merry christmas - wallingford · 2017. 5. 22. · our christmas preparations, all the work being...

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Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas

As Christmas inevitably approaches, many of us look forward to spending time with our families. This year will be the first for several years where the Puma Force will be deployed on operations over the festive period. While they do everything they can to make it feel like Christmas, it isn’t the same as being at home. Likewise, several of our personnel will remain on duty throughout the period to ensure our continued safety. I will be raising a glass to all my personnel who are away from their loved ones this Christmas. If you are able to spare a thought, or raise a glass of your own, I am certain that the personnel and their families would appreciate it.

Finally, a formal ‘thank you’ from the team here at RAF Benson for your unerring support. We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Gp Capt Simon PatersonRAF Benson

Wallingford Wassail

This year’s Wallingford Wassail is on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December, from 11am until midday in St Mary’s church. As ever, we will sing

West Gallery carols, drink spiced cider and generally celebrate Christmas in a different but very festive way. First timers and old hats equally welcome!

Catherine and Will Lidbetter 833855

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Editorial

This edition of the Window for Wallingford spans two years and two seasons: the end of 2015 and Christmas, and then New Year and into January.

As we move from one phase to the next, I’ve been particularly struck by this month’s ‘Reasons to be Proud of Wallingford’. There are always lots of reasons to be proud of our wonderful town, but what shines through this time is the amount of effort some of our community are prepared to make on behalf of others, and what a good time they seem to have doing it. At the concert on 28th November we had singers from the age of about 6 to some who may have been quite a bit beyond 60, and the fun they were having (while entertaining the audience brilliantly) was very obvious, and while everyone working on the bonfire and firework display was very grown up, some of the recipients of Poppy Awards are quite a bit younger too,

So, if the turn of the year has inspired you to new year resolutions, no matter what your age you could do much worse than joining one of Wallingford’s great local organisations so that you can have a lot of fun and do some real good too. What could be better?

Lynda AtkinsEditor

[email protected]

A Christmas Message from The Station Commander, RAF Benson

It is hard to believe that I have already commanded Royal

Air Force Benson for over a year and, by this time next year, I will have handed over command to my successor. As I am sure many of you will agree, Benson is, without doubt, one of the finest RAF stations and this is in no small part due to the beautiful

Oxfordshire surroundings and the incredible support we receive from you, the local community.

The past few months have been incredibly difficult for the Station as we have dealt with the loss of two of our most outstanding airmen. The support, kindness and compassion of the local community have made this immense loss more bearable. It has also helped the airmen, engineers and support staff who continue to fulfil the ongoing training mission in Afghanistan to know that their families at home are surrounded by such a wonderful community.

My whole team have once again achieved an immense amount over the past year, supporting UK interests at home and abroad. The move of the Chinook Operational Conversion Flight to RAF Benson has been an obvious cause for concern for some local residents; however, we are extremely grateful for the support that the introduction of this new aircraft type has brought from you all. Your tolerance, understanding and support are greatly appreciated. We are extremely proud of what we are able to achieve and I hope that we continue to make you proud too.

A Christmas Message from Churches Together in the Wallingford Area

By the time you read this, I will have become a Great Grandfather. My Granddaughter has chosen to have her baby boy at home in South

Devon. There she will be in a familiar environment, with Grandma and possibly Great Grandma on hand. There will also be a midwife to bring all the professional expertise necessary for such an occasion. And if the worst should happen it’s not far to a hospital with all the relevant medical facilities.

Compare that with when Jesus was born. Nobody there to help, except a carpenter – not the best training for delivering a baby. In a strange town, pushed to one side by people rushed off their feet. And in a stable of all places. Forget the pretty, pristine pictures of stables we see on advent calendars. This was more like a grubby cave, with a rope across the entrance to stop the animals escaping. They might have had a candle for light. At least you couldn’t see what you were treading in.

But despite this very inauspicious start to life, here we are 2,000 years later still celebrating the birth of this baby. As we give gifts to each other, we are celebrating God’s ultimate gift of life to everyone in the world. Yes, we can look around and see a world trying to tear itself apart. But Christmas is the time to remember God’s blessing to us of joy, peace and hope.

So, may I bless you in the Name of Jesus, with knowledge and understanding of the real meaning of Christmas. May I bless your relationships with family, friends and neighbours, that you will enjoy a real sense of togetherness. May I bless you so that whatever your circumstances you will experience the presence of God lifting your spirit and spreading His peace around you. Finally may God lead you into the New Year with a desire to know more of Him and His love for you.

On behalf of all the churches in the Wallingford area I wish you a very happy and joyful Christmas.

Graham AtkinsSecretary CTWA


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Christmas Church Services

St Mary’s Wallingford

Thursday 24th December, Christmas Eve: 4pm St Mary’s Crib Service for families and children11.30pm, St Mary’s Sung Midnight Communion

Friday 25th December: Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion, St Leonard’s10am Christmas Family Communion, St Mary’s. A service for all ages

Wallingford Baptist Church

Sunday 20th December:4:30pm Family Carols by Candlelight with Nativity6:30pm Traditional lessons & Carols by Candlelight

Friday 25th December: Christmas Day:10:30am Christmas Celebration

Wallingford Methodist Church

Sunday 20th December6pm Candlelight Carol Service

Friday 25th December: Christmas Day10am Family Service

Thursday 31th December, New Year’s Eve11.30pm Watchnight service

Wallingford Quakers

Sundays 20th and 27th December 10.30am – Usual Morning Service

St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church

Thursday 24th December, Christmas Eve8pm – Vigil Mass

Friday 25th December: Christmas Day11am – Christmas Morning Mass

Aston Tirrold United Reformed Church

Thursday 24th December, Christmas Eve7pm Carols and Readings

Friday 25th December: Christmas Day10.30am Christmas Day Worship

Sunday 27th December 10.30am Morning Worship

Ridgeway Community Church

Sunday 20th December10.30am United Christmas Celebration at the Civic Hall, Didcot6.30pm Candlelit Carols with mince pies at Ridgeway Church, Wallingford

Friday 25th December: Christmas Day10-11am Christmas Family Celebration at Ridgeway Church, Wallingford

The Window for Wallingford needs a volunteer!

Following the very sad death of John Tobias, one of our longest serving distributors, we need the

help of a willing volunteer to do one of the town centre rounds. It only takes half an hour or so at

the end of each month, and we know your efforts will be much appreciated by all the recipients.

If you can help us, please contact

Andrew Blackwell on 825991 orHoward Roberts on 835145

Thank You!

Wallingford Museum

Whilst Wallingford Museum is closed for its winter break, the highly

successful Museum bookshop, with its constantly changing stock of good second-hand books (all modestly priced), will remain open during January and February. The shop will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am to 1.00pm. Do please continue to donate your second-hand books - and particularly those with an Agatha Christie connection!

There will be two special exhibitions running in 2016. ‘1066 - William comes to Wallingford!’ will feature William the Conqueror’s impact on Wallingford - including his crossing of the Thames here with his army 950 years ago after the Battle of Hastings. ‘300 years of Cartoons’ will be an unusual and fascinating presentation revealing history through the work of cartoonists over the centuries. The Museum will re-open on 1st March 2016.

Separately arranged group visits to the Museum or history walks (or combined) are proving increasingly popular. They can be specially tailored to your group’s requirements … out of hours, introductory talk, etc. If your group / society/ school would like to book for 2016 then please phone Judy Dewey as soon as possible, tel: 651127.

Stu Darby



A Christmas Message from The Mayor of Wallingford

As anyone who has ever been Mayor of Wallingford will tell you, it is a huge privilege to serve as Mayor of our wonderful town, and

Christmas is a time when all that is best here really comes to the fore. It has been a busy year so far, and I have never stopped marvelling at the many ways people in Wallingford find to create opportunities for the town to come together and have fun.

One of the most striking things about Wallingford is our sense of community: so many people do so much for others in so many different ways. We once tried, in the Town Office, to work out how many volunteers we had in the town, but gave up once we got past 500 in the first few minutes. As we have moved through our Christmas preparations, all the work being done for one-another has been so evident. I hope that the spirit of Christmas which inspires hope and generosity can remain with us all throughout the year, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.

Cllr Lynda AtkinsMayor of Wallingford

Wallingford & District Royal British Legion

Hopefully you all had a peaceful Christmas. May I wish you all a Happy New Year. The branch

now has a new Chairman. This is Andy Farrow, with Andy Russell as the Vice

Chairman. I would like to thank Frank Hames, the past Chairman, and his wife Carol, for all the work that they have put into the Branch over the past 14 years. They deserve to take it easy now. We were unable to cover as many house to house collections with the poppies this year, but many of the shops, pubs and clubs had them so hopefully no-one missed out on finding one. The weather for the street collections on the Friday and Saturday was awful, but everyone gallantly struggled to cope with the elements. Today, Saturday 28th November, we held our usual stall at the United Charities Fair and raised £98 for the Appeal. This brings the total so far to £16,269.17. Thank you everyone. Although Aidan and I plan to give up the poppy side of the Appeal, we will still be dealing with the wreaths. So all those that we supply wreaths to, this arrangement will still continue. The Branch meeting in January is Thursday 28th at midday. If you need help then please contact us on the number below, or the National Helpline.

Linda Shoebridge598479

National Helpline 0808 802 8080

Wallingford Town Council Update

You may have seen the article about Neighbourhood plans in the Autumn edition of SODC’s free newspaper ‘Outlook’. It stated that

no matter how SODC ends up distributing houses around South Oxfordshire, most communities in the district will be getting some. These houses will be in addition to those already agreed. The article went on to explain that it’s really important that local communities have a chance to say where houses should go and that they can do this via a Neighbourhood Plan. Neighbourhood planning is one of the manifestations of the government’s support for localism and SODC uses Neighbourhood Plans along with district-wide policies when agreeing new housing developments.

However, neighbourhood planning is about much more than housing. Neighbourhood Plans help communities to come together to shape the future of their local area. It does includes where new houses should go, but also includes businesses and shops. Neighbourhood plans, also describe what new development should look like.

The preparation of a neighbourhood plan involves community consultation and independent checking. The plan is then put to a community-wide referendum. Once a Neighbourhood Plan is in force following a successful referendum, it carries real legal weight. Decision makers are obliged to consider proposals for development in the neighbourhood against the Neighbourhood Plan.

2016 will be a busy year for neighbourhood planning in Wallingford. The Town Council is working with the consultants who prepared and took the Henley Neighbourhood Plan to referendum. It is important that all members of the community in Wallingford are able to contribute to the Plan. More information will follow in the Window for Wallingford and it will also appear on the Town Council website.

Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to join in with some positive planning for our local area?

Councillor Amanda Holland




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What’s On at the Corn Exchange

LIVEFriday 15th to Saturday 30th: Rapunzel. Come and let your hair down at Sinodun Players’ spectacular

annual panto which is brim full of fun and colourful characters. Young and old will be captivated by this

traditional tale of how a handsome prince rescues his beloved from her lofty prison cell by climbing up her

long hair to reach her. Among those out to help – and sometimes hinder – will be witches, a dancing robin, silly gnomes,

ghosts, courtiers, pretty fairies and Dame Mathilda, the theatre cleaner.

Audiences will have lots of opportunities to boo, hiss, laugh, sing, clap, sneeze, quack and pat their heads whilst rubbing their tummies. And the special effects

promise to be awesome. Times: 7.30pm with a 2.30 Saturday matinee

(no performances Sundays or Mondays). Tickets: £10 (Tues-Thurs), £12 (Fri& Sat), children £6.

COMING UPMarch 15th-19th: Come and enjoy the well-loved songs from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in this Spectacular Evening Celebrating the Music of Richard and Robert Sherman. Directed

by Marilyn Johnstone, this show is a joint venture between the Corn Exchange and professionally

acclaimed Crescendo Music. Fun-packed memorable evening for all the family.

Tickets, adults £15, children under-14 £12. On sale now.

CINEMA February 4th:

NT Live, Les Liaisons Dangereuses at 7pmFebruary 5th & 6th:

Star Wars, The Force Awakens (12Atbc)

Tickets and further information, including any last minute additions to cinema programme,

available from www.cornexchange.org.uk or box office on 825000.

Carol Evans

Thameside (Wallingford)U3A

Wishing all our members a Very Happy New Year. I do hope you have all had a really good festive season and we now look forward to

2016. This month the Coffee Morning will be held one the 2nd Friday 8th January (as the normal first Friday is New Year’s Day this year). Usual venue, Centre 70: 10.30-12 noon. Do come along for a catch up chat with friends or meet new ones; it’s a very friendly and informal gathering.

We also set the ball rolling for the New Year with our Celebration lunch on 15th January at The Milton Hill House Hotel, near Didcot. This always proves very popular and is something good to look forward to after what is usually the pre-Christmas rush in December.

Our Speaker meeting this month includes a talk by Alastair Lack on The Anecdotal History of Oxford University. Alistair has given several talks to us over recent years and due to his popularity, we have him back again this month. The meeting will be on Wednesday, 20th January (the usual 3rd Wednesday).

If you are not already a member of our U3A, why not make it a New Year Resolution to come along and find out more about us. I am sure you will soon discover new friends, a wide variety of Interest Groups to choose from as well as our normal monthly Speaker meetings together with regular Outings to a wide mix of Places of Interest which always make a good day out.

We look forward to seeing you very soon: in the meantime, I wish you all a Very Happy and healthy New Year.

Yvonne GriffithsChairman




Neighborhood Police Advice

It is with sadness that we have to say goodbye this month to one of our team members. PCSO Louis Page who has been with the team since November

2014 is moving on to be Police Officer within Thames Valley Police. We wish him well in his new career and thank him for his contribution to Wallingford over the past year. His replacement is PCSO Tarran Golby and we welcome him to our team. As I am writing this article at 1600hrs it is already dark outside. Darker nights unfortunately make our homes more vulnerable to burglary. There a few simple steps you can take to protect your home. • Don’tadvertiseyouarenotathome.Leavealight on or invest in a light timer switch• Closeandlockallyourdoorsandwindowswhen going to bed • Keep valuables out of sight. This includes Christmas presents. Although it may seem lovely to leave them all under the tree looking lovely. They will also look lovely to a potential burglar.• Weare experiencing shedbreaks inour area so please look at shed and garage security.• Donot leavepresentsorChristmas shopping in unattended vehicles. If they do get stolen you may find they are not covered on car or home insurance.• IfyouaregoingawayovertheChristmasperiod, ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your home. Ask them to undraw/draw curtains and take post in. Consider leaving a key with them. If something does happen and emergency services need access to your home it could save your door from our enforcer!• Do not advertise the fact you are going away on social media such as Facebook etc or upload photographs of your holiday whilst still away. Please also ensure you cover your pin number when out shopping and please do not leave your handbag on your shopping trolley. I quite often walk around supermarkets and see shopping trollies with unattended handbags left in the child seat. We have some purse bells available at the police station. These were kindly donated by the kind residents of

Shillingford Park Homes who collected the money to purchase them at their coffee mornings. I really hope we do not see any snow imminently but if we do can I please ask that you are neighbourly and look after the elderly who live nearby. If you have any concerns for their welfare please do not hesitate to phone us. In very bad weather we do liaise with local day centres and other agencies to help where we can in getting food and medicine to local residents. However we only have a limited amount of resources so if you have elderly neighbours for whom you can do a bit of shopping for or pop to the pharmacy and get medicine it really helps. If you have any groups who would like a crime reduction talk or a game of crime reduction bingo in the new year, please email me on [email protected]. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy and peaceful new year from everyone working on the Wallingford Neighbourhood Policing Team.

PCSO Sue Harris

The Thames Consort at Dorchester Abbey

On Sunday 31st January 2016 at 7pm the Wallingford based ensemble The Thames Consort will be giving a concert in aid of

The Friends of Dorchester Abbey. The programme will include vocal and instrumental music by Purcell, Hassler, Buxtehude, Vivaldi and Mozart. Some of the music will have a slightly seasonal flavour! The singers of The Thames Consort are joined by Sharon Warnes and Claire Parkin (Violins) and Judith Dallosso (Cello), directed by Jeremy Boughton. Do come and uplift your spirits on a winter evening and hear some beautiful music performed in the splendid surroundings of the Abbey. Entry is free and there will be a collection at the end of the concert and all proceeds (after expenses) to go to the Friends of Dorchester Abbey.

Jeremy Boughton



Wallingford Guiding

We are very pleased to announce that Sally Hollingham is taking over as leader of the new Brownie Pack. A great many thanks for

her support.

All units are currently busy with Christmas bazaars, tree decorations and planning for 2016. I would like to wish all Guiders and unit helpers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank them all for their dedication and enthusiasm.

Ann GoddardDiv Pres

The White Tower under the Normans

January’s talk to The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society (TWHAS) will be by

Jeremy Ashbee. He will present ‘The White Tower under the Normans’.

Following his excellent talk on the Tower of London in the 13th and 14th centuries at the recent ‘Castles of the Thames Valley’ conference in Wallingford, Jeremy will be talking again about the Norman core of the Tower, the White Tower. Based on work he did some years ago ahead of a major conservation campaign at the Tower, the talk will present a documentary and archaeological examination of the building, and comparison with other parts of the complex and other towers elsewhere, to suggest what the intentions of the Normans were when they built it, and how that contrasts with how it subsequently evolved and was used in practice.

This talk will be held on Friday 8th January, 8 pm at Wallingford Town Hall. Visitors (£3) are most welcome. www.twhas.org.uk

Stu Darby


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• Group Matwork Classes Daily • Personally Tailored Equipment Sessions • One-to-One Appointments

30% off our Introductory session for new clients in January! (quoting ‘Window for Wallingford’)

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Agatha Christie - 40 years on

12 January 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Dame Agatha Christie at ‘Winterbrook House’. This Georgian residence, then in the Cholsey parish, on the outskirts of Wallingford, had been her home, with husband Sir Max Mallowan, since 1934.

Her death was of world-wide interest, but her funeral in Cholsey Church on a bleak, cold, winter’s day was a quiet family and friends affair - apart from the score of Press, some from as far away as South America. The Daily Express remarked that ‘no one but Agatha Mary Clarissa Mallowan - better known as Dame Agatha Christie - could have chosen the setting. It came straight from some of the 80 books, the 70 million words which the undisputed Queen of Crime, mystery and surprise had typed with three fingers for the last 60 years’; the Cholsey vicar, Mr Pare, was described as ‘positively Dickensian’. The full page in the Evening Post, with six photos of the event, was more respectful. The Wallingford Herald carried a succinct but accurate report, with the names of the chief mourners, details of the service, a photograph of the cortege and a note that there were only a couple of villagers present when the hearse arrived. Agatha Christie’s desire for privacy was respected, even in death.

Today, her grave is visited by hundreds each year, and coach-loads of tourists pause outside Winterbrook House to take pictures. The time now feels right to share our most famous local resident with the world. The next Celebrating Agatha Christie Weekend on the 9-11 September 2016, will commemorate the 40th anniversary of her death in style, but on 12 January, there will be just a very simple wreath-laying ceremony at the graveside in Cholsey Churchyard at 10.30am.

If you have local information about Agatha Christie or would like to help with the Weekend in September, then please phone 651127.

Judy Dewey



Reasons to be Proud of Wallingford

The Annual Poppy Appeal awards were presented at the Royal British Legion meeting in November. Without all the helpers the collections would not

be possible. The following awards were given to the following for their service.

5 years: Andy Farrow and daughter Charley.10 years: Dee Cripps; Andy Russell and son Toby; Peter Shelton; Edward Shoebridge.15 years: David Griffiths.25 years: Christine Kidley; Theresa Jordan.30 years: Aidan & Linda Shoebridge.

The Home collecting unit went to Edward Shoebridge and the winners of this year’s Pub & Club awards were 1st: The Corn Exchange; 2nd: The Dolphin; 3rd: The Old Post Office.

Our thanks to you all, and the many others who help each year.

Aidan & Linda ShoebridgeWallingford & District Poppy Appeal Organisers

This year’s Wallingford 1155 Fireworks and Bonfire was another great event for the town. The Guy Fawkes competition was judged by Deputy Mayor Ros Lester, with the winning Guy placed on the bonfire. Wallingford 1155 organised the event and would like to extend a huge, heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped. This list is not exhaustive as many good souls offered their time with no expectation of reward and are too numerous to list, making this one of the largest community events in the area! Thanks go to Haynes Car Care Centre, Grundons and Paul Simmonds for the firewood, Blanchford building supplies and Jim Baxter for cleaning up the ash the following morning. Many other organisations helped including Wallingford Town AFC, Crowmarsh Pre School, Fir Tree School, Crowmarsh Youth FC, St Johns School, St Nicholas School, Rainbow Pre-School, Wallingford Babybar, Wallingford Rugby Club, Wallingford School, Wallingford Scouts, Wallingford Rowing Club, Wallingford Guides, Centre 70 Thursday Club, Wallingford Fire Service and the Army Explosive Ordnance Division based in Didcot

The choreography of the fireworks to music was down to Karl Mitchell- Shead from Wallingford and his amazing team at Illusion Fireworks, and was without doubt amazing!

Measuring Happiness

Once a certain level of wealth has been achieved, does continued economic growth really make people happier and more satisfied with their

lives? Or does the apparent rise in environmental damage, stress, depression and mental ill-health mean that the engine of economic growth has become uncoupled from the train of human well-being? Such questions have prompted academics and researchers to explore ways of measuring human well-being directly rather than by using GDP per capita as a proxy. But can well-being and life-satisfaction really be defined, measured and monitored? Can ‘Happiness Economics’ ever really be a science? And could it really be, as some researchers have claimed, ‘a remarkable new tool for policymakers’? Peter Adamson’s talk on Tuesday 12th January, 7.30pm at Wallingford School Library will explore the pros, cons and pitfalls of current attempts to measure and compare levels of happiness and life-satisfaction in the world’s advanced industrial societies. Peter Adamson was for sixteen years Senior Adviser to the Executive Director of UNICEF, with responsibility for the annual ‘State of the World’s Children’ report and ‘The Progress of Nations’. Working with the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Peter also initiated the ‘Report Card’ series monitoring child well-being in advanced industrial economies and has been series editor for the last twelve years. Meetings are very informal. Speakers talk for about half an hour, then we break for refreshments and return for a lively question and answer session. We are grateful that the support of local company Triaster, Wallingford School and the generosity of our speakers ensures that each event is free to attend. We are also privileged to be a Café Scientifique. (www.cafescientifique.org/).

Amanda Holland



Each organisation that helped and many others will benefit from a donation. All the profits from staging this event are distributed to charities, youth and local organisations, so thanks to the good people of Wallingford and the surrounding area for their generosity. This is a huge boost to the good causes involved and ensures the event can be staged next year of Saturday 5th November 2016. Without the generous donations of time, money, firewood and goodwill from the people of Wallingford, businesses, charities and all involved events like this could not take place and the town would be worse off. Your continued support is important; please continue donating and volunteering. Unfortunately Santa’s Sleigh won’t be visiting Wallingford and surrounding villages in December this year. Santa needs a break and 1155 needs more input from people willing to offer a few hours of their time to help at many of the events in Wallingford. Most of the organising is done over a beer at the Comrades club; please get in contact if you want to join in and help keep these events going in your town. See you again next year

Mark BrettChair of Wallingford 1155

[email protected] 1155 Wallingford Fireworks

On Saturday November 28th St. Mary’s Church, Wallingford was once again full to the rafters with audience and performers coming together to raise money for the Mayor’s Defibrillator Fund. The Wallingford Children’s Choir, the Wallingford Singers and the Parish Choir Junior Choristers, together with guest artistes, sang, played and narrated their way through an amazing range of musical styles resulting in an incredibly varied concert.

After the interval there was a presentation on the need for, and the use of defibrillators from the Ambulance Service. It was obvious from the reactions of the audience that people in general were not previously aware of the number of events yearly where we have the potential to save a life, and how crucial very early intervention is. People were reassured to learn that the defibrillator talks you through precisely what to do and that there is no need to be afraid of using it. It can safely be used by

Kundalini Yoga has all the usual physical benefits of a normal yoga practice. It can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of age and ability, it has the flexibility to push you past your comfort zone as well as offering the choice of going at your own pace.Kundalini Yoga is a complete science that involves breath (pranayam), yoga postures (asanas), hand and arm movements, sound, mantra, meditation and relaxation. It can be dynamic in its practice, vast in

practical information and powerful in its experience. It combines the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of yoga in to one system.Kundalini Yoga enables you to harness the energy of your mind and emotions so you can be in control of yourself, rather and being controlled by your thoughts and feelings.

Classes on Mondays, 7.15-8.45pm at Wallingford Leisure Centre, Wallingford School, St.George’s Road, Wallingford, OXON OX10 8HH.

For more information contact Rachel (0741-5355487).

KUNDALINI YOGA“The Yoga of Awareness”

anyone. The message came across loud and clear and resulted in many people who had made donations on the way in donating again as they left!

The finale of the concert involved all 80 plus singers and guests performing two numbers together, which was a tremendous sight and sound to behold.All in all it was a wonderful evening, which resulted in the even more wonderful total of £960 towards the Fund. The Children’s Choir and Junior Choristers had raised £440 at an earlier event so we now have £1400 for Lynda. Sue’s original target was to buy one defibrillator (roughly £850) but Wallingford Parish Church Choir are aiming to nudge this up to two with some timely Carol Singing!

A huge thank you to all concerned.

Sue Huntingford-Ledger

New Year Tennis Coaching

At Portcullis Tennis Club we want to ensure everyone can get the opportunity to play tennis. We are therefore offering any new or

returning players signing up to weekly group coaching the opportunity to sign-up to a weekly group coaching session in January or February 2016 and get your first 12 weeks for just £45.00!

The club runs weekly after school coaching sessions for 5-18 year olds of all abilities. Coaching is available throughout the week and on Saturday mornings. More information about the club and our coaching timetable can be found on our website at: www.portcullistennis.net/ . Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Portcullis Tennis Club is a thriving place to play tennis in Wallingford. With 5 courts, over 250 members and a thriving junior, adult and match sections, Portcullis Tennis Club is the best place to play. For more information and to book a free taster please contact the tennis hub on 0800 888 6030 or email [email protected]

Sarah Gniadek-PittProgramme Manager

Community Tennis Association

Wallingford Flower Club

Jane Rowton Lee - Westminster Abbey Flower Co-ordinator will be giving a talk with slides “Arranging Flowers in Westminster Abbey” at Wallingford

Flower Club meeting on Wednesday 13th January at 7pm for 7.45pm in Crowmarsh Village Hall.

Members and Visitors welcome, visitors £4 each. For further information call 834303. Sales Table/Coffee available

Fay CrabbeProgramme Secretary



Didcot and Wallingford Ramblers

Fri 1st 10:00 SU648912 Moderate 7.5 miles. Meet at Ewelme recreation ground car park. Walk via Ewelme Park and Harcourt Hill. Registered

Assistance Dogs only. Contact Barry Cowlard 838707

Sun 10th 13:30 SU526882 Moderate 6 miles. Meet at East Hagbourne, Upper Cross near Church. This is a monthly village ramble that varies from 5 to 7 miles. Contact Paul Chambers 01235 816365

Thur 14th 10:00 SU648912 Moderate 7 miles. Meet at Ewelme recreation ground car park. Walk to Upperton and Britwell Salome. Contact John Rust 836563

Sun 31st 10:30 SU668873 Moderate 6.5 miles. Meet at Nuffield in the car park by church. This is a circular walk to English Farm and Ipsden Heath. Registered Assistance Dogs only. Contact Kate Hart 838689 / 07966 756770

Sue White

Wallingford Town Information Centre

We hope you all have a very pleasant Christmas and Best wishes for the New Year.

We would also like to remind you that we are now operating winter hours, opening at 10am and closing at 2pm, Monday to Saturday and will revert to ‘summer hours’ on Monday 29th February 2016.

Lynne, Penny, Jackie and Wendy826972

[email protected]




Wallingford Carnival Youth Ambassador 2016

In 2014 Wallingford moved away from the outdated ‘beauty contest’ of the Carnival Princess Competition and replaced it with a Carnival Youth Ambassador

and two Aides. Competitors are selected to represent the Wallingford area by making a presentation on the contribution they make to their community, how they get involved and why they are proud of their community.

The competition is open to all students in Year 7 at Wallingford School and other Year 7 students who attend other schools but live within the OX10 postcode. It is gender sensitive and open to males and females.

The Ambassador and Aides will represent the youth in the area and will be expected to attend Carnival Day (Saturday, June the 18th 2016) and other major events in the town along with other dignitaries.

If you would like to express an interest in the competition then please contact me in the first instance for more information.

Theresa JordanWallingford Carnival Committee

[email protected]

Wallingford Local Producers Market

Is the Regal Centre open? Yes it is! Come in and discover Wallingford Local Producers Market on Saturday 9th, 16th and 23rd of January, from 10am

to 1pm, and every Saturday in February. While the Regal Centre will be partially hidden for essential maintenance behind metal fences and scaffolding from mid-January onwards, the only entrances will be the main doors from St Martin’s Street and the south door facing Goldsmiths Lane car park.

We are very sorry that neither of these entrances is suitable for mobility scooters. The work is due to be completed by 8th March, when the easy access entrance on the north side of the building will be open again.

Wallingford Local Producers’ Market has a wide range of products including local organic vegetables, meat, eggs, bread and cakes, ready to eat food, preserves, jewellery, ceramics, plants and soft furnishings. It’s a great place for gifts as well as your weekly shop. Just send an email to [email protected] and you’ll keep up to date with market news, special offers and new products, so you can plan your shopping and have time to enjoy breakfast, cake and coffee at our café. We look forward to seeing you soon. www.wlpm.org.uk

Wendy Tobitt



A Baroque Feast for the New Year!

The Band of Music is a group of young professionals specialising in baroque music on authentic instruments. They have engagements across the

country and abroad, but by a lucky chance (for us!) several of them have settled in Cholsey, including oboist Frances Norbury, and they are keen to raise their profile locally. They have arranged a series of three concerts at St Mary’s Church, Wallingford, and the final one is at 4pm on Sunday 3 January with harpsichord, oboe and strings. Music is by Bach, Albinoni, Handel and Corelli – his Christmas Concerto. They have experimented with different starting times and this one will be accompanied by tea and cake, included in the ticket price of £12 (accompanied children free). Tickets are available at the Town Information Centre or via their website http://thebandofmusic.co.uk where you can learn more about them.

Proceeds will be shared between the Band and St Mary’s Tower fund. They are also booked for the summer season of Music at St Peter’s in 2016 so here’s your chance to get a preview!

Roger Morgan

Special Offer at the Sports Park

Wallingford Sports Park is offering their function rooms free of charge (ie no room hire charge) throughout the month of January 2016. If

you wish to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, have a business/conference to arrange or any event, please bear this unique venue in mind.

If you want to visit for a tour of our facilities please let me know or why not pop in for a drink. We are open to all.

Dave GreedySports Park Manager

83504407746646632

or visit our website - Wallingford Sports Park

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A Thought for the Slower Among Us

A local reader has contacted the Window for Wallingford with a plea that when we are out and about around the town we all pause think

a bit about those among us who take a bit longer to get around.

The lovely gentleman was patiently waiting in the Post Office for the barrier to be lifted so that he could send some post, but found that when it went up younger, fitter people passed him by to get to the tills. They probably didn’t realise that was what he was waiting for – until the barrier is opened, there isn’t really a queue to be part of – so he was standing nearby. Despite arriving early to avoid a rush, he ended up behind several others.

So, if you are rushing around busily as we all do, please do pause just for a second and make sure that someone with a stick or a child’s buggy or a walking frame isn’t heading in the same direction and perhaps in need of a bit of consideration.

Lynda Atkins

Henley Philatelic Society

If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new hobby and you enjoy collecting Stamps, Postcards and other Post related items do visit us one evening

soon. We wish you all a good New Year.

January 13 – Chairman’s evening, an interesting and enjoyable evening to start the New Year.

January 27 – Member’s evening – up to 9 page display on the letters I and/or J and/or K

Meetings are usually held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at Bix Village Hall at 7.45 p.m. from September to June inclusive. Visitors and new members are welcome. Details 681739 or on our website: - www.henleyphilatelic.org.uk

Penny Black

Trees: a camera’s perspective

At the January meeting of the Wallingford Gardening Club, Richard

Roslyn will talk about ‘Trees : a camera’s perspective’. Richard is Head Gardener at Blewbury Manor. He has been working there for 22 years, and during that time has seen some great changes, such that the gardens have developed into something quite wonderful. Richard’s talk will describe the aesthetic beauty of trees, both native and exotic, and the role they play in our gardens.

The talk will be held at Ridgeway Community Church, Wallingford at 7.30pm on Thursday 14th January. Visitors very welcome £2.

Isabelle Darby836867

SOS Quiz is Back!

The local branch of the RNLI will be holding their annual S O S Quiz evening on Saturday 6th February at the Masonic Hall, 7 for 7.30, teams of 6.

The usual supper of Sausages, Onion Gravy and Jacket Spuds will be served, there will also be raffle. Tickets, at £10 each, are available from me on 835145 or Betty Pike on 835781

Jan Roberts

Swap Shop is Back

Sustainable Wallingford’s next Swap Shop is to be held on Saturday 30th January in the Regal Centre, from 09.45 to 11.30. As usual it is free to everyone and

provides the opportunity to pass on unwanted items to a good home, and/or pick up something useful, instead of adding to the waste problem. No clothes, shoes or paint please. For large items, bring a photo or description to display. You can swap small portable electrical items after testing to show that they work - they must have a CE” mark; no TVs or computers please. Items for swapping must be brought before 10.30, to give more people a chance to take them. Fluorescent light tubes, low energy light bulbs, CDs, video and audio cassettes and mobile phones will be collected for recycling.

Offers of help are always welcome, to ensure that we can continue to run these events. If you are interested in helping, even just for half an hour, please call Lorna on 201316, or speak to one of the helpers on January 30th.

Mark Palmer


please mention window for wallingford if you respond to any of our advertisements 13Fireplace Magic new ad 23/7.indd 1 6/8/15 14:21:43

Blues and Beers will be Back

The weekend of 10th & 11th June 2016 will see the 26th Wallingford Blues & Beer Festival in The Regal Centre with, arguably, its’ best

ever line-up. Since the inception of the event it has raised more than £47,000 for local music-based and children’s charities. Britain’s godfather of rhythm and blues, Wilko Johnson, headlines Friday night and follows sell-out nights of his former bands at the Festival; The Blockheads (2014) and Dr Feelgood (2015). In support will be Liam Ward, “the best harmonica player in Britain”. Described as “tremendous... splendid, wistful”, Liam’s blues harp based four-piece brings juke-joint blues to town. Thomas Ford revisits the festival to open at 7pm - a one man blues cyclone with his Delta guitar picking style. Tickets £25. Laurence Jones returns to headline Saturday night. This 24 year old is predicted to be the future of blues. “A cross between Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy,” says Walter Trout. Rising stars Red Butler will be a fantastic support to Laurence. BabaJack open on Saturday night with their unique brew of blues, roots and folk. Tickets £20. The Saturday afternoon ‘Family Session’ tries to showcase more local bands with Hiproute (Swindon), Matt Edwards Band (Chalgrove) and Big Joe Bone signed up for an eclectic blues line-up, along with the winners of a Wallingford School competition. Only £7 for adults with accompanied children free. There are five major 2015 British Blues award winners at this years’ festival which underlines the increasing success of this fabulous event. Weekend tickets are only £40 for all three sessions with all tickets for sale on-line and in KP and the Tourist Information Centre from February. Please book early to avoid disappointment as we sold out both nights in advance in 2015. Meanwhile keep visiting www.bluesandbeer.co.uk for regular updates.

Geoff GoddardChairman




The Didcot Lottery

The Didcot Lottery was set up by two local mums who felt there was a need for more financial support for local good causes. The aim of the

lottery is to provide a source of local financial support, which is open for local groups, charities and individuals to apply to.

The lottery is open for anyone within the SODC/ Vale District, who is over the age of 16. This includes Wallingford and the local villages. Members can also apply for funding. All forms are available to download on our website www.didcotlottery.co.uk . You can also email any questions to us at [email protected]

At only £2 per month membership is payable by standing order. There will be a monthly draw with 3 cash prizes for members. The remainder of the money will then be placed into the charity pot. We have an allocation committee who meet monthly, and choose a charity from submitted applications. For this to work though we need people to take part and join!

Simply set up your standing order using the bank details on the form. Fill in the form and send back to us for our admin records and we will issue you your membership number. It’s that’s easy!

We hope that the lottery will become a success as we have the potential ability to help so many people within the South Oxfordshire community.

Claire Hughes

Can you help us?

Wallingford Museum is looking for people to help with the running of this popular attraction and we would love to hear from

you if you have half a day or more to spare once a month. Our band of volunteer custodians are critical to the museum’s success and we need people to greet visitors and be in attendance for a morning or afternoon once a month between March and November. Our new displays for 2016 will include ‘1066 - William comes to Wallingford!’ and ‘300 years of Cartoons’. No previous experience necessary other than a desire to meet people!

Please contact Gerard Latham on 832224 or email [email protected]

Steve Capel-Davies



Introducing Wallingford Triathlon Club

Wallingford Triathlon Club is a brand new multi discipline sports club based in Cholsey. We are a group of like-minded people who

wish to train and race together as a group, and have begun our training regime in earnest, building towards the 2016 triathlon season.

We offer up to 6 coached/led training sessions each week including;

• Improversrunningsession• Intermediaterunningsession• Coacheddrill sessions (BritishAthleticsQualified Coach)• SpinClass• Coachedswimtraining(ASAlevel1Coach)• Bi-weeklyclubrides

We are a British Triathlon Affiliated club, which means, as a member, you can take advantage of the discounted Home Nations membership, thus saving you money on Day memberships required to race and providing you with insurance when you train/race. Club membership is available as Full or Social, both giving you access to local discounts and offers and the opportunity to make friends whilst either getting fit or honing those existing multi-discipline skills.

We aim to race not only triathlons, but everything from 5km Fun Runs to Half and Full Marathons, Super Sprint Triathlon to Half and Full Ironman distance, and everything in between! If you are currently a single discipline athlete or purely curious, please come and join us for a training session as we are sure the ‘triathlon bug’ will bite you, as it has us! You can find out more information by visiting www.wallingfordtriathlonclub.co.uk or searching for our page on Facebook.

We look forward to welcoming you in January!

Gary KingChairman



Every Monday, Friday and Saturday Coffee at St Mary’s Church 10 – 12First Monday The Music Club for children with disabilities and additional needs call Sophia Nicholls 07768 298 297 or Julie Hinton 01189 722322Every Monday Optimists over 50 Badminton, Regal Centre 2.15 – 4Every Monday Table Tennis at the Regal Centre, 7.15 - 10.00pmEvery 3rd Monday NCT sling library at Bean and Brew, 10 – 11Every Tuesday Lunches at Methodist Church Centre 12.30 pmEvery Tuesday Wallingford and District Art Club, Centre 70 at 7.30Every Tuesday 2 – 4 Age UK Games Afternoon at Millington HouseSecond Tuesday PiP’s Carers’ Support Group, St Mary’s Church, 2pmEvery 2nd and 4th Tuesday Young at Heart Club 2 - 4 at the Masonic Centre.2nd/4th Wednesdays Henley Philatelic Society Bix Village Hall at 7.45 (not July/August)Every Wednesday 6pm at The Methodist Church - Boys’ Brigade ages 5 to 18Every Wednesday: RunWallingford meet at The Leisure Centre at Wallingford School at 19.00. Contact 07970 807108. All abilities welcome.Every Thursday Coffee Morning, Methodist Church Centre 10.30 to 12Every Thursday Wallingford Photographic Club 7.45 Crowmarsh Pavilion (not July/August)Every Friday Wallingford Country Market 8.30 – 11.15 in the Regal Centre.Every Friday and Saturday Coffee at the Corn Exchange, 10 – 2Every Friday and Saturday Coffee at St Mary’s Church 10 – 12Every Friday - Charter Market in the Market PlaceEvery Saturday WAGS Store open at Centre 70, 10-12Most Saturdays Local Producers’ Market, Regal Centre 10 – 1



hat’s on JanUaRY 2016

INDOW FOR WALLINGFORD is published on a non-profit making basis and is compiled

and distributed entirely by volunteers.

All material published is copyright and may not becopied, stored, reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part by any means whatsoever without the written consent of the Editor.

The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. The Editor is pleased to receive material for publication, but reserves the right to amend or reject it at her discretion.

Editor: Lynda Atkins39 Station Road, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 0JX

Telephone: 01491 [email protected]

Distribution Manager: Andrew Blackwell,7 Chalmore Gardens, Wallingford, OX10 9EP

Telephone: 01491 - 825991For adverts/inserts, contact Albry Printing Co. Ltd.

Telephone: 01491 - 836282

Publication Date: 1st of the month

Every Sunday Wallingford Runners meet for a run. Contact number is now 07720 204783 or 07919 6925321st Sunday 1.30, Market Place, cyclists relaxed road ride, all welcomeSecond Sunday Wallingford Model Club meet at the Fire Station 10 till 5. All welcome. Tel George Clark 2008613rd Sunday 1.30, Market Place, cyclists longer road ride, experienced riders.

2nd Toy Library for Children with Special Needs and their families. Contact Pamela on 07717280995

3rd Baroque Music from the Band of Music at St Mary’s

6th Wallingford WI Beetle and chat social evening, 7.30 at Ridgeway Church Centre contact Carole 835265

6th Wallingford U3A Moscow to Vladivostok on the Trans Siberian Express phone Hermione on 01865 858 024

8th TWHAS talk: the White Tower

9th Deadline for copy for the Window for Wallingford

12th Friendship Group Visit to the Holy Land tel 835074

12th Café Scientifique – Can Happiness be Measured?

14th Gardening Club Trees: A Camera’s Perspective

19th Farmers’ Market

20th Thameside (Wallingford)U3A: Anectodal History of Oxford University

26th Friendship Group Wallingford Now and Then tel 835074

28th Collection and Distribution day for The Window for Wallingford

28th RBL Branch Meeting. 12 midday. Masonic Centre

30th Swap Shop in the Regal

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