Wednesday 4th March marked the fifth anniversary of Annabel and John taking over the Red Lion, and saw Elphin Lloyd-Jones guide Revd Canon Jason St. John Nicolle through their pub’s second “Fireside Chat”.

The son of a teacher (though his father moved into the clergy later in life), Father Jason grew up in Leicestershire, before moving to Dorset and then doing his History degree “in this area”. That led to an initial career in law, working in London, including at a Law Centre helping people with debt or gambling problems. Enjoying the pastoral side of that work, he felt a calling to become a parish priest.

Ordained in 2004, his first such role was as a curate in Kidlington, before he moved here in 2008 with his wife Maranda. Father Jason revealed the pleasure he now gets from writing organ music and performing recitals, as well as spending time with his family; and also from the opportunities he gets to teach, or just to “be there” for others. At Elphin’s prompting, we learned his views on a wide range of topics; from the decline of church attendances, to reflections on human nature, the subjectivity of knowledge, and the violence we see in the world today.

The whole conversation can now be watched at https://vimeo.com/1171387641?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci (with thanks to Alastair Laidlaw for his video-recording). Father Jason’s next Organ Recital is at St. Andrew’s Hagbourne, at 5pm on Easter Sunday (5th April).

Expanded to Photographers and Artists

To celebrate this imaginative piece of public art, made by Blewbury’s own David Harber, the BPC are calling on the artists and writers of the village to take one or more of the words on the sphere, or the artwork itself, and write a poem, take an artistic photo, or produce another artwork -sketch etc.

These can be sent to the Parish Clerk before 10th March 2026. We will then hold a celebration of the poets and the sphere on 20th March – the equinox. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in the categories: under 11, 11 to 18, and adult. Everyone (not just entrants) is welcome to the celebration on the Play Close, Friday 20th March (spring equinox) at 7pm to toast the new artwork.

If you’re looking for some spring-like exercise that doesn’t depend on the rain stopping, look no further than the Table Tennis Club.

We are a small friendly club with players ranging from 12 to 70+.
We have four tables, spare bats and balls. Meeting on Tuesday evenings in the Village Hall from 5.30pm to 7pm. We operate as pay and play, no membership fees. Under 18s and full- time students
pay £1, adults pay £3 per session. We welcome new players with a free first session.

Blewbury Village Hall, Saturday 28th March, 2pm to 4pm.

Karen, Andrew and Sarah are holding a farewell party for Dave the postie, at Blewbury Village Hall, Saturday 28th March, 2pm to 4pm, everyone is welcome to come and say farewell, we will hand over all the donations and cards that have been handed in to the post office, and you will of course be able to give him any more on the day. There
will be tea and coffee, and hopefully cake (please bring some cake if you are able to). He would like to be able to say goodbye to us all properly!

This month we say a heartfelt thank you and farewell to Dave, our wonderful postman, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service to Blewbury and the surrounding villages.

Dave has delivered through all weathers with a smile on his face and has become a familiar and much-loved part of village life. We will be holding a collection for Dave in the Post Office for anyone who would like to leave a card or make a small contribution as a thank you for everything he has done. Please feel free to drop in anything you’d like to add. We wish Dave a very happy and well-deserved retirement and thank him for all his hard work over the years.

A fine crop of Boxing Day skits was enjoyed by a large crowd at the Village Hall.

Pictured are The New Olds who won the Ron Freeborn Memorial Cup and whose choice of costume was a better fit for the
cold weather than some we could mention.

There was a great turnout, with over 200 participants and lots of groups of all sizes.  The John Grice Memorial Cup for best newcomer was awarded to The Celebrity Ashes.

The full list of winners is as follows:

• Individual: Just Gay (1st), The Inside Out Goes Back to Front (2nd), The Blewbury Bookie (3rd)
• Small group: Only Here for the Beer (1st), Chat BVS 2.0 (2nd), Blewbury Heist (3rd)
• Medium group: Spanish Christmas (1st), Cold Players (2nd) Stranger Blewbury Things (3rd)
• Large group: PDC Dancers (1st), Red Roses (2nd), Evri Day is an Adventure (3rd)

This event couldn’t happen without our brilliant volunteers, so thank you to the judges, compere, registration team, marshals and drinks  top teams. Finally, thanks to all who came along to present skits or be ‘here for the beer’!