.uk EAGLES WINDOW CLEANING DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL. Traditional Window Cleaning by Hand. Cleaning all types of Windows including Frames, Soffits, Facias, Conservatories, Solar Panels, Gutters, Roofs, Patios and Driveway Cleaning. FREE ESTIMATES! Established in 2009, covered by Public Liability Insurance. Please call 01235 410813 or 07791805257 [email protected]

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01491 822758

HOME MAINTENANCE MJE PLASTERING & TILING All aspects of plastering including K rendering specialist, damp proof plastering and all tiling services. Established 27 years. Please call Mark 07808 062265 / 01235 848183

Cox's Building Services

Brickwork, Extensions, Walls, Patio's, Fencing, Driveways, General Building, Landscaping, Garage Conversions, Digger Hire.

Free quotations

01865 326919 07787 515050

[email protected] ODD JOB: HOME AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE. No job too small. Call Henry on 07737 517459. LONGPINE ROOFING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Family team est. 2006 >Sympathetic to grade listed and older properties >Roof, slate & tile repairs >Flat roofs >Chimney> Brick & stone pointing >Fascia, soffit and guttering >FOC written quotations [email protected] or Tel: 01491 652494

A M Property Maintenance

Professional, Experienced and Reliable. Services include but not limited to: • General Building Works • Home Maintenance • Slabbing/Paving/Patios • Gardening Maintenance • Painting & Home Decoration Call Adie for no obligation Free Quotations: 07468116696 • 07557795957 • 01235 416988 Email: [email protected]

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D.E.R. LONG & SON

Builders & Decorators - Est 1972 18 Sandleigh Road, Dry Sandford nr Abingdon OX13 6DP Based Locally to Abingdon and Oxford • GROUNDWORKS • EXTENSIONS • ROOFING • BRICKWORK • PLASTERING AND RENDERING • CARPENTRY • INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DECORATING • ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME FREE CONSULTATION GIVEN

Tel: 01865 739657 or 01865 327308 Mob: 07860 866329 or 07715 377894 E-Mail: [email protected] ABINGDON CARPENTRY & CONSTRUCTION All aspects of precision carpentry. Internal/external. Our services include everything from the smallest of jobs like fitting skirting, a front door lock, to repairing anything that is broken. Free quotations. Testimonials available. Simon Mullord. 07717 277955 www.abingdoncarpentry.com [email protected]

EDT PLASTERING AND HOME IMPROVEMENTS Friendly and reliable all work carried out to the highest standard. Please contact: 07917 680458 Email: [email protected]

HOME MAINTENANCE TUTORING FOR CHILDREN WITH DIFFICULTIES in Reading, Writing and Maths. Contact Farah on 01235 525701 or 07722 739723.

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01491 822758 BUILDINGS SECTIONAL EX-DISPLAY SHEDS Stables/field shelters, summer houses, garden rooms, offices, workshops and agricultural 01935 891195 www.customtimberbuildingsltd.co.uk

REMOVALS & STORAGE

Do you need a man with a van? We are a local Abingdon business! Call/Text Jason on Mobile:

07757 256533

or check out our website! www.manwithavanoxford.co.uk

Do you have a Leaky Roof? • Flat Roofs • Roofing Maintenance • New Roofs • Fascias & Guttering • De-Mossing • Chimney Stack repairs Free Quotations Contact: 01235 612576 or 07553 911 258 Visit: www.everlastroofingservices.co.uk quote@everlastroofingservices.co.uk 54 | MAY 2023

SELF STORAGE – DORCHESTER ON THAMES AND STEVENTON. Secure units for household, and small business, containerised units, DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE DIRECT TO UNIT DOORS, 160sq ft/1280 cu ft, own key, 24/7 access with electronic entry and cctv. open storage for caravan/trailer parking. Small fenced areas suitable for small builders or larger item storage (Fenced open area + 20 Ft container) we also buy and sell and deliver shipping containers and cabins. www.qselfstore.co.uk Tel: 01235 847164 anytime.

WILL WRITERS & LEGAL GET YOUR LATER LIFE PLANNING IN ORDER NOW, BEFORE ITS TOO LATE! WILLS, POWER OF ATTORNEY, TRUSTS, EQUITY RELEASE & PROBATE AT HARD TO BEAT PRICES. CALL LIONHEART TODAY FOR A NO OBLIGATION DISCUSSION. 01993 220281 - 07769 730616

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STRONGER, SAFER SWIMMERS START HERE

Kick-start your child’s confidence in the water and allow them to learn an invaluable life skill at White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre. Better Swim School is designed to be convenient and affordable for all ages and abilities taught by qualified teachers in a safe and friendly environment. Secure your child’s place at better.org.uk/swim-school

Better is a registered trademark and trading name of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise and registered society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit & Societies Act 2014 registration no. 27793R. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX. Inland Revenue Charity no: XR43398

56 | MAY 2023