Most residents will know that the Village has its own website ( https://charneybassett.org.uk/), but not so many will know how it is updated or by whom.
Since it was set up in around 2009, the website has been looked after by John Wright (in Barnfield): in recent times, he has been helped by Amanda Graham (also in Barnfield).
Now, after 15 years of service, John has decided to hang up his keyboard, so at the last Parish Council meeting he was presented with a few bottles of wine and a nifty tee-shirt by Chairman David Roberts, as a thank you for the many hours he has spent helping to keep villagers informed of local affairs. In accepting the gifts, John graciously explained that the website was not entirely down to him, but had come about with the help of others.
For the time being the website will be managed by Amanda, who is looking for someone with a willing set of fingers to help with updates. Don’t be afraid to put your hand up if you would like to get involved, even if you don’t think you have the requisite skills – this can also be a learning opportunity. |
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A huge thank you to all those who knitted, crocheted, sewed, baked and generally helped with all the work involved in setting up and taking down the Yarn Fest over the weekend of 20th and 21st July. This quirky event showcased the amazing talents of locals, with displays of all manner of yarn-based crafts. There were even wonderful spinning demonstrations by Sue from Charney on both afternoons. And in addition to the walk-in visitors, there were also the scarecrow wedding guests, waiting with the bride (jilted at the altar – lucky girl?)!
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In early May, Charles Eld took over from Ian Taylor as the co-ordinator of the Charney Army. All ‘Army’ volunteers were contacted and sent a questionnaire to complete, and there was a good response. Active members were invited to a meeting in The Chequers later in May to discuss the way forward and consider the draft work plan for the remainder of the year, to be approved by the Parish Council at its July meeting.
As a result of COVID restrictions, many individuals had taken responsibility for specific tasks around the Village and it was agreed that they should continue, with additional support from the Army as required. It was also agreed that the second and last Thursdays in the month should be used to carry out the larger and/or one-off projects that had been identified from responses to the questionnaire, and which were included in the work plan.
So far there have been four Thursday working sessions with between one and five volunteers attending. The main activities at these sessions have been:
- cleaning the war memorial on the Village Green in time for the D-Day anniversary; maintenance of the oak bench; and cutting back some vegetation which was growing over the pavement near the Chapel Lane turn
- cutting back vegetation on the path from the playing field to the old school
- reinstating the ‘missing link’ on the footpath from the school to Buckland Road; and maintenance of the Village map near the Church
- second phase of the ‘missing link’ on the footpath from the school to Buckland Road.
The next planned session on 25th July is intended to tackle the ivy growing on the stone wall to the Jubilee Orchard, opposite the Church.
Two new volunteers have been recruited since May, but more are always welcome. Please contact Charles Eld, Charney Army Co-ordinator, at charneyarmy@gmail.com if you wish to volunteer or have any comments to make. |
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CHARNEY BASSETT PARISH COUNCIL
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The Parish Council met in the Village Hall on 10th July 2024. Matters discussed included:
- County Councillors’ report
- Clerk’s financial report
- Planning matters including:
- Lyford Business Park (commercial buildings/parking etc) – update
- Solar Farm, Manor Farm, Denchworth – decision
- Storage barn, farm north-west Buckland Road – consultation
- Goosey Wick Farmhouse extension – update
- Blenheim Field, and also Long Meadow Barn – land use/development status update
- Road Safety (heavy goods vehicles) – verbal update
- OCC Local Flood Risk Management Strategy – consultation
- Charney Army’s future work list
- Issues relating to CHAFT:
- Draft Minutes of the Annual General Meeting and Committee meeting held 5th June
- Amendment of Hall and Field Land Registry documents – verbal update
- Village Green social event - Sunday 4th August.
Agendas and minutes of meetings can be found online at www.charneybassett.org.uk, including the full draft of the minutes for the 10th July meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 11th September 2024 at 7.30pm.
Trevor Brown (Parish Clerk) can be contacted at parishclerk@charneybassett.org.uk |
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In last month’s edition, mention was made of the fruit available in Jubilee Orchard. Mention should also have been made of the fact that the trees and bushes are kept in good shape. Many thanks to Hugh and Lynn Brookes – appropriately of Orchard Close!
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CHARNEY HALL AND FIELD TRUST
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Save the date!
 SUMMER SOCIAL
Sunday 4th August – CHAFT Summer Social - 3 to 5pm
on the Village Green
Games, Bouncy Castle, Refreshments and more...
Follow the Charney Hall and Field Trust Facebook page for updates
(refreshments will be for sale - but cash only please)
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CHAFT SUMMER SOCIAL - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAKES/TEAS
 Are you able to bake/contribute cakes for this event on 4th August? Or are you available for half an hour between 3 and 5pm on the day to help with serving teas? If you can help, or for more information, please contact Mary Castle on 868371 or email marycastle476@gmail.com |
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THAMES WATER RESERVOIR CONSULTATION
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The Vale of White Horse District Council (VoWHDC) is encouraging residents to give their views on Thames Water’s proposed reservoir near Abingdon.
The plan submitted by Thames Water, considered controversial by many local communities, is for an even bigger reservoir than originally suggested (almost as big as Gatwick Airport at around 6.5 km²), and VoWHDC is urging the water providers to give serious consideration to alternative solutions.
Thames Water’s public consultation ends on 28th August. You can submit your views at https://thames-wrmp.co.uk/projects/sesro/
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RESTRICTED PARKING AT PORTWAY CAR PARK
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Refurbishment works at Portway car park in Wantage will mean limited parking from Monday 22nd July for up to 8 weeks. The nearest alternative car parks are Limborough Road or Mill Street. Click here for more information. |
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CONSULTATION ON NEW COUNCIL WARDS
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The Local Government Boundary Commission would like to hear what residents and local organisations think about proposals for new council wards in the Vale of White Horse. More information can be found here. |
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HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
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- FREE – For children aged 4 - 11 via all Oxfordshire Libraries to discover reading for fun, and to improve reading skills and confidence. The Summer Reading Challenge runs from 6th July to 7th September – more details here
- Abbey Meadow Pool is set to reopen on Saturday 20th July. More information, including opening times, can be found here.
- An extensive list of more free and low cost activities available between 19th July and 31st August can be found here
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Don’t worry about parking - use Charney’s Wednesday Bus Service!
Charney has a regular bus service!
Run by Oxfordshire County Council, the number 85 service now runs every Wednesday. The 16-seater bus has disabled access, and Bus Passes are accepted.
The bus leaves Charney bus shelter at 10.18am, and gives you two hours in Wantage - time to visit the market and get some very fresh fish from Joe, and a huge selection of fruit and veg. You should even have time to browse the charity shops, and have a coffee, before catching the bus back at 12.45pm, getting you home at just after one o’clock.
Please use it, or we’ll lose it!
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CHERBURY CAMP – A BRIEF HISTORY
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Cherbury Camp is an Iron Age fort, one mile north of Charney Bassett and within the current parish boundary. A public footpath from the village leads to and around the fort, although there is no public access to within the fort itself.
It is an impressive structure, with three ditches and embankments enclosing about 4 hectares. It is larger than the hill fort, Uffington Castle, on the Ridgeway.
The location may seem odd compared with the many hill forts, but it was strategically placed at the narrowest neck of land between the River Thames and the River Ock, and also protected by a stream and a marsh. Its current form may date from the latter part of the middle Iron Age, most probably from after 200 BC [ref W. Wintle 2013].
Legend has it that the local inhabitants of Uffington Castle came to raid Cherbury Camp, where King Canute and his invading army were encamped. However, a young shepherd boy spotted them and blew his horn as a warning to the Danes. As a result, they are said to have won the subsequent battle, which took place at the crossroads half-way between Charney Bassett and Buckland. This area became known as Gainfield as a result. The shepherd boy was granted all the land within the sound of his horn, around Pusey, as a reward for his vigilance. True or otherwise as this local legend may be, the horn, known as the Pusey Horn, is now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum. A Pub in Charney was named ‘The Horn’.
Another legend is that it was here, at a Danish encampment within the old fort, that King Alfred disguised himself as a harpist or minstrel so that he could enter the camp and learn of their plans.
An archaeological excavation, carried out in the late 1930s, revealed a cobbled entryway with a gateway defined by two large postholes. A geophysics survey was conducted in 2007 showing that there was only one entrance, on the eastern side (the one on the north is modern), with at least a dozen hut circles and many pits, as well as the entrance road. Iron Age pottery and gold coins, an Early Medieval brooch, a Neolithic flint axe and Bronze Age arrowheads have been recovered from the site. Although the excavation suggests that the hillfort existed in the Iron Age, the nature of Early Iron Age occupation remains uncertain.
More:
There is much more that you can read about the camp here with references for further reading; and most importantly, if you have any more information and old photos that you can share, then please do get in touch via: charney.history@btinternet.com. |
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10.30 - 11.30 am
first Friday of the month
in Charney Bassett Village Hall,
starting on Friday 2nd August
All Welcome
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Charney Bassett and Lyford Education Trust (CLET)
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CLET supports a range of educational projects and activities, with grants awarded to individuals under the age of 25 and to community groups in the villages of Charney Bassett and Lyford.
The Trustees are willing to support children who may need additional tutoring to address educational gaps, which have arisen as a result of the pandemic.
Online applications are welcomed at any time and forms can be found on the Charney Bassett village website (see below), or contact the Clerk Ruth Clements for further details at cletclerk@gmail.com
Applications will be considered by the Trustees who meet in January, May and September.
https://charneybassett.org.uk/our-village/charney-bassett-lyford-educational-trust/
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Charney 100 Club Draw
The results of the July draw are:
£25 No 41 Hugh Taylor
£10 No 36 Sally Hawkins
Kindly drawn by Sylvia Gibbons
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The deadline for contributions to next month's issue of Charney Chatter is the 20th August 2024
Please email your entries to chatterinbox@btopenworld.com
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SEW & SOCIAL SESSIONS (all welcome) – Thursdays, 10 am – Noon, Village Hall
CHAFT SUMMER SOCIAL – Sunday 4th August, 3 – 5pm, Village Green
FIRST FRIDAY CCC - First Friday of the month, 10.30 - 11.30am
CHARNEY ARMY - Second and last Thursday of every month
CHARNEY BASSETT PARISH COUNCIL – Wednesday 11th September, 7.30pm, Village Hall
APPLE CELEBRATION – Saturday 12th October, 2 – 4.30pm. Teas, cakes, apple juicing and games! Further details nearer the time.
HARVEST SERVICE AND BRING & SHARE LUNCH – Sunday 13th October, St Peter's Church
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR – Saturday 30th November, 10am – Noon, Village Hall. Coffee, sale of crafts, cakes, preserves and other items.
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