Thank you to everyone who came to Bonfire Night, and particularly to the Amazons for lending us their floodlights, Savages for providing the event banner, Martin Cox for his generator, Pete Baker for the amazing fireworks display, and all the helpers who collected wood, baked and served potatoes, ran the entrance desks, marshalled, organised and served beer, wine and other goodies, and much more: we could not have done it without you! Over 900 people attended, making it a very successful event – so much so that we got through all the supplies of beer and nearly all the mulled wine!

Christmas is coming…

The BVS is delighted to continue running two favourite Christmas events this year: Santa’s Sleigh and Carols on the Playclose on Christmas Eve; and the Boxing Day Walk on 26th December. See page 3 for more details.

• Tuesday 24th December – Santa’s Sleigh and Carols on the Playclose. Santa’s village tour starts at Bohams Road (London Road end) at 5:00 pm and ends in the Playclose at 6:30 pm, where he will give out presents. Please see the Christmas feature on page 3 for details of how to get your child onto Santa’s list!
• Thursday 26th December – Boxing Day Walk. Registration from 10:00 am at the Village Hall, skits at 10:30 am and walk at 11:00 am.

Plus, do join us to blow off the cobwebs/clear the hangover for the convivial Roger Cambray Memorial Walk from Blewbury to The Bell Inn at Aldworth and start the new year on a high note! We meet at The Pound at 10:30 am on Wednesday 1st January 2025.

BVS marquee for hire

The BVS marquee is available for hire by other groups, societies and individuals in the village for a small charge. It measures 12m × 6m and has sides if needed. If you were at the Beer Festival, or have supported the Fireworks Night or Summer Dance, you may have seen it in action. To book it, contact lydia.wanstall@gmail.com.

Quaker Wood Planting Day, Sat 7 December, 10am to 1pm.

If you would like to plant a tree or trees as part of this exciting project please come along to Quaker Wood on 7 December. We will have some bare-root trees 40-60cm high to plant with tree shelters and canes in pre-marked locations within the woodland site. You will be shown how to plant and fix the shelter.

You are welcome to bring children but they must be supervised at all times.

Wear appropriate footwear and clothing, gloves, and bring refreshments and a spade if you have one. Toilets available in the Village Hall. RSVP to anthony@stiff.org.uk or call 07798 876819 by 2 December if you can come because we need to know how many trees to make available. If you have any saplings which you have been keeping for the wood, bring these too and let Anthony know the number.

Nature Reserve. We will be maintaining the hedging on the site on Saturday 14 December between 0930 and noon. Following the enlightening talk on reptiles, James Morgan spotted  a grass snake under one of the reptile mats! Please do not move the mats; they are part of our monitoring programme. Winter bird visitors such as redwing and fieldfare have been arriving so keep your eyes pierced. If you would like to join our list of volunteers, please email the secretary below. Many thanks to everyone who has helped so far.

If you want to know more about Sustainable Blewbury and become a supporter who receives occasional newsletters, email secretary@sustainable-blewbury.org.uk.

THE BLEWBURY BRIDGE CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY will be held on Sunday 15th December in the Village Hall, starting at 5pm. Military Bridge will be played – as is traditional (!). Participants are requested to bring along an item of food to share – a list has been circulated separately for you to indicate what you plan to bring. Liquid refreshments will be provided.

At the Annual General Meeting on 5th November Michael Allen retired as Chairman and was replaced by Matt Wright. All other Officers and Committee Members continue to serve.

£240 was raised, both on the night and by direct contributions, through the Simultaneous Pairs held in aid of Children in Need on 12th November. Congratulations to Malcolm Cochrane and Michael Allen who, on the provisional results, came 10th out of 1,363 pairs nationally on the Tuesday evening, with a score of 68.03%.

Blewbury will run Realbridge sessions on Thursdays 5th and 19th December, welcoming Wantage members, and, indeed, any visitors from other clubs. Wantage Bridge Club will host Blewbury members on December 12th. There will be no session on December 26th.

It is hoped to run Friday evening Social Bridge sessions at 7.30pm on December 6th and 13th, subject to sufficient participants, then re-start in the New Year.

Any enquiries, etc., to the Chairman, please – Matt Wright at matt.wright.2002@gmail.com

Blewbury WI’s next main meeting is their annual Christmas lunch – members only this time.  This will be held at the Goring and Streatley golf club on Thursday 5 December. But do look out for our 22 January 2025 meeting which will be “The amazing, life-saving medical detection dogs”. Details in the next Bulletin.

If you’d like to come along with someone else or find out more, ring our Secretary, Joy, on 850543 or email blewburywi@gmail.com.  Come as a visitor – you will be made so welcome!

Calendar of events