Neighbours, locals, and Amazon delivery drivers will all be pleased to read that we’re close to completing the current phase of building work at Stonevale.  The builders could be finished (for now) by the end of Friday this week, weather permitting.  Huge thanks to all for your patience and help – the builders are happy working here now, so a great result all round.  Our other project, starting next month, is smaller-scale and quite conventional, so it should be less intrusive/disruptive than the ‘big roof’.
 
On a related topic – does anyone know roughly how old the boundary walls are between Stonevale and the Danes’ premises? These walls were incorporated into our garage in the 1970’s I think, but are clearly much older than that.  I wonder if the PC has any records?
 
Russ Payne  

I would just like to say a big thank you to everybody who gave their Jigsaw Puzzles to me so that I could pass them onto my mother.  It was a bit tricky getting them to her due to the lockdown, but finally I managed it and to say she was over-joyed is an understatement.  She was so immensely thrilled and touched.  So once again THANK YOU!
 
Alison
​

As some of you know, I brought forward our building improvements at Stonevale to start this month instead of after Easter, because I hoped it would result in minimum disruption (everyone ‘locked down’, not the nicest time of year to see the village etc), and huge collective thanks for your patience so far.  
 
Yesterday, one of the builders told me of some verbal abuse he had received from a pedestrian regarding parking of his works van.  I wasn’t present, so cannot make any judgement, but please help me to avoid anything like this happening again – it is not in any way necessary.  If anyone has any issues with the builders, the vans or anything else that needs airing, please don’t bring it up with them, but rather with me first. They are working to my plans, and I am positive that they are doing their level best to be considerate. I am working from home full-time, so just come and knock on the door, and if I’m not around Lynette will be here.  
 
As an update, the builders have worked outside every day in all weathers, and two and a half weeks in, they are actually one week ahead of plan.
 
 
Thanks,
 
Russ at Stonevale

We have just moved into the Old Post Office and thought we would introduce ourselves.  We are Nick and Rosie Hawkes. We lived in Abingdon for 30 years but always wanted one day to live in a village in more rural surroundings. We are semi-retired and work part time. We feel we are really settling into this lovely village and thank our near neighbours for such a friendly welcome.  If you are passing by do knock on the door and say hello and hopefully we can meet more sociably soon.

Best wishes
Rosie and Nick

For those of you who have not seen it - here is a link to the footage of the barn from 1955.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-great-coxwell-berkshire-1955-online

​

The village phone box book exchange has been refreshened.  All the old unloved, damaged books and those showing signs of damp have been removed, the shelves have been tidied and around 50 new books installed.  There’s lots of great books for children and for young adults.  Plus quite a few contemporary biographies and dozens of novels.  
 
Have a look before they all go!!
​

The Great Coxwell band will play some carols at Stonevale, at 4pm on the 24th.   Please join us at a distance with instruments/ singing or just bring a glass of wine. I am including a list to those who might decide to join in - it looks very long, but we are only playing one verse at quite a pace, so it will be music making for no more than 20-30 minutes.  And if you are walking past, you will know which carol comes next, according to our list!  (Weather looks cold but sunny).
 
Carols:
1. Away in a Manger (G)
2. Coventry Carol (g)
3. First Nowell (G)
4. God Rest You Merry Gentleman (e)
5. Good Christian Men Rejoice (F)
6. Good King Wenceslas (G)
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (G)
8. The Holly and the Ivy (G)
9. I Saw Three Ships (G)
10. Jingle Bells (C)
11. O Come, all ye faithful (G)
12. Once in Royal David's City (G)
13. Silent Night (C)
14. Unto us a boy is born (C)
15. We Three Kings (e)
16. While shepherds watched their flocks (G)
17. Away in a manger (A) - yes for the second time, different key arrangement!
18. Deck the hall with boughs of holly (A)
19. Jingle Bells (A)
20. O little town of Bethlehem (G)
21. Sleigh Ride (Bflat)
22.  We wish you a Merry Christmas (C)
 
Hope to see you on Thursday!
Lynette

As we are in Tier 2, outdoor carol singing is permitted, but please keep a 2 metre distance between yourselves and those who are not in your household, and feel free to wear a mask if you feel safer (it is quite good in holding off the cold as well).  

Full guidance details here, please stay safe and do not put yourself or others at risk.

www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period#carol-singing

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the young ones (every one is young when you are in your eighties) for all the lovely things they have done during the year, from Easter eggs to mince pies and everything in between. The village has always come together for royal celebrations, Christmas parties and some great money raising ideas.

​It is great to know this is continuing with the next generation!
 
We are so lucky to live in this village with such caring people who make these horrible times so much easier.

Judy Gregson
​

Save the date!

4pm next Sunday 20th December come out to your doorsteps with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie to toast your neighbours and enjoy a Great Coxwell Christmas lockdown style!

The "Elf Isolation" team will be dropping something off on Saturday 19th to help you celebrate.