Great Coxwell plans their first ever Scarecrow Trail and Café.  
 
Save the Day: Sunday, 24th October 2021
 
We need lots of scarecrows; anyone who would like to make one or get together with a neighbour or friend to make one,  please reply to web@greatcoxwell.com to register your interest.
 
The Scarecrow can be anything, from the traditional Worzel Gummidge and Aunt Sally to a Spaceman or any character you choose. 
 
More details of this event will follow.

Good morning/afternoon

This email is a difficult one for me to be writing.

As of Monday 9th August I will no longer be your postman due to a resignation at Royal Mail Faringdon. A friend/colleague with seniority over me has signed for this duty. To say I'm gutted is an understatement as this has been my round for 17 years and you are all far more than a job to me and I will miss you all.

I would like to thank everyone for their kindness humour and friendship and I wish you all, all the best
 
Take care
 
Ex Postie Paul

We noticed a large camera/phone extendable stand has been left on a picnic table in the play park for a few days now – I’ve taken it home just to tidy up really, but if it’s yours, come and get it any time from Stonevale.   Alternatively if no one claims it in the next couple of days, but would like it then email me at russpayne999@gmail.com and I’ll let you know. It is a Velbon Videomate 400 model. 
 

Great Barn Festival is back – about 18 months late and with limited tickets, professional cleaning crews and an awful lot of hand sanitiser but still the same lovely atmosphere, fantastic family theatre, music, storytelling and art. On September 18th and 19th we open the gates to welcome you to join us and as residents of the village we would like to extend exclusive discounts to you on both the grounds only tickets and main stage performances. (Don’t worry, if you just want to wander across from gate to gate on a dog walk that is fine with us too).
 
We have a market place of arts, crafts and gift items in which you might see some familiar faces). We are happy to be hosting Stonevale Concerts for a unique experience, Lynette Stulting will perform with international concert violinist Sebastian Mueller in an atmospheric Sunday lunchtime recital (some additional spectacle provided in relocating her beautiful grand piano for the occasion!). Returning are Armaleggan Morris, the National Trust will offer tours and pond dipping for the kids. Our main stage will see Shakespeare for children and a more grown up roaming troupe of performers will be in the grounds. We have circus skills and craft for kids. Art workshops and demonstrations of medieval musical instruments as well as a full play bill of brilliant more modern musicians with a real folk, roots and Americana feel. Not to be missed, The Servant’s Ball whose members are more used to commanding major national stages than our magnificent dirt floored barn. On Saturday evening they will close the main barn stage before some of Oxfordshire’s finest take over the reins in the cabaret tent and bar. We won’t play too late or too loud but if you want to bring your guitar, fiddle or spoons feel free to come and help us wrap up the evening ceilidh style (sadly without the dancing).
 
We close on Sunday night with an outdoors performance, come rain or come shine of Robin Hood, a raucous comedy for all the family from the West End Director of The Play that Goes Wrong. Expect lots of humour, musical instruments, quick changes and terrible stage fighting.
 
That is just a little of what we have to offer in our carefully considered and Covid cautious calendar events for more details please visit www.greatbarnfestival.com or contact boxoffice@greatbarnfestival.com. If you are a resident of the village and get in touch directly we will organise your friends discounts. Or call me, Ainslie, at Danes Cottage on 07774459046. Tickets are required for all access and are limited this year. They are selling well and there will be no further tickets released, we want everyone to feel safe and able to find their own space. Over the next few days we will pop a note and further invitation through your door.
 
As always we aim to leave no footprint and other than providing a little fun we have everything in place so we cause as little impact on normal village life as possible. If you have any concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me. Similarly if you would like to add to the fun, give us a tune, sell your art or throw your lot is as a volunteer (it has perks) then get in touch.
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Paul the postie here... Unfortunately I had a fall on my round two weeks ago and ended up on the ground  with a very painful ankle and bruised pride.  I managed to do the round for another week but it gave away again last Saturday and I have ended up with a 3rd degree serious sprain injury. I have now got the pleasure of wearing a very cumbersome boot for the next six weeks. The upshot is I will not be on my round for the foreseeable future. I regard many of my customers as friends so I thought I would put you all in the picture as you may see some new faces. I hope you all have a great summer and I will see you soon.

Postie Paul.

Get well soon Paul (from the Editor)
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Sales for the morning of 5th June; cakes, unwanted gifts and collectibles, came to £286.

This has gone to the hall \ village funds.

Thank you to all who supported.

Gini Green

We are expecting quite a few cars in the village around the time of the service on Saturday. We hope it won’t cause much disruption and we have asked people to park considerately. If you have a problem on the day please contact me on 07773 918054 with the car’s details and we will get it moved as soon as possible. Thank you to those who have offered their driveways for parking. 

If you would like to come on Saturday you are very welcome, just email malandemma@msn.com so we can get an idea of numbers. The service is at 2:30pm, followed by tea at the Sudbury house hotel - we are looking forward to seeing many of you there to celebrate Emma’s life together. 

Malcolm, Kirsty, Fiona and Claire

Frank would like to inform everyone in the village that his granddaughter is being christened in the church on Sunday 25th July and then holding a celebration in the garden at Grey Gables afterwards.
 
There are 50 invited guests so this may mean that a large number of additional cars are going to be parked in the village for a couple of hours and he is sincerely hoping this does not cause anyone in the village any problems.
 
If on this day anyone has an issue with an unexpected parked car please call Frank on 07774 821837 with the vehicle's details and he will ensure it is moved ASAP.
 
Thank you for your understanding.
 
Frank Robertson
Grey Gables

I would like to thank you all for the many cards & offers of support I have received after the sudden death of Chris. They have been truly appreciated.

I am so very thankful that I live in such a Special Place.

Pam

For those interested in the farm there is a bit more information here.