Middle Aston garden visitors defy the weather
It was very unlucky that the weather forecast should be so bad on a Saturday in early June. The gardens that opened in Middle Aston to raise funds for the church roof were looking spectacular, but the sky was threatening.
In the event a cheerful crowd managed to stay dry for a couple of hours. When the rain came, they put up their hoods and umbrellas and carried on. And many of them found shelter in Graham Clifton’s large shed where they enjoyed tea and homemade cake. Most importantly, they raised over £1,000 for the Steeple Aston Church roof appeal.
The gardens that opened were: Middle Aston House, Home Farm House, Barley Port, The Granary, Oakridge, Lidney Croft and Stedman /Bluebell Cottage.
Organiser Vicky Clifton reports:
Saturday, 7th June saw the first open gardens in Middle Aston for quite some time. Six different garden owners worked their green fingers to the bone in preparation for the event, three of which had never been opened to the public so added to the appeal in visiting.
Like any event organiser, plus one of the gardeners I was glued to my weather app for the week before, hoping the wet afternoon forecast would change. As time moved on, the picture looked worse with the addition of a Met office yellow weather warning. However, the gods looked down on us, and it wasn’t as bad a planned. We were blessed with some very hardy plant enthusiasts and locals who grabbed their brollies and visited.
Steeple Aston WI provided tea and cakes for us. A welcome sight when wet visitors needed a warming break. Such a spread of delicious cakes was hard to resist.
My thanks to WI members and other villagers for baking.
There were many villagers who helped put on the event, and I thank them whole heartily for their time. Thanks also go to Middle Aston House for allowing us to use their car park and opening the grounds.
Most importantly thanks to the garden owners: Dorothy & Graham Clifton, Nuur & Hannah Norbury-Meeajane, John & Caroline Williamson, Caroline Parsons and Kate Symondson & Will Spray.
Everyone’s hard work paid off and I’m delighted to report we raised £1,250 towards the Church roof appeal.
Nigel Francis visited the gardens ahead of the event, when the sun was shining so you can enjoy his photos along with a few taken on the day by Vicky Clifton and Jenny Bell.
Go to the Photogallery, click on the first photo to enlarge it and then use the arrows to navigate.
Have your say on A4260 lower speed limits
Oxfordshire County Council is asking residents to comment on plans for lower speed limits along the A4260 between Kidlington and Banbury and nearby roads, including the area around Hopcrofts Holt. The consultation is open until Friday, 4th July. You can see details and comment on the OCC website.
The council says:
We’re asking for your views on the proposal to introduce new lower speed limits on and along the A4260 corridor (including selected adjacent roads) between Kidlington at the south & Banbury to the north. Specifically, the proposals comprise of the following reduced speed limits:
- 30mph speed limits on the A4260 Oxford Road at Bodicote & Banbury.
- 40mph speed limits on the:
- A4260 Oxford/Banbury Road at Hopcrofts Holt,
- B4030 at Hopcrofts Holt,
- A420 Banbury Road at Shipton-on-Cherwell, and
- A4095 Bunkers Hill & Upper Campsfield Road at Shipton-on-Cherwell.
- 50mph speed limits on the:
- A4260 Banbury Road at Shipton-on-Cherwell,
- A4260 Banbury Road at Rousham,
- A4260 Oxford Road at Steeple Aston,
- A4260 Oxford Road at North Aston,
- A4260 Banbury Road at Deddington, and
- B4027 at Tackley.
- 60mph speed limit on the A4260 Oxford Road (Northbound carriageway only) at Middle Aston.
The proposals are being put forward – following investigations by Officers – as part of the Councils ‘Vision Zero’ strategy, which seeks to work on a safe system approach to reducing fatal and severe injuries to road casualties, the Council proposes to reduce vehicle speeds to safer levels for road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, motorcyclists, and all motorists.
Details are available to view on the Councils consultation portal at the address below:
https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/kidlingtonbanbury_a4260_speeds2025
Any objections or other representations on the proposals should be submitted by Friday 4th July 2025.
The County Council will review the responses and if necessary (i.e. if objections are received) prepare a report to be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at a meeting scheduled for later in 2025. This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak.
Vicky takes over as Village Hall Chair
At the Annual General Meeting of the Steeple Aston Village Hall Trustees committee held on the 12th May, Vicky Clifton was voted on to become their new Chairperson.
There had been a lengthy search to find a replacement for Barbara Brewer, who has retired after many years as a very efficient and successful chairperson. As it turns out, the solution was very close to home. Vicky, who lives in Middle Aston, is already well known locally as Show Secretary for the Horticultural Society and Captain of the Handbell Ringers.
Vicky said, “I’m honoured to have been asked and elected as Chair of the Village Hall trustees. Barbara’s steadfast service has been wonderful and creates big shoes for me to fill.
“Luckily for all of us, Barbara is not only staying on the committee but moves into the newly created role of Operations Coordinator. This will cover a lot of the day-to-day tasks she currently does in conjunction with Angela Smith, so in many ways it will be business as usual.
“I’m here to support the other trustees in any way I can, and any villagers who have concerns or ideas please do get in contact with me.
“In the next few months, the committee will be deciding on a programme of events for the forthcoming year. If there is a specific event you would like to see in the programme or if you have any new ideas, please contact me or any committee member.”
Vicky Clifton
Tel: 07817025948 Email: vmcstedman@btinternet.com
The new committee is listed below, showing which group they represent:
Vicky Clifton Chairperson
Barbara Brewer Tuesday Badminton
Margaret Bulleyment Choral Society (Secretary)
John White (Treasurer)
Alison Moran Thursday Badminton
Deborah Morris WI
Tina Ferguson Village Rep
Torquil McLusky SRT Co-ordinator
Anne Haymes Village Rep
Chris Clarke PCC
Stuart Cummins Archive
Richard Preston Valentine Club
John Coley Garden Club
For more information about the Village Hall, go to their website
We’ll Meet Again – a joyous VE Day celebration in words and music – photos
Steeple Aston marked the 80th anniversary of VE DAY on the day itself, Thurday, 8th May, with a service in the church. Then on Saturday, 10th May locals gathered in the Village Hall for a sell-out celebration called We’ll Meet Again. Some serious words, lots of wonderful music and much laughter combined to make it a memorable village occasion.
The organiser Margaret Bulleyment reports:
Celebration, Commemoration and Reflection. It had finally arrived! The postponed 2020 VE celebration had transformed into the 80th anniversary party and villagers clad in red, white and blue, streamed into a bunting-adorned hall, clutching flags of all sizes, ready to party.
After a moment of reflection with Siegfried Sassoon’s, Reconciliation, read by Tina Ferguson, the most popular song of WWII – Lilli Marlene – warmed up the audience. Lorraine Vera Watling lead the singing, with Paul Herrington, honorary resident of SA, accompanying on the piano. This was the first of nine iconic musical numbers.
Paul Rodgers set the scene, reading Noel Coward’s Lie in the Dark and Listen, describing planes flying out the troops, while those responsible for the war, slept snugly below.
Stuart Cummins read the first of SAVA’s local stories, which included an evacuee, a civilian and a housewife. This one was personal, as Reggie, the airman writing the letter, stationed at Upper Heyford, was a friend of Stuart’s great-uncle. Reggie was ‘billeted’ in a hayloft, over the stables at Jersey Manor Farm, Somerton. Sadly, just weeks later, Reggie was dead, and by the end of the war, two more of his friends and Stuart’s great-uncle, Denis, had also given their lives.
A brisk Run, Rabbit Run followed and then WI members dotted around the hall, performed Cathy Lawday’s wonderful Don’t Underestimate the WI! in which the ladies described their many wartime activities to Mr. Hitler. The climax where they brandished their various props – including hammers, saucepans and onions, would have scared anyone.
Next came a disgraceful episode in which an inebriated Private Brewer tried to persuade Sgt. Vaughan ‘Smeck’ to tuck him up in bed, just like his mother. In the end, both soldiers retired to their respective beds with a teddy and a dolly.
From the ridiculous to the sublime, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square – a lovely performance from Vera – took us to a magical world far beyond smoggy London – and sunny France, where it was written.
The audience now had to sing for its sausage rolls, in The Quartermaster Store. Please note there was no ‘cheese with shocking dirty knees’ offered in the interval.
The second half began with a soaring version of Eric Coates, Dambusters’ March, for which Paul Herrington received thunderous applause.
The White Cliffs of Dover changed the mood entirely. All the evening’s songs had been written just before, or during the war, so ‘Tomorrow when the world is free,’ was a hope, not a certainty.
The hall was getting livelier, as Nigel and Kay Francis skilfully demonstrated The Lambeth Walk, before others joined them on stage for a stompin’ performance. Oi!
Stuart returned, to give us some wartime recipes, far more stomach-churning than anything in The Quartermaster Store.
A bellringer is not just for Christmas, the audience was reminded, as the Handbell Ringers struck up a jaunty medley of wartime favourites, for more hum-a-long and sing-a-long.
The party climax, the Elgarian There’ll Always be an England, came with the instruction to raise roofs in Deddington, but by the end, flags a-waving, Banbury was suffering.
After plaudits to participants and helpers, there were special thanks to Lorraine and Paul (without whom the event could not have happened.) The final thanks went to Barbara Brewer, who was attending a Village Hall event for the last time, as Chair of the VH Committee.
The final song, We’ll Meet Again – says it all. It was joyous!
For lots more wonderful photos from Nigel Francis, please go to the Photogallery. Click on the first photo to enlarge and then navigate by using the arrows.
Local election results send a confusing message
In the local elections on May 1st, villagers elected a new Oxfordshire County Councillor, and a new Cherwell District Councillor, both for the Deddington ward – and both for different parties.
In the county council election, voters followed the trend in Oxfordshire electing Gareth Epps as our new Liberal Democrat representative. He defeated the sitting Tory Arash Fatemian who had been on the council since 2009 and represented Deddington since 2013.
Councillor Epps says: “Thank you to all those who we chatted to on the doorstep. I’m delighted to have been elected as the county councillor for the Astons, Deddington, Heyford Park and the surrounding villages. I’m very happy to take up any issues or try and answer concerns residents may have.” His email address is gareth.epps@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Another notable loser was Eddie Reeves, leader of the Conservative opposition on the county council, who is also one of our Deddington district councillors. He keeps that job but failed to win back his Cropredy seat as the Tories lost more than half their county counsellors. The Liberal Democrats have now taken control of Oxfordshire County Council with a majority for the first time.
The vote for a new district councillor was a by-election caused by the resignation of Councillor Andrew McHugh. Here the Conservative candidate managed to buck the trend and was elected with a large majority. She is Zoe McLernon, a former Bicester Town Councillor and caseworker for Victoria Prentis, the previous local MP and now member of the House of Lords.
She says: ” I’m Zoe McLernon, the new Cherwell District Councillor for the Deddington Ward, alongside your existing councillors, David Rogers and Eddie Reeves. I live in Hook Norton with my fiancé and dog and know Steeple Aston very well.
I’ve worked in the transport sector (mainly rail) for several years and have lived in Oxfordshire all my life (minus university and a stint living in Europe). Please do get in touch with me if you have any concerns or questions. The best way of contacting me is by email. I don’t have my CDC email address set up yet so for now, please use zoe.mclernon94@gmail.com.”
The full results are as follows:
Oxfordshire County Council – Deddington Ward
Gareth Epps Liberal Democrats 1050 Elected
Arash Fatemian Conservatives 870
Paul Yoward Reform UK 637
Sian Tohill-Martin Labour Party 273
Aaron James Bliss Green Party 249
Electorate 7765 Turnout 39.8%
Cherwell District Council – Deddington Ward
Zoe McLernon Conservatives 1560 Elected
Nick Mylne Liberal Democrats 916
Helen Oldfield Labour Party 478
Aaron James Bliss Green Party 370
Electorate 7673 Turnout 44.34%
Environmental survey shows most concern for nature
Steeple Aston Environment and Sustainability Committee recently surveyed villagers about their priorities for future action. They found that they care most about ‘nature, habitats and environment’.
Steeple Aston Parish Council established its Environment and Sustainability Committee (ESC) in 2022. The committee works to secure a sustainable future for the village and its residents.
In its short life, the committee has succeeded in accelerating the introduction of a 20mph limit to the village, enabled residents to identify energy savings through the loan of a thermal camera, and made wide-ranging contributions to the (badly delayed) Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan. They are currently exploring the potential to install public EV chargers in the village.
But they say they need to do more, so surveyed villagers to help to decide their priorities for the future.
Carl Tomlinson, the Chair of the Committee reports on the results:
We have had 34 replies to our survey. This is a summary of the key points:
Nine respondents (26%) were not aware we exist as a committee. The average awareness of our work was 5/10.
We asked the respondents to prioritise seven areas of activity for the committee.
Based on the top three priorities for each respondent, it is clear that respondents feel that ‘nature, habitats and environment’ are the most important priority, followed by climate change resilience and reducing energy consumption.
Water management and sustainable transport probably edge sustainable food consumption and production into last place over the survey as a whole.
We will be using this information to guide our future activities.
Poppies on display in the church for VE Day
Around 3,000 poppies made by villagers were on display in the church for the VE Day service on Thursday, 8th May.
Adults and children, including members of the WI and the Valentine Club, and the Brownies and many more, have been making poppies which will be displayed in a commemorative cascade from the church tower for Remembrance Day in November. Pupils at Dr Radcliffe’s School made their own poppies which were attached to the pillars in the church.
Members of the Poppy Committee have been busy attaching the poppies to a net which will form part of the cascade. Their progress so far will be on display in the church for the special service of remembrance and gratitude on Thursday, 8th May to mark 80 years since the end of the war in Europe,
Committee member Merrill Bayley reports: “The end of April count for the poppies has inched up to 2,840 and we are pleased to say ‘and we are still counting’.
“We have a temporary pause in sewing on poppies whilst the work done so far goes on display in the Church for VE Day. We have sewn poppies on the netting down to 28 feet and 20” wide. However, for the actual cascade we will be widening as we descend!
“This photo shows the work rolled up and ready to be taken to the Church for VE Day.”
Once the VE celebrations are over they’ll be collecting more poppies for the November display. If you’d like to contribute, patterns, wool and needles are available in the Poppy Box in the Church.
If you need any help or information, please contact the members of the committee: Eileen (eileen@baglinjones.com) Hildy, Kay or Merrill (01869 347802, merrill.bayley@gmail.com).