What's BEEN on in West Oxford in 2007-10

A (partial) West Oxford Archive

Click a year for events in .....    2007     2008     2009    2010

Thursday 15th February 2007
6.30 pm
West Oxford Community Primary School
Ferry Hinksey Road

See also West Oxford Wildlife Group (WOWG) website

Creepies, crawlies and chrysalises

A slideshow walk through the wonderful world of insects and reptiles with Peter Preece.

Peter Preece is a nationally acclaimed wildlife photographer and winner of the BBC Wildlife Magazine Photography Competition 2006

Enquiries - contact Julia Hamer-Hunt 01865 240904

Adults £2, children free.

Thu 15th February 2007
7.00 pm
St Frideswide's Church

The Virgin and the Shepherdess: Loving Sacred and Secular Marys in Medieval Music.

Dr Elizabeth Eva Leach

Saturday 17 February 2007
11.30 pm
WOCA

Toe-tap your way through the winter by joining Nicholas Gill of The Oxford Classic Jazz Band and his friends for three mornings of scintillating sounds from the classic jazz era and entertaining talks.

Jazz Brunch 2 (of 3)

The Classic Jazz Drum Kit - The Art of Touch and Timing.

Nick Ward is an internationally respected exponent of vintage drumming. With the assistance of Nick Gill on piano he will demonstrate all aspects of the kit and explain how it came into being from pre-ragtime days in the 19th Century.

The art of classic jazz drumming is based on treating the kit as a rhythmic, colourful musical instrument with infinite varieties of light and shade - this will be demonstrated in a wide range of ragtime, blues and jazz numbers.

Tickets: £4.00 at the door (£2.00 concessions), to include coffee and a croissant/pastry. All welcome.

Doors open at 11 am for coffees and pastries and at 11.30 the show will start.

Brunch ends at 1.15 pm.

Tuesday 20 February 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy - Week 6

This week - Jim Hague on "The Czech Air Traffic Control System"

Tickets £1.

West Oxford is open to everyone. Each session consists of a 10 minute talk followed by some questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Tuesday 20 February 2007
7.00 pm
River Hotel, Botley Road

West Oxford Local History Group

50 years working for Kingerlee - builders of West Oxford

Martin Harris will talk about his father's experience working for Oxford building firm Kingerlee.

The River Hotel, this which was originally built as the home of the firm's founder has kindly agreed to host this talk

From the Kingerlee Website

The Kingerlee business was founded in 1868 by Thomas Henry Kingerlee, then a plumber living in Banbury

Thomas Kingerlee moved to Oxford and soon established a thriving business, not only undertaking building works for a variety of customers but also developing new homes for the expanding city. Many houses were built in west Oxford where Helen Road and Henry Road were named after members of his family and where he built a house for himself, which is now the River Hotel. More houses were built in south Oxford and then later back in west Oxford in the area that became New Botley. Many other important projects were completed in this period and those still standing in Oxford include The Old Fire Station and Apollo Theatre in George Street, The Jam Factory in Park End Street and River Mead Hospital on the Abingdon Road.

The company continued to thrive and consolidate through the twentieth century although with the arrival of the internal combustion engine, two World Wars and the Great Depression, things were certainly never dull. During the latter part of that century the company concentrated on general contracting, playing its part in rebuilding after the second war and responding to the boom years in the sixties and seventies. Much work was done at Cowley’s Pressed Steel Plant, now BMW’s new Mini factory, where the Apprentice Building and Paint Shop remain. In 1970 the Company re-started its development business, building amongst others, a number of prominent apartment blocks in North Oxford creating more than 200 new homes in all, and the new studios and offices for Radio Oxford in the Banbury Road.

Thomas Kingerlee died in the 1920’s but by then his two sons and a grandson had joined the business and continued to manage a variety of activities, which included a Joinery and a Builders’ Merchant. Subsequent generations followed them into the business and today three of the founder’s great great grandsons are involved, Jonathan Kingerlee, David Kingerlee and Richard Wilsdon.

Click here for more on West Oxford Local History Group activities - past, present and future.

		Warm yourself up in February … Have a free cup of coffee with your lunch! Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am - 2pm
		Cafe open: Monday - Friday 10 am - 2 pm
		All kinds of conferences, meetings and parties catered for

Tuesday 27 February 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford - Week 7

This week - Barbara Hammond on "The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: a swift overview"

Tickets £1.

West Oxford is open to everyone. Each session consists of a 10 minute talk followed by some questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Thursday 1 March 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

ETHICS OVER COFFEE – 1

A meeting for an hour's discussion about an aspect of ethics over a cup of tea or coffee. All are very welcome: come to one, some, or all of the discussions.

Thu 1st March: The Impossible Ethic of Jesus Christ- New Testament Ethics.
Led by Canon Wilfrid Browning.

Monday 5th March 2007
7.30 pm
WOCA

Management Meeting

Tuesday 6th March 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford - Week 8 of 8

This week - Fran Riches on "Icons"

Tickets £1.

West Oxford is open to everyone. Each session consists of a 10 minute talk followed by some questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Thursday 15th March 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

ETHICS OVER COFFEE – 3

A meeting for an hour's discussion about an aspect of ethics over a cup of tea or coffee. All are very welcome: come to one, some, or all of the discussions.

Thu 15th March: Climate Change- a Christian response.
Led by Karl Wallendszus, member of SAGE, Oxford's Christian Environmental Group.

Thursday 15th March 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Wildlife Group (WOWG)

Monthly Meeting

Saturday 17 March 2007
11.30 pm
WOCA

Toe-tap your way through the winter by joining Nicholas Gill of The Oxford Classic Jazz Band and his friends for three mornings of scintillating sounds from the classic jazz era and entertaining talks.

Jazz Brunch 3 (of 3)

Louis Armstrong - Jazz Innovator and Pop Star.

This jazz brunch will trace the extraordinary life of Louis Armstrong from his impoverished beginnings as a coal delivery boy in New Orleans before the Great War to celebrity status in the 1960s. During his journey from playing low down blues in brothels to chart hits with "Hello Dolly" and "Wonderful World" he changed the course of Jazz, influenced nearly every great jazz musician and became the most recognizable icon for the music.

Enjoy renditions of numerous jazz anthems and songs in the company of "Megs" Etherington (cornet), Norman Field (clarinet) and Nick Gill (piano).

Tickets: £4.00 at the door (£2.00 concessions), to include coffee and a croissant/pastry. All welcome.

Doors open at 11 am for coffees and pastries and at 11.30 the show will start.

Brunch ends at 1.15 pm.

Thursday 22nd March 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

ETHICS OVER COFFEE – 4

A meeting for an hour's discussion about an aspect of ethics over a cup of tea or coffee. All are very welcome: come to one, some, or all of the discussions.

Thu 22nd March: Why Christian Ethics is Good News – Virtue Ethics.
Led by Fr. Andrew Davison, tutor in Doctrine at St Stephen's House, Oxford.

Thursday 29nd March 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

ETHICS OVER COFFEE – 5

A meeting for an hour's discussion about an aspect of ethics over a cup of tea or coffee. All are very welcome: come to one, some, or all of the discussions.

Thu 29th March: Science and Faith.
Led by Dr Richard Riggs, physicist.

Wednesday 11 April 2007
7.30 pm
WOCA

Oxford Touring Theatre Company presents The Falling Sky by Brendan Murray

The Falling Sky is a richly rewarding story based on extensive research with people living in rural Oxfordshire and charts the fascinating stories of five local residents over the course of a year.

The production mixes live music, humour, contemporary issues and strong emotions – guaranteed to make you smile, wonder and wipe away a tear.

Tickets : £5 full and £3 concessions.
Reserve by ringing 245761.

Tuesday 17 April 2007
5.30 pm
St Matthew's Parish Centre
Marlborough Rd

Planning proposal for Aldi supermarket beside Toys R Us

The proposal to build an Aldi supermarket beside Toys R Us will probably be considered on Tuesday 17 April.

That meeting will be at St Matthew's Parish Centre in Marlborough Rd beginning at 5.30 pm. You are welcome to come and speak.

To let us know your views, contact Councillor Colin Cook(721844: cllrccook@oxford.gov.uk) or Councillor Susanna Pressel (554001: cllrspressel@oxford.gov.uk).

Thursday 19 April 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA
(Mary Town Room)

West Oxford Local History Group

Dr Martin Henig
"Life in Roman Oxfordshire"

Dr Henig is an authority on Roman Art and author of several books.

Saturday 21 April 2007
10.00 - 12.00
WOCA

West Oxford Waste Watchers
Bring and take event

One person’s junk is another person’s treasure! The ideal incentive for having a good spring clean! Bring your junk along to us and take away anything that catches your eye absolutely free. No obligation either to bring or to take!

No electrical goods, or large furniture please, but pictures and other details of these can be displayed on our notice boards with your contact details.

To find out more about other events run by WOWW, watch this website, or better still, join our electronic mailing list: westoxfordcag@yahoo.co.uk. You can also phone Ruth Finar on 727572.

Monday 23 April 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA

WOCA AGM

A short meeting, including your chance to say what you want from the Community Association -- what should we be doing to make your life in West Oxford better?

PLUS

Food, drink, raffle ... and much more.

Top raffle prize is a meal voucher for The White House on the Botley Road (many thanks to The White House for sponsoring this)

AND

A celebration to "turn on" WOCA's new solar panels, which will provide the Community Centre with clean, renewable energy.

Thursday 26 April 2007
7.30 pm
Democrats Club, Osney
(on the corner of East Street and North Street)

Charity fashion show in aid of Sobell House Hospice.

An evening of Fashion, Fun and Flamenco, with clothes from Rainbow and Spoon.

Tickets cost £12.50 and include a glass of wine and canapés on arrival plus a lucky no prize draw.

Doors open at 7.30. After show dancing til 11.30pm.
Licensed bar.

Tickets from Rainbow and Spoon, 22 Park End St, 723492.

Saturday 28 April 2007
10.30 am
Oatlands Road recreation ground

ALIEN INVASION

Large numbers of Himalayan balsam plants are spreading along the banks of some of our streams. They suppress the growth of mature grasses and other flora. In autumn, the plants die back, leaving the banks bare of vegetation, and therefore liable to erosion. This could increase the danger of flooding.

Please come and help to pull up or cut down as many of the plants as we can. We're meeting on Saturday 28 April at 10.30 am on the footbridge near the playground in Oatlands Road recreation ground. That's at the bottom of Duke Street - click this link to see a map.

For more information:
Susanna Pressel (554001, or email cllrspressel@oxford.gov.uk) or
Julia Hamer-Hunt (240904, email juliahamer_hunt@hotmail.com)

Sunday 29 April 2007
8.30 pm
Democrats Club, Osney
(1 North Street, on the corner of East Street and North Street)

West Oxford Local History Group

A Tony Joyce, president of the Oxford Civic Society:
Oxford's West Side Story: the work of the Oxford Civic Society, with particular reference to West Oxford and Osney Island.

Tony Joyce's talk will include the Civic Society's work in connection with proposed developments in Oxford's west side, including responses to proposals to redevelop the Westgate, the Newsquest development, and the redevelopment of the River Hotel proposed previously.

This is a joint event with Osney Island Residents Association (OIRA).

Monday 30th April 2007
7.30 pm
WOCA

Community Association Management Meeting

Thursday 10 May 2007
7.30 pm
Mary Town Room
WOCA

West Oxford Wildlife Group AGM
Our guest speaker is Pat Mansfield of the Oxford Urban Wildlife Group.

ARTSWEEK
woc.ART exhibition

Saturday 9 May - Sunday 17 May 2009
Times and locations to be confirmed.

WOCA

West Oxford Artists

Saturday 19 May 2007
10.00 am - 12 noon
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Christian Aid coffee morning

Saturday 9 June 2007
10.30 am - 12.00 noon
Oatlands Road Recreation Ground

West Oxford Waste Watchers

Join us on Saturday morning as we resume our efforts to keep West Oxford litter-free.

We'll be meeting on the Oatlands Road recreation ground at 10.30 am, and will finish around 12.00 noon. Tongs and bags will be provided; bring your own gloves if you want them.

If you know of a particular location which needs our attention, come and tell us.

Tuesday 12 June 2007
5.30 pm
St. Barnabas School, Hart Street, Jericho

Central South and West Area Committee meeting

This meeting may discuss the Bodleian library's plans for a large new book depository on Osney Mead.

Thursday 21 June 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Wildlife Group (WOWG)

Topics under discussion include:

• West Oxford Tree Survey (identifying types and locations of trees in West Oxford working from high-definition aerial photographs). We are consulting with John Thompson of the Forest of Oxford on this exciting project
• Suggestions for an area of "community woodland"in West Oxford
• West Oxford Fun Day - help us plan and staff ouf display
• Future activities - such as a possible WOWG picnic and guided tour at Boundary Brook Nature Park

Thursday 12 June 2007
8pm
St Frideswide's churchyard (or in church if wet).

Public Meeting to discuss the ongoing care of trees in the churchyard, and conservation strategy in the churchyard generally.

West Oxford Local History Group (WOLHG)

River trips with local history author and waterways' authority Mark Davies

A rural upstream option past Port Meadow to beyond Godstow, or a busier downstream trip past Christ Church Meadows to Iffley.

Commencing at the Waterman's Arms, Osney OX2 0BE

• 6pm to 7.30pm to Iffley and back
• 7.45pm to 9.15pm to King's Lock and back

  Or come on both!
  and enjoy a complementary glass of wine between trips.

  Advance booking essential, before July 7th.
  Places limited to 12 per trip.

  Price £10 per return trip.
  Phone 08452 269396 to book

Details of similar trips at www.oxfordrivercruises.com.

Mark Davies has written extensively on Oxford's waterways.
Click here for more details.

Nick Thorn's photo of our 2007 Fun Day poster ....

West Oxford Fun Day

Saturday 21 July 2007
1.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Botley Park (behind WOCA on the Botley Road)

Children - Free
Adults - £1 with raffle ticket.

Fun for all: stalls, food, games, competitions, live music, BBQ, trampolines, climbing wall, activities, entertainment & more!

Click here to see pictures from the 2006 Fun Day

... and here for the 2005 Fun Day

Tueday 26 July 2007
7.30 pm
WOCA

This talk is cancelled because of the flooding:

A lecture on the history of Binsey, drawing on baptism and burial records from 1813 till the present day.

Includes the ceremonial handover of the 19th century registers to the Country Records Office.

Wednesday 26 September 2007
7.30 pm
St Thomas’s Church, Becket Street, Oxford

John Whitehead (Oriel College, and former Churchwarden of St Thomas the Martyr), will speak on:
The Community of St Thomas the Martyr: An Oxford Parish Sisterhood

All welcome.

Sunday 30 September 2007
Harvest Thanksgiving Services at St Margaret's Binsey and St Frideswide's

At Binsey -- 3.30 pm -- Evensong for Harvest Thanksgiving
At St Frideswide's -- 6 pm -- Hymns and Readings for Harvest

This year at St Frideswide`s Church, Botley Rd, we are holding a special Harvest service.

We will be giving thanks for the West Oxford community spirit that was present during the July floods; and we will be standing in solidarity with all those locally whose homes and farms have been damaged by flooding.

We warmly invite everyone in the community to this service and for refreshments afterwards.

Monday 1 October 2007
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Saturday 6 October 2007
10.00 - 11.30 am
WOCA

Make things for Harvest:
Craft activities for under eights and their families
With coffee, juice, and snacks.

All welcome

Sunday 7 October 2007
International Harvest Festival
5.30 - 8.00 pm
WOCA

Bring a main course or pudding to share!
Please bring your own plates and cutlery too.
Circle dancing.

FREE ENTRY
All welcome

Tuesday 9 October 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy restarts ...

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy restarts tonight with :

"In Search of Camarón de la Isla" introduced by Marcos.

Frilly dresses in tourist tablaos?
Or a hidden art form that the initiated don't stay awake long enough for?

Local flamenco expert and author Marcos will guide us through what flamenco is and what is definiely is not!

Tickets £1 per session, or £5 for all eight talks in this autumn's programme.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 16 October at 8 pm.

Tuesday 16 October 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The autumn season of the all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"9/11 and the War on Terror - an alternative perspective" with Ian Hodgson.

Tickets £1 per session, or £5 for all eight talks in this autumn's programme.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 23 October at 8 pm.

Thursday 18 October 2007
8.00 pm - FILM
WOCA

West Oxford Waste Watchers

All welcome

West Oxford Waste Watchers are showing Al Gore's award-winning documentary film An Inconvenient Truth.

The film will be followed by a discussion, led by a speaker from local

roup ClimateXChange. Plus a quiz and a prize draw.

Thursday 18 October 2007
7.30 pm - WOWG meeting
8.00 pm - FILM
WOCA

All welcome

WOWG joins West Oxford Waste Watchers in their showing of An Inconvenient Truth at 8.00pm at WOCA. The film is about 90 minutes long,

People interested in discussing WOWG issues should try and get there at 7.30pm for a brief WOWG meeting beforehand.

Friday 19 October 2007
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road
7.30 pm

St Frideswide's Patronal Festival

High mass at 7.30pm.

The mass setting will be sung by Hertford College Choir.

Fr Robin Gibbons, a member of the Oxford University theology faculty, will be the guest preacher, and Fr Russell will celebrate.

Refreshments will follow the service, at which all are welcome come.

Tuesday 23 October 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"The 40% house - ideas for sustainable improvement to existing houses" with David Hammond.

Tickets £1 per session, or £5 for all eight talks in this autumn's programme.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 30 October at 8 pm.

Tuesday 30 October 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The autumn season of the all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"The Internet and Culture - democratization or dumbing down?" with Fr Russell Dewhurst.

Tickets £1 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 6 November at 8 pm.

Wednesday 31 October 2007
Halloween Party
with competitions for Fancy Dress and Best Pumpkin

Pre-schoolers 4.00 - 5.30 pm
Five and over 6.00 - 7.30 pm
WOCA

Tickets (£3.50) must be bought in advance.
Adults and children under 2 free.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Contact Lois on 203550 or call at 31 Harley Road.

Thursday 1 November 2007
2.00 pm
Elim Chuch, Botley Road

50 Plus meeting

A monthly meeting with a mixture of speakers, films, music etc followed by a cup of tea and a chat.

All welcome.

For more information on activities at Elim Church (including our Monday morning Toddler Group), click here

Monday 5 November 2007
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Tuesday 6 November 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

"The challenge of climate change and poverty" with Phil Bloomer.

Tickets £1 per session

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 13 November at 8 pm.

Wednesday 7th November 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Waste Watchers

Carbon Footprint - Chris Goodall

Chris Goodall, Oxford resident and author of How to Live A Low-Carbon Life: The Individual's Guide to Stopping Climate Change will be joining us to help us calculate our individual footprints and to lead a discussion on ways of reducing our impact on the planet.

All welcome

Tuesday 13 November 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

Kieron Winn's poems have appeared in Poetry Review, The Spectator, and on BBC1. Kieron will read a handful of his favourite poems and answer questions about the nature and craft of poetry — and perhaps why many readers now suffer from fear of poetry.

Tickets £1 per session

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 20 November at 8 pm.

Thursday 15th November 2007
8 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Wildlife Group

Monthly meeting

All welcome

Saturday 17th November 2007
10.00 am - 12 am
WOCA

West Oxford Waste Watchers

Autumn Bring and Take

These events are a regular fixture. Bring any of your unwanted items along and/or take away anything that catches your eye, absolutely free.

No electrical goods or large furniture, please - but photos and other details of such items can be displayed on our noticeboard with your contact details.

Saturday 17th November 2007
10.00 am - 12 am
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Musical Coffee Morning at St Frideswide's

Coffee, and various stalls including cakes, jams,books, Fair Trade, and a chance to find out more about Godly Play. During some
of the morning there will be live music.

Funds raised will be split equally between our Organ Appeal and paying for violin lessons for children at the West Oxford Primary School.

Please bring your friends!

Posters will be available in church to pin up around the community.

Donations of cakes to sell gratefully received.

Sunday 18 November 2007
4.00 pm - 6.00 pm
WOCA

Launch of
LOW CARBON WEST OXFORD

Come and find out how you can be part of a low carbon community:

• Art Workshops
• Live Music
• Play with clay
• Tea and cakes
• Bring your own mug and plate!

Tuesday 20 November 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

"Herbs" with Anne Higgens.

Tickets £1 per session

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Final session: Tuesday 27 November at 8 pm.

Tuesday 27 November 2007
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

"The never-ending detective puzzle — piercing together family history" with Fiona Hedges.

Tickets £1 per session

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

This is the final session of the Academy's autumn season. We expect to restart on Tuesday 15 January at 8.00 pm (date and topic to be confirmed).

Sunday 2 December 2007
CHRISTMAS CRACKERS
An afternoon of fun for everyone
4.00 - 6.00 pm
WOCA

• Can you make people laugh?
• Play an instrument?
• Juggle oranges?

Whatever your talent, come and entertain us at West Oxford's third annual Christmas Crackers.

You can enter on your own, or with friends, as an organisation or as a family group.

To book your slot, find Lois (20355)
For help with transport to this event, ring Marelyn or Richard at WOCA on 245761.

If you want to watch, just turn up!
Refreshments available.

FREE !!!
All welcome

Thursday 6 December 2007
2.00 pm
Elim Chuch, Botley Road

50 Plus meeting

A monthly meeting with a mixture of speakers, films, music etc followed by a cup of tea and a chat.

All welcome.

For more information on activities at Elim Church (including our Monday morning Toddler Group), click here

Thursday 6 December 2007
7.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Local History Group

Social meeting with informal planning discussions

Come along, enjoy a drink, meet other people interested in the local history of West Oxford and wider, and help us plan next year's projects.

ALL WELCOME

Only £2 nominal contribution !!

Next meeting - Thursday 22 February 2008

Wednesday 19th December 2007
7.00 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Christmas Carols, with choir

We're putting on this extra service especially for West Oxford's shops, businesses and organisations.

It will be a short service, about half an hour, with favourite traditional Christmas carols and some of the readings that tell the Christmas story.

There will also be a collection to raise money for Oxford's hospice, Sobell House.

Afterwards there will be wine and mince pies: please stay for that too if you can

Sunday 23rd December 2007
3.00 pm
St Margaret's Church, Binsey

Carols by Candlelight

Sunday 23rd December 2007
6.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Christmas Carols, with junior choir

Monday 24th December 2007
4.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Children's Crib Service

Tuesday 25th December 2007
9.00 am
St Margaret's Church, Binsey

Mass of Christmas Day

Tuesday 25th December 2007
10.30 am
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Mass of Christmas Day

2008

Tuesday 15 January 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy restarts ...

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy restarts tonight with :

"The Thames in West Oxford: a literary tour" with Mark Davies.

Mark Davies has written extensively on Oxford's waterways.
Click here for more details of Mark's talks and publications.

Tickets £1 per session, or £5 for all eight talks in this winter's programme.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next Academy session: Tuesday 22 January at 8 pm.

Thursday 17 January 2008
6.00 pm - 8.00 pm
WOCA

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING

ALL WELCOME

Neighbourhood Action Group meeting

Take your chance and say what issues directly affect you.
Your Neighbourhood Action Group will ensure that they are tackled at
their root cause and provide long term solutions.

Neighbourhood policing is about communities managing their neighbourhood by working
together and in partnership with all local agencies.

Your Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) is key to the success of neighbourhood policing.
It is this group who plan on behalf of the community and organise for tasks to be completed.

Your NAG is a volunteer working group made up of representatives from the
community. It includes residents, the police, local authority and other organisations,
such as local businesses and schools.

If you cannot attend the meeting but want to contribute,
you can email your concerns to JAW@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Your neighbourhod team can also be contacted via the non-emergency Police number : 0845 8 505 505

Click here for more details of your local police team

Tuesday 22 January 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The winter season of the all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Thoughts about museums" with Martin Henig.

Dr Henig is an authority on Roman Art and author of numerous books on the Classical World.

Tickets £1 per session, or £5 for all eight talks in this winter's programme.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 29 January at 8 pm.

Saturday 26 January 2008
10.45 am - 12.30 am
WOCA

Jazz Brunch with Spats Langham and Norman Field – “Al Bowlly”

For details email g.morgan@oxilp.ac.uk

Tuesday 29 January 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Trading shares in Public Limited Companies" with Ian Burton.

Tickets £1 per session, or £5 for all eight talks in this winter's programme.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 5 Febuary at 8 pm.

Thursday 31 January 2008
All day
WOCA Main Hall

British Dyslexia Association
"Screening for Dyslexia"

A one day course for teachers
Learn about screening and how to use three available screening tools.

Course aims:
To enable learners to develop a practical understanding of the key issues associated with screening and to be able to use a range of screening tools effectively.

Target Audience:
This training is suitable for class teachers, sencos, teaching assistants, learning support assistants, youth offending team staff and headteachers or anyone working within an educational setting who has responsibility for identifying individual learning needs.

It is important that those attending this course already have a good understanding of what dyslexia is and delegates should have previously attended some form of awareness training.

Specialist teachers may also find this course useful as it will provide an opportunity to examine and use a range of screening as opposed to assessment tools.

Click here for more information and booking details

Sunday 3 February 2008
Candlemas Church Services in West Oxford Churches

9.00 am
St Margaret's Church, Binsey

Mass at St Margaret's

10.30 am
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

All-age Parish Mass at St Frideswide's.
The sermon will be particularly suitable for the younger end of the "all-age" range!

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church website

Monday 4 February 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Tuesday 5 February 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Nietzsche: how to philosophize with a hammer" with Hadrian Wise.

Tickets £1 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 12 Febuary at 8 pm.

Wednesday 6 February 2008
6.00-7.00 pm
WOCA

Yoga Class starts.
6 sessions, one per week, with a break for mid-term.
Total cost £30

Further details and booking - contact sarahmacdonald99@hotmail.com

Wednesday 6 February 2008
7.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Sung Mass for Ash Wednesday

This mass will include Imposition of Ashes for those who wish to receive a mark of ask on their forehead: a sign with which to begin Lent. (If you prefer a daytime Ash Wednesday service, the mass at St Thomas's, Becket St, will be at 12.30pm that day.)

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church website.

Tuesday 12 February 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Vaccines: the current state of affairs and the evidence for and against vaccines" with Quentin Sattentau.

Tickets £1 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 19 Febuary at 8 pm.

Tuesday 12 February 2008
WOCA
5.30 pm

Oxford City Council
Central, South and West Area Committee
meets at WOCA

Wednesday 13 February 2008
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

St Frideswide's Parish Lent Group– 1

Peter Bridges - A Christian magistrate's view of the Criminal Justice System

Our PARISH LENT GROUP begins on Wednesday 13th February and will last five
weeks.

The Lent groups run from 7pm for one hour, and will be an opportunity to discuss a
topic with a guest speaker, all over a cup of coffee.

You are warmly invited to come along: to all the sessions, or to any particular ones that take your fancy.

Each session will stand very much on its own: the speaker will give a short talk
about the subject, and then we will have a discussion of the matters raised.

Next meeting: Wednesday 20 February, WOCA cafe, 7 pm

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church websit

Tuesday 19 February 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

POSTPONED --- POSTPONED --- POSTPONED
TONIGHT'S MEETING HAS HAD TO BE POSTPONED

Next session: Tuesday 26 Febuary at 8 pm.

Wednesday 20 February 2008
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

St Frideswide's Parish Lent Group– 2

Fr Russell Dewhurst - Antidisestablishmentarianism (Church and State)

The Lent groups run from 7pm for one hour, and will be an opportunity to discuss a
topic with a guest speaker, all over a cup of coffee.

You are warmly invited to come along: to all the sessions, or to any particular ones that take your fancy.

Each session will stand very much on its own: the speaker will give a short talk
about the subject, and then we will have a discussion of the matters raised.

Next meeting: Wednesday 27 February, WOCA cafe, 7 pm

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church website

Thursday 21 February 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Local History Group

"Carfax Conduit and Harcourt Hill Wellhouse"
a talk by John Ashdown.

John's talk will expand and consolidate what we learned about the Well House (aka "Conduit House") in Susan Westlake's excellent talk about the work of English Heritage in Oxfordshire.

John will look at the history of the Carfax Conduit and the well house, compare the scheme with other 17th century water supplies, and illustrate their current condition.

John Ashdown was Conservation Officer with Oxford City Council from 1972 to 2000, and recently lead a walk to look at the Carfax Conduit itself for the Oxford Preservation Trust. He is quite an expert on well houses, amongst many other topics

Tuesday 26 February 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"The 1911 Festival of Britain at the Crystal Palace" with Ben Reiss.

Tickets £1 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next session: Tuesday 4 March at 8 pm.

Wednesday 27 February 2008
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

St Frideswide's Parish Lent Group– 3

<Fr Donald Reece - Different Faiths Together

The Lent groups run from 7pm for one hour, and will be an opportunity to discuss a
topic with a guest speaker, all over a cup of coffee.

You are warmly invited to come along: to all the sessions, or to any particular ones that take your fancy.

Each session will stand very much on its own: the speaker will give a short talk
about the subject, and then we will have a discussion of the matters raised.

Next meeting: Wednesday 5 March, WOCA cafe, 7 pm

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church website

Monday 3 March 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Tuesday 4 March 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Birth of the blues" with Bob Summers.

Tickets £1 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Wednesday 5 March 2008
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

St Frideswide's Parish Lent Group– 4

Jenny Ayres - The Challenges of World Poverty

The Lent groups run from 7pm for one hour, and will be an opportunity to discuss a
topic with a guest speaker, all over a cup of coffee.

You are warmly invited to come along: to all the sessions, or to any particular ones that take your fancy.

Each session will stand very much on its own: the speaker will give a short talk
about the subject, and then we will have a discussion of the matters raised.

Final meeting: Wednesday 12 March, WOCA cafe, 7 pm

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church website

Saturday 8 March 2008
10.00 am - 12 noon
WOCA

West Oxford joins Oxfordshire's county-wide swap shop

This is the opportunity to bring unwanted, but reusable items, or pick up anything you want.
Bring or take or swap - all for free.

Items that you are welcome to bring along are: books, CDs, children's toys and baby items, garden tools or equipment, household goods, kitchen ware, pots pans and small items of furniture.

Items too large to bring? Bring a photo and details and put them on the swap board.

Swap Shops are great fun!
Everyone enjoys getting something for nothing
as well as doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint.

Sunday 9 March 2008
4.00 pm - 5.30 pm
WOCA

Low Carbon West Oxford - meeting at WOCA (Mary Town Room)

All West Oxford residents are invited to come along and find out what's going on locally to reduce the carbon footprint of our community.

Tea and home-made cakes available.

Wednesday 12 March 2008
7.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

St Frideswide's Parish Lent Group– 5

Paula Clifford - Journalism and the Media

The Lent groups run from 7pm for one hour, and will be an opportunity to discuss a
topic with a guest speaker, all over a cup of coffee.

You are warmly invited to come along: to all the sessions, or to any particular ones that take your fancy.

The speaker will give a short talk about the subject, and then we will have a discussion of the matters raised.

Details of all activities at St Frideswide's are on the St Frideswide's Church website

Thursday 13 March 2008
7.30 pm
West Oxford Democrats Club, East Street, Osney Island

Oxford Flood Alliance

We are an alliance of local residents and interested parties working on developing short and long term solutions to the flooding of our homes.

After the devastation of July 2007 and the recent January scare, we are determined to do everything we can to reduce the risks and prevent further flooding.

Believe it or not, there IS action that can be taken by the Environment Agency, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Vale of the White Horse and Network Rail ... but it needs to happen NOW.

Want to find out how you can help to put the pressure on? Come along to our first briefing meeting at West Oxford Democrats Club, starting at 7:30 pm.

Saturday 15 March 2008
10.00 am - 12 noon
WOCA

Litter Pick - Low Carbon West Oxford

West Oxford's own local Litter Pick, as part of the OxClean Spring Clean weekend.

Meet outside the Community Centre at 10.00 am, and bring your own gloves.
Bags for the waste and some tongs will be provided.

Children welcome.

Thursday 27 March 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Local History Group

"Literary West Oxford"
a talk by Mark Davies.

The waterways of West Oxford seen through the eyes of poets, novelists, diarists and travellers over time.

Monday 31 March 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Monday 21 April 2008
WOCA

2008 WOCA AGM

A short meeting, including your chance to say what you want from the Community Association -- what should we be doing to make your life in West Oxford better?

PLUS

Food, drink, music ... and much more

Thursday 24 April 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Local History Group

Jane Baldwin of Oxford Preservation Trust
will talk about the Trust and its work in West Oxford.

ARTSWEEK Site 264
woc.ART exhibition

Saturday 17 May - Monday 26 May 2009
Noon to 6 pm
Late night Thursday May 22 to 8 pm

WOCA

5 West Oxford Artists - Joy Perkins, Andrew Walker, Lawrie Minty, Phyl Kiggell, Helen C White

Mixed Media, Painting and Drawing, Photography
Irresistible! Pots, paintings, photographs, drawings & more.

SOON
SOON
SOON !!!

West Oxford News - final deadline for contributions

Sunday 15 June 2008

West Oxford News - final deadline for contributions.

Today is the LAST day to get your copy in to Athene for the June 2008 issue of West Oxford News, West Oxford's unique quarterly newsletter.

Leave your contributions at the Community Centre (marked for the attention of Athene Reiss) or e-mail to newsletter@woca.org.uk by 15 June.

Whats West Oxford News? Click here to download a copy.

Thursday 19 June 2008
7.00 pm

Please telephone Oxford 242760 or 241339 for details of the starting point

West Oxford Local History Group

Liz Woolley will lead a walk around historic St Thomas's, an early Oxford suburb west of the castle site (west side).

The walk will include a visit to St Thomas's Church, donations are invited, suggested amount £3.
Meet at 6 pm - please phone Oxford 242760 for details of the starting point..

Saturday 28 June 2008
10 am-3 pm

ST FRIDESWIDE`S GIFT DAY

Our gift day is the main fund-raising event of the year at St Frideswide's.

We have written to every house in the parish with information about the "St
Frideswide`s for the 21st Century Appeal" (you can read the letter here:
http://www.qurl.com/z8pd3) and asking for donations.

On Saturday 28th June St Frideswide's will be open from 10am-3pm. There will be
a chance to see display boards outlining our progress with the appeal, and have
a chat over a cup of coffee. There will also be some stalls selling cakes,
jams, second-hand books and so on. We hope to see you on the day!

If you can contribute any books or cakes to the gift day, or would be able to
help man a stall for an hour or two, please let me know.

Saturday 19 July 2008
1.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Botley Park (behind WOCA on the Botley Road)

West Oxford Fun Day

Fun for all: stalls, food, games, competitions, live music, BBQ, trampolines, climbing wall, activities, entertainment & more!

CLICK HERE to download full Fun Day program with event times ... fifty exciting items !

Click here to see pictures from the 2006 Fun Day

... and here for the 2005 Fun Day

Sunday 20 July 2008
Binsey
12 noon - 5 pm

Binsey Village Fete - in aid of the St Margaret's Repair Fund.

BINSEY VILLAGE FETE - 20th JULY

The fete will be opened by the Dean of Christ Church at 12 noon, and will continue till 5pm.

At 3pm a procession will leave the village green for St Margaret`s church, where there will be a blessing of the well and festal evensong for the feast of St Margaret of Antioch.

All afternoon there will be activities for adults and children, including

• a hog roast and barbecue
• face-painting
• stalls
• fairground rides
• candy floss
• splat-the-rat
• children`s treasure hunt
• much more

All money raised will go toward the Binsey Repair Fund.

This is the first ever Binsey village fete. Binsey is a a small village and we need volunteers to run stalls and to help in other ways.

If you would like to help at the fete, by manning a stall or helping on some other way, please get in touch with Russell Dewhurst.

West Oxford News - NEXT ISSUE - final deadline for contributions
Tuesday 16 September 2008

Steve Wride writes:

Just a brief note to introduce myself as the new editor of the West Oxford Community Association Newsletter.

Firstly, three cheers for Athene for all her hard work on the newsletter, she'll be a hard act to follow.

Secondly, I hope to have the next edition out by the end of September. If you have recently sent stuff to Athene, then I have it. If not, please let me have it by next Tuesday, 16th September.

You can send your copy as an e-mail attachment in just about any format you like, I'll let you know if I can't decypher it. Alternatively, you can deliver hard copy to me, so long as it's legible, and I'll type it up, or scan it if an illustration, for publication.

E-mail address: stephen.wride@ntlworld.com
Street address: 33, Henry Rd

Whats West Oxford News? Click here to download a copy.

Heritage Open Days
11-14 September 2008
OXFORD

Click here for a leaflet of local events

Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture. They offer FREE access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples - a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture.

As part of Heritage Open Days, Oxford opens its doors over the weekend of 13 and 14 September for you to discover and enjoy some of its most interesting buildings and spaces, little known corners and unusual places.

With over 30 venues from town & gown taking part, we hope there is something here to interest and inspire everyone and all free of charge.

Be a tourist for the day and look at your city with fresh eyes, find out more about its history and even how it works. Catch a ride on an authentic Oxford vintage bus to the Oxford Bus Company’s depot or visit the Oxford Fire Station or the City Works and meet the people who keep our city running and safe. Or go on-site to see the exciting new developments at the Ashmolean Museum and Islamic Studies Centre. Climb up church towers or down the Conveyor Tunnel at the Bodleian Library - let your curiosity take you behind-the-scenes in all kinds of places. Step outside the city centre and visit the newly restored former Regal Cinema in East Oxford or be inspired by an Eco-home. Follow a guided walk, see an exhibition and then why not relax in one of the many beautiful gardens.

Click here to download a leaflet.

Oxford Open Doors is organised by Oxford Preservation Trust in partnership with Oxford University.

Saturday 13 September 2008
10 am-6 pm
St Frideswide's (Botley Road) and St Margaret's (Binsey)

RIDE-OR-STRIDE

St Frideswide's and St Margaret's will both be open all day on Saturday 13th September, 10 am-6 pm, as part of the "Ride-or-Stride" to raise money for the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.

If you are able able to spare an hour or more to help man St Frideswide`s, to greet cyclists and walkers, please sign up in church.

• Whether you would like to be directly involved in helping reduce carbon dioxide emmissions and win the £1mn.
  There are two ways you could do this: either by pledging to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 10% over the Big Green Challenge Year. Or by being a pilot household looking at more radical changes for making energy savings.
• What role street representatives can play in LCWO and the project, and what kind of support they may need (eg working in pairs or groups, more information, training).
• Any other views or suggestions you have about LCWO and the project ?
• Whether you can provide any practical support and skills to LCWO or the project ?
• Suggestions for how we communicate about LCWO and the project ?

Click here for lots more about LCWO and how to contact us.

Monday 6 October 2008
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine. A session lasts no more than an hour or so.

A wonderful way to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

For further details - or to chat about presenting a topic yourself - contact Susan Hutchinson (allat42@gmail.com or phone 792358).

Next session: Tuesday 4 November at 8 pm
What does a SOCO do – the proof is out there: Helen White

The deadline for the December edition of WOCA Newsletter is fast approaching.

If you want that Christmas or New Year event advertising, or you have an article of local interest you want to share, or a meeting that needs reporting, or a local news item, please send it to Steve Wride right now.

You can send your copy as an e-mail attachment in just about any format you like - Steve will let you know if he can't decypher it. Alternatively, you can deliver hard copy, so long as it's legible. Steve will type it up, or scan it if an illustration.

E-mail address: stephen.wride@ntlworld.com
Street address: 33 Henry Rd

Whats West Oxford News? Click here to download a copy.

Tuesday 4 November 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy continues ...

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"What does a SOCO do – the proof is out there" with Helen White.

Tickets £1.50 per session, or £7.50 for all talks in this autumn's programme.

Next session: Tuesday 11 November
My life as an immigration judge       Tony Talbot       

Tuesday 11 November 2008
1:30 – 3:25 and 4:15– 7:15

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

Blood transfusions - find out more

Tuesday 11 November 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

POSTPONED - no Academy session today
POSTPONED - no Academy session today
POSTPONED - no Academy session today

West Oxford Academy continues ...

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"My life as an immigration judge" with Tony Talbot.

POSTPONED - no Academy session today
POSTPONED - no Academy session today
POSTPONED - no Academy session today

Tickets £1.50 per session, or £7.50 for all talks in this autumn's programme.

Next session: Tuesday 18 November
A short history of social housing        Alison Mathias  

Wednesday 12 November 2008
7.30 pm

Oxford Flood Alliance (OFA)

Democrats’ Club. Osney Island
1 North Street
Oxford OX2 0AY

OFA will be holding its second Public Meeting on Wednesday November 12th (a year after OFA came into being) at the Democrats’ Club on Osney Island. It will be in the evening, probably 7.30 or 8.

We have invited West Oxford's local councillors.

We want to update everybody on progress, keep flooding high on the political agenda and gather further public support - the letter writing which followed the first meeting earlier this year was very helpful.

Thursday 13 November 2008
The Low Carbon West Oxford (LCWO)
AGM and Big Green Challenge Celebration

West Oxford Community Centre

5.30 - 6.00pm AGM Reports and Election of Officers
6.00 - 8.00pm Big Green Challenge Celebration. Supper provided.

Please invite friends and neighbours along and help increase our membership.

Issues to raise or ideas to contribute?

LCWO's coordinating committee and working group convenors will be present during the AGM and Big Green Challenge celebration if you would like to raise any issues, or have any ideas to contribute.

LCWO members may also table a resolution or motion by emailing it to the secretary at least one week before the AGM.

AND

Don't forget ...

The Low Carbon West Oxford - food group calendar

The calender is printed locally on recycled paper using waterless offset and vegetable oil based inks. The photos were taken on local allotments and the recipes were contributed given by local residents.

CALENDAR SALES IN WEST OXFORD

The calendar is also on sale at: Tuscan Pots, Eggs Etcetera, The Jam Factory, and The Allotment Shop.

Have a look at the Calendar for yourself - click here !

Tuesday 18 November 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight withs:

"A short history of social housing" with Alison Mathias.

From almshouses to shared ownership via 5% philanthropy in the 19th century.

Where does affordable housing come from?
How does it work?
A whistle stop tour by a practitioner

Tickets £1.50 per session, or £7.50 for all talks in this autumn's programme.

Next session: Tuesday 25 November:
How can we encourage the immune system to fight tumours?

Saturday 22 November 2008
7.30 pm
St Frideswide's (Botley Road)

Church Coffee Morning

10 am-12 noon. Coffee, cakes, stalls.

All money raised will go towards St Frideswide's organ appeal - now very near its target.

Tuesday 25 November 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"How can we encourage the immune system to fight tumours?" with Katja Simon.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Next session: Tuesday 2 December
Archaeological excavations in Sark       Simon Pressey       

Tuesday 2 December 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Archaeological excavations in Sark" with Simon Pressey.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Next session: Tuesday 9 December      

Saturday 6 December 2008
11.00 am - 1.30 pm
West Oxford Community School

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

•  Stalls
  
•  Activities
•  Live music
•  Refreshments

  Entry .... 20 pence

Sunday 7 December 2008
CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

An afternoon of fun for everyone
4..-.30 pm

WOCA

Can you ...

• make people laugh?
• Play an instrument?
• Juggle oranges?

Whatever your talent, come and entertain us at West Oxford's third annual Christmas Crackers.

You can enter on your own, or with friends, as an organisation or as a family group.

To book your slot, find Lois (20355)
For help with transport to this event, ring Marelyn or Richard at WOCA on 245761.

If you want to watch, just turn up!
Refreshments available.

FREE !!!
All welcome

Tuesday 9 December 2008
8.00 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy continues tonight with :

"Removing arcane pronunciation and grammar from English to enhance its status as the international language"

with Peter Marsh.

Tickets £1.50.

This is the final session until the 2009.
Watch this site for details of the next season.      

Sunday 14 December 2008
3:00 pm
St Margaret's, Binsey

Christmas Carols by Candlelight

Traditional readings and Christmas carols

ALSO AT BINSEY

25th December: Mass of Christmas Dawn, 9 am

All welcome!

Do wrap up warm - Binsey "ultra-low carbon" church has no heating or electricity!

Christmas week 2008
St Frideswide's

21 December : Nine Lessons and Carols, 6.30pm

24 December, 4.30 pm : Children's Crib Service

25 December, 10.30 am : Mass of Christmas Day

(EARLIER - Mass of Christmas Dawn at BINSEY church, 9 am)

Christmas and New Year Refuse Collection Days 2008-09

Collections that would normally occur on bank holidays over the Christmas and New Year period will be revised.

If you are not scheduled to receive collections on these dates, your collections for Christmas and New Year week remain the same.

See Oxford City Council's Refuse Collection Days webpage for changes that may affect you.
(Also contains useful information on how to get a free email and/or text reminder of which bins to put out when!)

2009

Friday 2 January 2009
1:30 – 3:25 and 4:15– 7:15

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

See details of this and the other six blood donor sessions in 2009 at WOCA

Saturday 3 January - Sunday 11 January 2009

Christmas Tree collection point open at
Oatlands Recreation Ground car park,by Ferry Hinksey Road.

For other Christmas Tree collection points in Oxford, click here.

Monday 5 January 2009
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

• Transport, traffic and speeding
• Low Carbon West Oxford
• Flooding
• Policing and Anti-social Behaviour
• Creating a community where everyone matters
• the planned developemnts for Oxford's West End, Oxpens and Stations

Tuesday 27 January 2009
2.00 pm - 2.45 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Academy continues. Tonight's session ...

"The life of a freelance photographer" with Douglas Fry.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next Academy session: Tuesday 3 February at 8 pm.

West Oxford Neighbourhood Police Team are now running surgeries at WOCA every Thursday - 2.00 pm - 2.45 pm. If you would lie to speak to a member of the Neighbourhood Team, just come over and look for an officer in the police car or in the WOCA foyer.

Tuesday 3 February 2009
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy continues. Tonight's session ...

"Zanzibar - The History and Politics of a Tropical Island in the Indian
Ocean" with Jan-Georg Deutsch.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next Academy session: Tuesday 10 February at 8 pm.

Tuesday 10 February 2009
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy continues. Tonight's session ...

"Ecopsychology - It's Natural" with Ruth Finar.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next Academy session: 17 February 2009 at 8.00 pm.

West Oxford Neighbourhood Police Team are now running surgeries at WOCA every Thursday - 2.00 pm - 2.45 pm. If you would lie to speak to a member of the Neighbourhood Team, just come over and look for an officer in the police car or in the WOCA foyer.

Saturday 14 February 2009
11.00 am - 12.30 pm
WOCA

JAZZ BRUNCHES ARE BACK !

Jazz Brunch 1 (of 2) - The Life and Songs of - Cole Porter

Cole Porter was one of the Great American Songwriters who is responsible for numerous numbers which have formed the core of the Jazz Standard Repertoire. Think of "Night & Day", "Begin the Beguine", "I've got you under my skin", "Anything Goes", "I get a kick out of you"...

This talk is given by professional classic jazz pianist Nicholas Gill with assistance from Jake Gill, jazz guitarist and crooner. Their material will be liberally illustrated with Porter classics as well as some lesser known gems, as these two experts take you through the giddy highs and tragic lows of the career of America's most sophisticated songwriter.

Tickets: £5 (£3 concessions) - includes coffee and croissant.

Next Jazz Brunch with Nicholas Gill at WOCA - Saturday 14 March 2009

For more details tel: 01386 858364 or go to www.classicjazz.co.uk

Tuesday 24 February 2009
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy continues. Tonight's session ...

"My life as an immigration judge" with Tony Talbot.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Next Academy session: 3 March 2009 at 8.00 pm.

West Oxford Academy continues. Tonight's session ...

"A short history of Morse code" with Ray Hoff.

Tickets £1.50 per session.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

Final Academy session for this season: 10 March 2009 at 8.00 pm.

Christianity and Art - a series of informal illustrated lectures each Wednesday in Lent

Lecture 1 :
From the land where the sun goes down to his rest: Constantine and Christianity in Roman Britain

with Professor Martin Henig

5 March 2009

20 mph speed limits in Oxford - consultation ends 5 March 2009

Oxfordshire County Council are asking fpr views on the proposed 20 mph speed limit for Oxford.
This "self enforcing" limit will apply to almost all residential roads and some sections of more major roads in Oxford.

The Council is asking for views by 5 March 2009.

Click here for details of the current proposal, and how to send in your comments (on paper, using an on-line form, or by email).

Saturday 7 March 2009
10.00 am

Litter Pick at St Frideswide's Churchyard

If you would like to help clean and tidy St Frideswide's churchyard,
please come along from 10am on Saturday 7th March and join in.

    and   

Low Carbon West Oxford Litter Pick
10.30 am at Oatlands Road Recreation

LCWO are holding a West Oxford Litter Pick at 10.30 am at Oatlands Road Recreation ground (should be finished by midday).

Litter-picker tools and waste sacks provided, but please bring your own gloves.

(Note - there is also a short litter pick earlier at St Frideswide's Churchyard - 10.00 am)

West Oxford News - SPRING ISSUE - DEADLINE

The FINAL FINAL FINAL FINALdeadline for contributions is
Saturday 7 MARCH 2009

The deadline for the Spring edition of WOCA Newsletter is almost here.

This issue covers the period April, May and June, so if you have firm dates that need publicity in that period, please let Steve Wride know NOW.

Steve is also keen to receive any articles of local interest, either for this edition or future ones if space is tight. If anyone has any local news, please let me have it. Reports from meetings are also useful to keep your group in the public eye.

If you want to insert advertising, or you have an article of local interest you want to share, or a meeting that needs reporting, or a local news item, please send it to Steve Wride right now.

You can send your copy as an e-mail attachment in just about any format you like - Steve will let you know if he can't decypher it. Alternatively, you can deliver hard copy, so long as it's legible. Steve will type it up, or scan it if an illustration.

E-mail address: stephen.wride@ntlworld.com
Street address: 33 Henry Rd

What's West Oxford News? Click here to download a copy.

Beginner Bellydance: Turkish & Arabic Dance
Caitlyn:Turkish & Arabic Dance

£5

New beginners always welcome!

www.orientaldance.org / email: Caitlyn@OrientalDance.org / Tel. 07792 967 355

Tuesday 10 March 2009
11.45 am -12.45 pm
WOCA

Pilates Matwork For Beginners - with Ivana Starkova

Progression from post-natal Pilates class, improve posture, babies welcome.

£54 for six sessions

Details: www.ispilates.co.uk / email: enquiries@ispilates.co.uk / Tel. 07818062351

Tuesday 10 March 2009
17.30 pm
WOCA

Oxford City Council - Central, South and West Area Committee meeting at WOCA

This is a public meeting which includes an open session where you can have your say. Come along and keep up to date with Council decisions being made affecting your area.

Click here to see the full agenda and download supporting documents.

The Central, South and West Area Committee works in partnership with residents, police, NHS Representatives, and other organisations to drive forward local projects and make decisions about local issues. It covers the wards of Jericho and Osney, Carfax, Holywell and Hinksey Park.

Tuesday 10 March 2009
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy continues. Tonight's session ...

"Steam trains behind the Iron Curtain" with Mark Doran.

Tickets £1.50.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Each session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

This is the final Academy session for this season. Watch this space for details of the summer season.

Christianity and Art - a series of informal illustrated lectures each Wednesday in Lent

Lecture 2 :
The Angels Tremble: The Grief of Angels in Depictions of the Crucifixion

with the Revd Dr Andrew Davison

Thursday 12 March 2009
7.45 pm - 9.30 pm
WOCA

Seminar Room 1
(Please note this is a new venue. Pass through the main activity hall to reach it.)

WOW - West Oxford Writers

If you’re serious about writing and willing to share ideas in a constructive, supportive manner, you’re welcome to join us.

We include published and unpublished writers with a variety of interests.

Contact vanessahack@hotmail.com for further information - or just turn up on the evening and whether it’s for you.

Saturday 14 March 2009
11.00 am - 12.30 pm
WOCA

Jazz Brunch 2 (of 2)

“Fats” Waller - That Cheerful little Earful

The great Art Tatum once paid tribute to Fats by saying "I come out of Fats Waller - and that's quite a big place!"

Everything Waller did in his short life was on a grand scale. He played the grandest stride piano - massive left hand intervals, hugely intricate classical figures in the right... he was a tempestuous swinger with a beguilingly light touch. He had a larger than life personality and joshed his way through countless Tin Pan Alley ditties, invigorating them with his Musical Hokum. He made fortunes with delightful songs such as Ain't Misbehavin' and Keepin' out of Mischief Now. He blew fortunes by living hard and helping out anyone short of a dime. He would eat 12 hamburgers at a go.

It takes two piano players to pay tribute to the Big Man - Nicholas Gill and Paul Duggan.

Tickets: £5 (£3 concessions) - includes coffee and croissant.

For more details tel: 01386 858364 or go to www.classicjazz.co.uk

Sunday 15 March 2009
Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1BX
(01865 553755)

2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
All welcome - Entrance free

Wheelchair Access limited to 4 wheelchairs
(Entrance 20 metres to the left of main entrance).

Olive Gibbs - Oxford West Ward Councillor

West Oxford's Olive Gibbs (1918-1995) was one of Oxford’s leading politicians, remembered as the City Councillor who took a hammer to the infamous Cutteslowe Wall in 1959.

Olive was also National President of CND – she called her profession 'Peace Campaigner'.

Twice Lord Mayor with many years of service as Oxford City Councillor and Oxfordshire County Councillor, Olive was a true political woman pioneer.

Historian Katherine Bradley traces Olive’s political background.
Those who knew her will talk about the effect she had on local politics.

For more on West Oxford's Olive, see Olive's own book:
Our Olive: The Autobiography of Olive Gibbs (Robert Dugdale, 1989 - ISBN 0-946976-02-3)

Christianity and Art - a series of informal illustrated lectures each Wednesday in Lent

Lecture 3 :
'Gaze we on those glorious scars' : Picturing Christ`s wounds.

with the Revd Dr Helen Orchard

Christianity and Art - a series of informal illustrated lectures each Wednesday in Lent

Lecture 4 :
Caravaggio and the art of the Counter-Reformation.

with Katherine Wodehouse

Tuesday 07 April 2009
7.30 pm
WOCA

OTTC - Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company

River's Up by Alex Jones

A drama about .... flooding !

When the river's up and the chips are down - do you drift apart or pull together?

With their house about to be flooded - again! - Sally and Tom are in deep water. Before long they're adrift in an open boat with little more than a bottle of water and a tin of beans and whichever way you look at it, it's sink or swim.

Join them on their sometimes funny, sometimes poignant journey in this domestic tragicomedy of epic proportions.

Tickets - £5 (£3 concessions)

Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company (OTTC) tours high quality, challenging, entertaining and accessible theatre to audiences in Oxfordshire and beyond. The company has a unique reputation for taking theatre to non-theatre venues especially in rural areas.

Thursday 09 April 2009
10:30 – 12:25 and 13:45– 16:25

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

Blood transfusions - find out more

Thursday 09 April 2009
7.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road

Maundy Thursday - Sung Mass with a watch kept until 11 pm

Friday 10 April 2009
West Oxford Community Centre

10.00 -11.30     Make things for Easter. For under 8's and their families.

Craft activities with coffee, juice and snacks.

All welcome

Friday 10 April 2009
Good Friday services at St Frideswide's and St Margaret's, Binsey

St Frideswide's
12.00 - An hour at the Cross
Brief address with hymns and prayers

St Margaret's, Binsey
4.00 pm - Evensong

Easter Saturday 11 April 2009
11.00 am - 12.30 pm
WOCA

Jazz Brunch - Easter Special

with Nick Gill, Jake Gill and Norman Field.

... playing ...

Hoagy Carmichael - Lazy Songs from the Southern American Dream

Songs include "Lazy Bones", "Lazy River", "Georgia", "Stardust", "Riverboat Shuffle", "Rockin'Chair"Waller - That Cheerful little Earful

Tickets: £5 (£3 concessions) - includes coffee and croissant.

For more details tel: 01386 858364 or go to www.classicjazz.co.uk

St Margaret's, Binsey
9.00 am - Mass of Easter Day

St Frideswide's
10.30 am - Mass of Easter Day

St Margaret's, Binsey
3.30 pm - Festal Evensong

WOCAMP is a new website set up by West Oxford residents campaigning against the proposed Probation Mega Centre on Mill Street. The site is intended as a central place for news, useful information, and to help gather support.

To see a press release - with full information about this issue and the objections to it - click here.

The site will be kept up to date so please keep coming back to check on progress.

For further information please click here to email the steering group, use the WOCAMP website feedback form, or talk to Jo Sivell at 36 Mill St.

West Oxford Community Centre

Your Local Co-op: The buildings change, the principles remain - A talk by Anne Ransome

Uncover West Oxford’s co-operative heritage - the contribution of the Midcounties Co-operative to the local community, - highlights of Oxford Co-op since it’s founding in 1872

- An opportunity to explore the contribution of the Midcounties Co-operative to the local community, now and in earlier days

- A glimpse at some of the highlights of Oxford Coop since it was founded in 1872, with an opportunity to leaf through old minute books and national publications.

Anne Ransome was formerly an elected Board member of OSG / Midcounties Co-operative Society. She is now involved in the Heritage Project.

Refreshments will be provided.

West Oxford Matters

ALL WELCOME

West Oxford Matters is our local community planning group. It has a small budget to grant aid local activities that meet community needs and improve life in West Oxford.

Come along and discuss issues of interest / concern to us as residents of West Oxford, including:

- The new all-Oxfordshire Probation Centre to be located here in West Oxford

- Other West End Development issues

For more information contact: Anne James 725906 email: riverbank26@tiscali.co.uk

Thursday 9 July 2009
7.30 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Local History Talks

A talk by Simon Jenking:

The Burning of Oxford in 1009

Where was the western boundary of Oxford in 1009 ?

Simon Jenking from the Museum of Oxford is an expert on Oxford's Norman history. He will share with us his research into the dramatic events of 1009.

Please call 01865 241335 for further information

WOCAMP
Railway Club, Mill Street

PUBLIC MEETING - WOCAMP - against the proposed Mill Street Probation Centre

WOCAMP - West Oxford residents campaigning against the proposed Probation Mega Centre on Mill Street.
See the WOCAMP website for news, useful information, and how you can help.

To see a press release - with full information about this issue and the objections to it - click here.

For further information please click here to email the steering group, use the WOCAMP website feedback form, or talk to Jo Sivell at 36 Mill St.

Sunday 19 July 2009
Binsey
12 noon - 5 pm

Binsey Village Fete - On the Village Green at Binsey

A whole range of events for all ages: stalls, food and refreshments including a pig roast, sack races, egg and spoon races, a chicken contest, plants for sale, live music, splat the rat, a treasure hunt, fruit and veg from Medley Manor Farm, stocks, face-painting, classic cars, a fire engine, and much more.

At 3pm a procession will leave the village green for the church, where there will be the blessing of the well and festal evensong at 3.30pm. The fete will carry on throughout.

Parking available for a donation.

Money raised will go towards the Binsey Church Repair Fund.

Volunteers needed !

Binsey is a very small village, and to put on a fete like this we need the help of many other volunteers.

Please could you consider if you could give an hour or two on Sunday the 19th to man a stall, watch over the car park or something else? Please contact Celine on elinenews@hotmail.com if you can volunteer some time -- we can't do it without you!

There will be a meeting for all fete volunteers at 6 pm on Sunday 12th at the Perch, but if you can't make that, please do volunteer anyway!

Other ways to help ... can you offer :

• Bric-a-brac for the fete -- please take it to the Perch pub in Binsey
• Second-hand books -- we could sell, please contact Renee Edwards on reneeedwards1@yahoo.co.uk or bring along on the day
• Plants for the plant stall -- please contact Alison on alisoncobb34@btinternet.com
• If you can bake cakes -- please contact Mel on mel.mcculloch@gmail.com .

Tuesday 28 July 2009
1:30 – 3:25 and 4:15– 7:15

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

Blood transfusions - find out more

WOCAMP

West Oxford Campaign Against Mega Probation Centre

5th September, The Railway Club, Mill Street

.... 11 am and 1 pm - STREET SALE at the end of Mill Street.

Please bring donations of fresh produce, i.e. flowers, vegetables, cakes etc to the stall. Your contributions really matter! We raised an amazing £262 at the last street sale.

.... 4.30 pm - GENERAL MEETING -

Come along for an update on: the political and legal situation, the property search and fund-raising.

In addition there will be an ELECTION for a new Chair of WOCAMP.

Tina Sujavac-Lees is stepping down as Chair -- having done an amazing job leading our campaign over the last six months. Luckily for us, Tina will remain fully involved in the campaign. If you would like to nominate someone as Chair please check that they are willing to take on the role and then send their name to Sarah Shekleton sshekleton@btinternet.com before Saturday. You may also nominate yourself!

.... 5.30 and 8 p.m

The WOCAMP Curry Nite!

Abdul Rahman and family, of Mill St, have generously donated take-away curries, in aid of WOCAMP. The menu they are offering is:

* 3 mini samosas and 3 onion bhajis
* A chicken curry or a dhal vegetable curry
* A portion of plain rice or 2 chapattis

The cost is £5 a head, all of which goes to WOCAMP.

To book your curry(s) please download and fill in this form and return with it cash or a cheque (made payable to WOCAMP) by 3rd September to:

Fran Melvin at 12, Barrett St. (tel: 01865 248092) or
Anne James and Jonathan Higgens at 26, Barrett St. (tel: 01865 725906)

>> If you have forgotten to order your curry .... please contact Fran Melvin (12 Barrett Street) (248092) to see if there is still time to place an order <<<

---

WOCAMP - West Oxford residents campaigning against the proposed Probation Mega Centre on Mill Street.
See the WOCAMP website for news, useful information, and how you can help.

Saturday & Sunday
12-13 September 2009
ALL DAY
ALL OXFORD

Oxford Open Doors

A weekend when Oxford opens its doors for you to discover and enjoy some of its most interesting buildings and spaces, little known corners and unusual places.

With Town & Gown taking part in this fun weekend there is something to interest everyone. Colleges, Churches, Civic buildings, local businesses and groups will be ready to invite you to step inside and discover what goes on behind their doors and gates - (towers to climb, gardens to visit, vintage bus rides, cars and boats, guided walks and talks, and hands-on activities free of charge for all the family.

Lots of new places taking part this year – including a mini-festival celebrating Oxford’s canal.

More on this website: Oxford Open Doors

Saturday 26 September 2009
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Community Harvest Celebration & Something for Nothing

Low Carbon West Oxford
Late Summer Event!

In partnership with West Oxford Community Association we invite you to a
celebration of local food and a Something for Nothing and Bring & Take Event.

Are there items in your house you want to get rid of ?
Don’t know what to do with them?

Someone somewhere needs your unwanted (but good condition) clothes, toys, CDs, books, plants, excess garden produce, ornaments, kitchenware, unopened toiletries, pictures, linen and small furniture – basically anything you can carry.

We will also take small plug-in electrical items, which we will PAT test for safety.

Or just come along to find that item you’ve been wanting for ages.

You don’t need to bring anything, just come along and see what’s on offer – all free of charge. For larger items there will
be a noticeboard – bring a photograph or description with your name and contact details.

Bring your goods on the day between 2.00 and 3.30 only - after 3.30 no new items will be accepted.

Goods may be taken at any time from 2.00 onwards

Monday 28 September 2009
6.00 pm ~ 7.30 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Matters
Our Local Community Planning Group

A meeting to:

• Update ourselves on what has been happening over the last 6 months
• Discuss what we would like to see happen, and
• Agree how WOM can be involved

Items to discuss :

1. Flooding and Flood Plans

2. Policing, crime and anti-social behaviour

3. Traffic and transport, including proposals for developing Oxford station

4. The Probation Services proposals for a mega-Probation Centre

5. Everyone matters: projects to encourage and include all sections of the community

6. The West End Development

7. Suggestions for projects we could grant aid from our small budget.

For more details, or to suggest additional items for discussion, please contact

Anne James (Chair)
Oxford 725906

Friday 19 October 2009
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road
7.30 pm

St Frideswide's Patronal Festival with confirmations and licensing of
Fr Anthony Rustell as Priest-in-Charge by the Bishop
of Oxford.

Saturday 17 October 2009
9 am - 7 pm

West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road (near the station)

"Thriving Sustainability"
What might a sustainable future look like ?

An inspiring and visionary community events towards co-creating our sustainable future

Click here for full details

Thriving Sustainability is a one-day one-off community event. Over 40 presenters will be offering:

• Entertaining and informative lectures
  
• Participative workshops
• Organic food
• Children's activities
• Music

Events will take place at various places in West Oxford, mostly in and near West Oxford Community Centre.

Exact times, locations and contact details are on the Thriving Sustainability website with more on our printed programme on the day.

We expect some events to be over-subscribed, so please reserve your place(s) in advance for events you are interested in via the online booking system.

This community event was initiated by West Oxford's Michael Soth, and is being organised with the voluntary help of neighbours, friends and colleagues in cooperation with local projects and initiatives. Most presenters are generously contributing for free, and all proceeds will be donated to Low Carbon West Oxford and Resurgence Magazine.

Tuesday 27 October 2009
7 pm

Oxford Town Hall

Oxford Area Flood Partnership -- annual public meeting

The Oxford Area Flood Partnership is holding its annual public meeting on 27 October at 7 pm in the Town Hall.

The Environment Agency, both Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, Network Rail and Thames Water will attend to tell us what they have been doing and to answer our questions.

There has been further progress over the summer, including the start of work at the railway access road at Redbridge, and there are plans to strengthen the banks of the Thames north of Osney.

Thames Water, the City Council and the County Council are discussing measures for the Earl Street area, and Seacourt Stream is to be de-silted in various places.

For more information, please contact Susanna Pressel or look at www.oxford.gov.uk and www.oxfordfloodalliance.org.uk.

Thursday 29 October 2009
8 pm

West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road (near the station)

FILM - THE AGE OF STUPID

with an introduction and post-film discussion led by Tim Nicholson, local environmentalist and campaigner

Find out what people in West Oxford are doing to tackle climate change and get inspired or join in
Organised by Low Carbon West Oxford.

West Oxford News - CHRISTMAS 2009 ISSUE
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1st 2009

Deadline for contributions

      
Deadline for contributions

The next edition covers four months: December, January, February and March.

If you want to insert advertising, or you have an article of local interest you want to share, or a meeting that needs reporting, or a local news item, please send it to Steve Wride.

You can send your copy as an e-mail attachment in just about any format you like - Steve will let you know if he can't decypher it. Alternatively, you can deliver hard copy, so long as it's legible. Steve will type it up, or scan it if an illustration.

E-mail address: stephen.wride@ntlworld.com
Street address: 33 Henry Rd

What's West Oxford News? Click here to download a copy.

Tuesday 10 November 2009
17.30 pm
WOCA

Oxford City Council - Central, South and West Area Committee meeting at WOCA

This is a public meeting which includes an open session where you can have your say. Come along and keep up to date with Council decisions being made affecting your area.

Click here to see the full agenda and download supporting documents.

The Central, South and West Area Committee works in partnership with residents, police, NHS Representatives, and other organisations to drive forward local projects and make decisions about local issues. It covers the wards of Jericho and Osney, Carfax, Holywell and Hinksey Park.

Sunday 15 November 2009
2.30 - 4.30 pm
Botley Park

Low Carbon West Oxford

Come along and help us create a wetland area in Botley Park old playground.

Please join us in Botley Park to help plant wetland area with shrubs and flowers dog rose, gelder rose, flag iris, marsh marigold, purple loosetrifes, and frittillaries.

Please bring spades and gardening gloves

Sunday 22nd November 2.30 pm-4.30 pm to help plant new tree saplings in the wetland area and at the edge of the park near Tumbling Ba

Tuesday 17 November 2009
7 pm - 9 pm

West Oxford Community Centre Café

Low Carbon West Oxford AGM

Plus a Special General Meeting of West Oxford Community Renewables

Agenda for the meeting:

7.30 pm Welcome and introductions

7.45 pm Report on the Big Green Challenge year and our proposed future plans to Low Carbon West Oxford members and West Oxford Community Renewables shareholders. There will be some time for questions and discussion.

8.45 pm LCWO members leave before: Election of West Oxford Community Renewables Board Members by shareholders

9.00 pm Close

Everyone welcome!

Thursday 26 November 2009
7.30 pm (doors open 7:00)
Democrats Club, Osney
(on the corner of East Street and North Street)

Oxford Flood Alliance - Public Meeting

Flooding can't be completely prevented -- but the risk can be reduced.

OFA is succeeding : we want to tell you what's been done and what's on the way.

Our local councillors and the press will be at the meeting. Make sure they see you there too!

We still need strong public support. We had great support last time which has really helped.

Don't leave it to someone else

Thursday 3 December 2009
7.30 pm
West Oxford Community Primary School
Ferry Hinksey Road

OTC - Oxfordshire Theatre Company

Peach Boy

When an old washerwoman goes down to the riverbank to scrub clothes, she sees a giant peach bobbing towards her!

When she takes the peach home and cuts it open out pops a baby boy with superhuman powers. So starts the incredible story of Momotaro - the Peach Boy, and his struggle to find his place in a world that no longer believes in heroes.

Accompanied by Dog, Pheasant and Monkey (and his mother's miraculous dumplings) they must go on a quest to save the village from dastardly demons and marvellous monsters.

This new production promises to delight audiences of all ages with its wonderful range of characters, fusion of puppetry and live performance, movement and design, all inspired by the East. 'Peach Boy' is a thrilling epic of growing up, idealism, friendship, heroism, daring deeds and comic misadventures.

Richard Hurford has written for many companies including the Crucible, Sheffield (where he was writer in residence), Pilot Theatre, Theatre Royal, York and BBC Radio 4.

Monday 7 December 2009
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

2010         2010         2010         2010         2010         2010         2010         2010         2010         2010         2010

Saturday 16 January 2010
10.45 am - 12.30 pm
WOCA

Jazz Brunch 1 (of 3)
Al Bowlly and the Noble Art of Crooning

Nicholas Gill (piano) and Jake Gill (guitar and crooning).

Al Bowlly could be considered as the first English Pop Star.

During the 1920s and 30s he worked with all the major dance orchestras of London and was the singer of preference for the band leader and song-writer Ray Noble. Bowlly's soaring, velvet-toned voice and darkly handsome looks made the ladies of the day go weak at the knees.

In this talk we paint a picture of London in the Jazz Age, and perform many of Bowlly's hits – including such memorable Ray Noble songs as "Goodnight Sweetheart", "The Very Though of You" and "Love is the Sweetest Thing".

Today's talk will be given by Nicholas Gill (piano) with Jake Gill (guitar and crooning).

Next Jazz Brunch in this series – Saturday 6 February

Tuesday January 19 2010
West Oxford Academy restarts ...

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy restarts tonight after a term's sabbatical with :

Jude Carroll on "Exploring plagiarism via Wombles, the DaVinci Code and Botswana"

Click here for more on Jude Carroll's work on plagiarism (and other topics)

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone else who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Tuesday January 26 2010
8.00 pm
West Oxford Academy continues with ...

Jan Schnupp on "The cyborgs are coming - the pros and cons of having wires stuck in your brain"

Click here for more on Jan Schnupp's work on in the neurosciences

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone else who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Monday 1 February 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Tuesday February 2 2010
8.00 pm
More from West Oxford Academy with ...

Stefan Schuller on "Talking therapies for severe mental illness"

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Saturday 6 February 2010
10.45 am - 12.30 pm
WOCA

CANCELLED due to illness

Jazz Brunch 2 (of 3)
Ragtime Revisited

Nicholas Gill (piano), Heather Birt (violin) and Jake Gill (guitar and banjo).

We presented "Ragtime - popular and classical" as one of our very first jazz brunches. It is high time we revisited the genre and served up a delightful program of classical rags by Scott Joplin and his colleagues along with some fizzier piano novelties and songs from the lighter end of the genre.

It was the life ambition of Scott Joplin to raise ragtime from its folk roots to the heights of a "legitimate" classical musical form. In this talk we will explore ragtime in all its forms and show how Joplin achieved his aim at great personal cost. We will look at the origins of the ragtime form in the European march and the minstrel song. There will be demonstrations of ragtime songs and examples of popular piano rags from "tin pan alley", as well as the early blending of ragtime with jazz by "Jelly Roll" Morton. And throughout our journey through the ragtime era (1890s - 1917) there will be performances of Joplin's marvelous soulful, syncopated ragtime creations.

Nick Gill on piano will be joined by Heather Birt on violin and Jake Gill on guitar and banjo.

Next Jazz Brunch in this series – Saturday 13 March

Tuesday February 9 2010
8.00 pm
More from West Oxford Academy with ...

Irene Gill on "Refugees in Oxford in the Second World War"

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Monday February 15 2010
1:30 – 3:30 and 4:15– 7:30

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

Tuesday February 16 2010
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy presents ...

Tom Kemp on "The Origin of the Serif: an unwelcome answer to a 1000-year-old question"

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Sunday February 21 2010
2.00 - 4.00 pm
Botley Park wildlife area (that's the north-west corner, where the playground used to be)

Tree and wildlife volunteering day

We will be tree and shrub planting in the Botley Park wildlife area (the site of the former playground, now rebuilt behind the Community Centre).

Everyone is welcome - please come along and get involved.

Bring trowels and forks if you have any, and wear wellies or other suitable footwear.

If you have any queries about this, or suggestions for future activities, please click this link to send an email to Hugo Crombie

Tuesday February 23 2010
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy with ...

Matthew Searle on "Tom Rolt and the Industrial Heritage"

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.
A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Monday 1 March 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Tuesday 2 March 2010
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy's penultimate talk for this term ....

Flor Duran on "Chile: Politics and Literature"

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Saturday 6 March 2010

OXCLEAN - Oxford's spring clean

The big litter pick for Oxford .... the West Oxford Pick starts at 2 pm from WOCA.

Please contact Susanna Pressel to learn more, or if you would like to come and help.

Click here to send her an email.

Saturday 6 March 2010

More local Litter Picks.
Bags provided - but please bring your own gloves

2.00 - 3.30 : Seacourt Nature Reserve - meet at Botley Road end, between Wickes and The George

3.30 - 4.30 : Willow Walk - meet at North Hinkey Lane end

Details: Tom and Riki - 243488

Sunday 7 March 2010
2.00 pm
WOCA

Ragroof Theatre - Family Tea Dance Extragavanza

Ragroof’s offers everyone an opportunity to enjoy a fabulous afternoon of dance.

All ages are welcome to join in the dancing -- experienced, beginner, families, couples, or groups of friends.

Enjoy elegant dance displays, instant ballroom lessons by Dorothy’s Shoes and dance the afternoon away to the sounds of the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s.

Click here for more on Ragroof Theatre

Prices: : Adults £6, Children £4, Family £16 (2+2)

Tuesday 9 March 2010
POSTPONED
8.00 pm
POSTPONED
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy regrets that this week's session has had to be ...

POSTPONED

Barbara Hammond on "Garden Cities"

THIS SESSION HAS HAD TO BE POSTPONED.

Barbara Hammond will now be giving her talk on Tuesday 16 March (for full details see below)

Tuesday 9 March 2010
17.30 pm
WOCA

Oxford City Council - Central, South and West Area Committee meeting at WOCA

This is a public meeting which includes an open session where you can have your say. Come along and keep up to date with Council decisions being made affecting your area.

Click here to see the full agenda and download supporting documents.

The Central, South and West Area Committee works in partnership with residents, police, NHS Representatives, and other organisations to drive forward local projects and make decisions about local issues. It covers the wards of Jericho and Osney, Carfax, Holywell and Hinksey Park.

Tuesday 16 March 2010
8.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

The final session of West Oxford Academy before Easter ...

Barbara Hammond on "Garden Cities"

Watch Barbara and David Hammond's film on YouTube

Tickets £2.00 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 792358.

Saturday 20 March 2010
4.30 pm - 7 pm
West Oxford Democrat's Club (on the corner of East Street and North Street, Osney Island)

WOCAMP
West Oxford Campaign Against Mega Probation Centre

Final General Meeting

Thanks to the support of hundreds of people, WOCAMP persistence has resulted in Thames Valley Probation choosing an alternative site for its new offices. TVP has signed a lease on Macmillan House in St Aldates, close to the police station and opposite the courts. We wish TVP well as it continues to provide such an essential social service.

Please come along to a celebratory WOCAMP General Meeting. It will be a fun occasion, reviewing achievements, thanking everyone for their contributions and agreeing formal steps required to close the bank account and end the Campaign.

The Democrat's Club Bar will be open from 4.15 pm to 7 pm.
WOCAMP will offer nibbles. Children very welcome.

There are plans for a Street party to celebrate the fantastic community we live in.
Further details after Easter.

Thursday 25 March 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

OTC - Oxfordshire Theatre Company

Loving April adapted by Giles Croft
from the novel by Melvin Burges

April lives in a small, rural community in the 1920s with her mother. Finding it difficult to fit in with the people in the village, she prefers to spend her time among the wild swans on the nearby riverbank.

April can't hear and struggles to speak, but when the beautiful Barbara Piggot arrives from London with her son Tony, away from their world of privilege and power in London, it is April who teaches them how to survive.

Loving April is a powerful love story about two very different people, worlds apart...

The show is adapted by Giles Croft, from the novel by Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children's Fiction Award winning writer, Melvin Burgess ("Burgess is a fine writer of dramatic narrative" The Observer)

Recommended minimum age 14

Thursday 25 March 2010
8.00 pm
WOCA - Mary Town Room

Low Carbon West Oxford (LCWO)

AGM

Wednesday April 7 2010
7.30 pm

West Oxford Community Centre
Allotments AGM

A reminder that the allotment shop is open with discounted prices on items from garden tools to compost and seeds. The shop is open every Sunday from 10-12.

Saturday April 10 2010
10:00 to 15:00

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

The next blood donor session at WOCA is on Monday June 7 2010 : 1:30 – 3:30 and 4:15– 7:30

Sunday April 11 2010
2 pm - 4 pm

Botley Park Wetlands Area (former play park)

Seeding and planting cowslips

Families very welcome - Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for muddy work.

Come along and see all the work we have done over the last year, with the willows and other species now coming into bud.

There is also a fine crop of snake's head fritillaries in the wetland area

Thursday 22 April 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

Osney Island Residents' Association AGM (OIRA)

This will be Richard Thurston’s last AGM as chair, as he will be standing down after four and a half years.

Our agenda will include the election of officers (a new chair, vice chair, treasurer and secretary) as well as committee members. Each officer is elected for a term of one year and each committee member is elected for a term of three years.

We’ll have more news on our summer event, Tea on the Towpath, and our review of OIRA’s constitution, bringing it up to date.

We will bring you more news of plans to reduce flooding in West Oxford and we hope to have a member of the Environment Agency as our special guest star.

OIRA has a new updated website. Click here to have a look.

Saturday 24 April 2010
7.00 - 11.00 pm
WOCA

Spring Barn Dance

Live Bar with caller
Licensed Bar

Tickets £10 (limited number of £6 child tickets)
from West Oxford School or from Joanna Wise 725009

Monday 26 April 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA - Annual General Meeting

Learn about the new WOCA cafe - meet the cooks!

What's happening about this year's Fun Day?

WOCA grants for local groups and projects - come along and find out more

Wednesday 28 April 2010
6.00 pm - 7.30 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Matters
Our Local Community Planning Group

All are most welcome. Wine soft drinks and nibbles will be served.

We will use the meeting to review the priorities agreed for West Oxford Matters when it was established in 2008, and update ourselves with progress on these. These priorities are:

• Flooding and a Flood Plan
• Policing,
• Crime and anti-social behaviour
• Traffic and transport
• Everyone matters: projects to encourage and include all sections of the community

After that we will

• Agree our priorities for 2010 onwards
• Suggest projects we could grant aid from our small budget
• Say goodbye to Richard Grant, who has been our link officer with Oxford City Council.

Saturday 1 May 2010
10.30 am to 12.20

Low Carbon West Oxford
West Oxford Community Centre

"Bring and Take" and "Green Swap"

followed at 12.30 by ....

Grand opening of the Wetlands Wildlife Area in Botley Park

Refreshments (tea and cake available)
Childrens Activities - free May Day Art and Craft activities

"Bring and Take" — an opportunity to bring your unwanted items (clothes, bric a brac, books, kitchenware, toys, small furniture, pictures, linen, CDs, etc) and take away some one else's for free!

Small electrical items also welcome as there will be PAT testing for safety.

For larger items - please bring a photo or description and your contact details.

Please bring your goods between 10.30 and 11.30 only.
No new items can be accepted after 11.30.
Goods may be taken at any time from 10.30 until the Bring and Take ends around 12.20.

There will also be a Green Swap — so please bring your surplus seeds, seedlings or plants for allotments, gardens and window boxes.

And at 12.30 — Grand opening of the Wetlands Wildlife Area in Botley Park

Saturday 8 May - Sunday 16 May 2010

Artweeks

Local artists will be exhibiting in West Oxford and in the display area in West Oxford Community Centre.

Daily 12 noon-6 pm, with extended opening on Thursday to 8 pm

During May each year, Oxfordshire artists and crafts people open their homes and studios to the public to share their art.

There are around 400 stunning exhibitions throughout the county, and entry is free to all of them.

This is a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to talk about their work, watch demonstrations and even try your hand and have a go yourself! There’s a wide variety of media including painting, photography, textiles, sculpture, ceramics, furniture, glass, mosaics, jewellery, and much more.

Artists exhibiting at WOCA include:

• Helen C White (Photography)
• Lois Muddiman (Mixed Media)
• Kerstin Hegarty(Painting/Drawing)
• Beck Morley (Jewellery)
• Louise Bruce (Mixed Media)
• Christine Freeborn (Glass)
• Deborah Williams (Painting/Drawing),
  
• Andrew John Walker (Pottery/Ceramics)

Other Artweeks artists exhibiting in West Oxford include

• Wendy Skinner Smith (in Helen Road) and
• West Oxford Community Primary School
  (Mixed Media -- original, vibrant, colourful art by the children aged from 3-11)

Thursday 27 May 2010

7:30 pm

St Frideswide's Church
Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BL

Inaugural recital of the restored Hunter organ.

The internationally acclaimed organist Greg Wheele
will be playing music from Germany and France,
including works by J.S. Bach and Cesar Franck.

The recital costs £5 per head, which includes a glass of wine or soft drink and some nibbles.

Saturday 3 July 2010
11:00 am
WOCA

Big Window Theatre Children's Company

presents

Looking for the Rainbow

a short adventure for children by Nick Wood

One morning Kirsty wakes up to see the most beautiful rainbow ever and the rainbow's end is only three gardens away. She persuades her mum to go with her and together they set off to find it. Soon they are lost and the real adventure begins - how to find their way home.

Join Kirsty and her mum as they adventure through the colourful world of the rainbow, climbing mountains, exploring caves and receiving help from - amongst others - a clockwork mouse!

Looking for the Rainbow is designed specifically for children aged 18 months-4 years and their families (it's not suitable for children younger than that.) Using music and active storytelling, the three actors take the children on a magical journey using simple everyday objects and familiar settings, freeing imaginations and inspiring creative play.

Tickets £3, available from the community centre office on weekdays between 12 and 6 except Tuesdays!


There are promotional leaflets in the WOCA office here, so please help us by taking a bunch and promoting the show widely. If there is enough demand we could run a second show at 12.15.

Saturday 3 July 2010
2.45 pm
LCWO AGM

West Oxford Ecology Centre

Low Carbon West Oxford AGM at
The Pavilion, West Oxford Ecology Centre
(formerly the Corpus Christi College Sports Ground) at 2.45 pm.

This is the first AGM for LCWO since receiving charity status at the end of March and it will be very short.
The annual report for the last year of LCWO the Association, 2009/10, will be available on the day.

The AGM will be followed by a tea party at 3.15 pm with tea and scones to celebrate the opening of the Centre.

Everyone is welcome, but please note you need to be a member to vote.
You can join LCWO on the day.

Where is West Oxford Ecology Centre?
Click here for map.

What is Low Carbon West Oxford?
Click here to see the LCWO website.

Monday 5 July 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

WOCA Management Committee Meeting

Friday 9 July, 2010
9 pm
The Perch, Binsey,
Binsey Lane, OX2 0NG

... it's Alice's Day in West Oxford tomorrow

So tonight, if you haven't managed to catch up with Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
(Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter), this film will be shown at The Perch Inn, Binsey.

A FREE 90-minute, 2-mile upstream pilgrimage following the route of the famous rowing trip of 4 July 1862 towards Godstow, where the phenomenon of ‘Alice’ had its birth.

Starting near the site of the original ancient ‘Oxenford’ on Abingdon Road, the river towpath passes the now-green remnants of Oxford’s industrial past, before a largely rural route which encompasses Osney river lock, the site of Osney Abbey (inspiration for one of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales), and the Tumbling Bay Victorian bathing spot opposite Sheepwash Channel junction with the Oxford Canal.

This is followed by the extraordinary expanse of Port Meadow, where lies the hamlet of Binsey (and The Perch Inn), where the walk ends. Binsey’s diminutive Norman church and 'treacle well' - the destination, like Osney and Godstow, of countless pilgrims of the past – is a short distance away.

This tour will leave from outside Alice's Shop at St Aldates at 7pm to reach The Perch, Binsey in time for their evening screening of Tim Burton's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

For more details of this event, and for how to join a free 90-minute riverside walk
to Binsey, please click here.

Saturday 10 July, 2010
Alice's Day in West Oxford

Oxford's Story Museum is coordinating Alice’s Day events all over Oxford, including several in West Oxford's Binsey.

More than a dozen world-class venues will be turning Oxford into Wonderland with exhibitions and activities for children and adults across the city, many of which are free, to celebrate the first telling of Alice's adventures, an important story happening for children and children’s literature.

Binsey Church
Visit the famous treacle well in the churchyard of Binsey's tiny Norman church.
The church itself will be open from 11am-5pm.

Three free talks about Binsey and its surroundings

• 12pm    Gerard Manley Hopkins & the Binsey Poplars by Martin Henig
• 2pm      Historic Fields of Binsey by Julian Munby
• 3pm      Binsey Church 500 years ago by Fr Anthony Rustell

The Perch Inn
Enjoy a complimentary Victorian strawberry lemonade - and spot the Alice memorabilia in the Wonderland garden.

For full details of all Alice Day events taking place in Oxford, please click here.

Saturday 17 July 2010
12.00 noon - 4.00 pm

West Oxford Fun Day

Circus Skills
Dog Show
Surf Simulator
Live Music
Stalls
Big Toddle
West Oxford in Clay
Activities and workshops

ENTRY only £1 (including free raffle ticket) with Children FREE.

For more details ring 01865 245761 - or click here to email westoxfordcc@gmail.com

... or look in your new copy of the FREE

WEST OXFORD NEWS

Click here to see earlier issues of West Oxford News

Saturday 17 July 2010

Fun Dog Show
(part of the West Oxford Fun Day at WOCA)
Sponsored By Pets at Home in Botley

Judging Starts at 1pm

£1 per Entry

• Waggiest Tail
• Best Owner & Dog Look-a-Like
• Miss Pooch 2010
• Top dog 2010
• The dog the Judges would most like to take home

Winners from each category go into the final category: Best All Rounder.

Prizes to be won! Fun for all ages!

Judges Decisions are final.

Note: This is not a serious dog show! -- it is just for fun.

Thursday 2 September 2010
8.00 - 9.30 pm
WOCA

Oxford Spiritist Study Group (Thursdays, from 2nd September)

SOON
SOON
SOON !!!

West Oxford News - final deadline for contributions

Tuesday 7 September 2010

West Oxford News - FINAL DEADLINE for contributions.

Today is the LAST day to get your copy in to Keith for the September 2010 issue of West Oxford News, West Oxford's unique quarterly newsletter.

Leave your contributions at the Community Centre (marked for the attention of Keith Birnie) or e-mail to westoxfordcc@googlemail.com by Tuesday 7 September 2010.

What's West Oxford News? Click here to download a copy.

Wednesday 8 September 2010
7.00 pm
The Oxford Times, Newspaper House, Osney Mead

Oxford Open Doors 2010

 

See for yourself how The Oxford Times is made!

Witness the final production stages, from the images leaving the sub-editor’s screen to the pages coming off the press. The visit will include a tour of Newsquest Oxford’s state-of-the-art press facility.

THIS EVENT IS FREE - but BOOKING is ESSENTIAL

Book by phone - 01865 251022 : lines are open 23rd August - 10th September, 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holiday)
Click here to book online (online booking open 23rd August - 10th September)

Click here for details of this and other Oxford Open Doors events in and near West Oxford

Saturday 11 September 2010
10.30 am - 12.00 pm
WOCA

Low Carbon West Oxford Bring and Take event

Bring unwanted items and/or take some away for free.

Bric-a-brac, clothes, toys, CDs, books, kitchenware, pictures, small furniture and small electrical items (with plugs).

The small print on bring and take items:

• Items for Bring & Take must be genuinely reusable and in good, clean condition.
• For items too large to bring along, please bring a photo/description and your contact details.
• No new items will be accepted after 11.15am.
• Goods may be taken at any time from 10.30.
• Small electrical items will be PAT-tested for safety.

Surplus Produce Stall

Bring your surplus fruit, vegetables and plants. Apple pressing.

Enter the Competitions

Heaviest Pumpkin & Marrow, Finest Runner beans and tomatoes, Funniest Veg, Victoria Sandwich, Scones, Cupcakes, Jam & Chutney.

For children : Garden on a plate & Flowers in an eggcup.

Rules apply to these competitions.
Copies of these rules are available at West Oxford Community Centre, Eggs Etcetera, or may be downloaded by clicking here.

Draw on the Graffiti Car & Bike Postcoding

Decorate a street car or have your postcode put on your bike.

Children's Art Workshop

Create a multi-media, multi-layered allotment scene.

Home-made cakes and Tea

Saturday 11 September 2010
10:30 am - 1:30 pm

Oxford Open Doors 2010

Old City of Oxford Power Station
West Oxford's own Victorian Power Station

Southwell Building, Arthur St (off Mill Street)

Open to visitors 11 September only, FREE admission
Steps, no wheelchair access.

This opening is part of Oxford Open Doors programme 2010

    

The old City of Oxford Power Station has been the home of the Thermo-fluids Research Laboratory of Oxford University's Department of Engineering Science over the past 30 years.

The building was opened in 1892 and housed Oxford city's coal fired, electrical generating capabilit. This delivered 2000 volts DC which was converted to 200 volts DC by motor-generators that were housed in sub-stations.

This system, known as 'The Oxford System', and was installed at other generating stations across the country - Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Charing Cross, Chelsea, Shoreditch and Sydenham.

Over the past year, the Department has been vacating the building for premises new. Clearing the building of a its large experimental equiment has exposed much of the original structure and, indeed, some small souvenirs of its previous use.

Oxford Open Doors 2010 will provide an excellent opportunity for members of the public to visit the building, undertake a short tour and also see a display of correspondence and pictures relating to the history of the old power station.

---

An addition from the Osney Island Website ...

The old City of Oxford power station, opposite Osney's East Street, is mentioned in a poem by Hilaire Belloc, author of the more famous ‘Cautionary Tales’. (The ‘Seven Bridges Road’ in the poem is the older name for the Botley Road.)

You can read the poem, and see the Osney Island Website, by clicking here.

Saturday & Sunday
11-12 September 2010
All weekend

All over Oxford and Oxfordshire

Oxford Open Doors 2010

    

Over the weekend of 11th and 12th September Oxford will open its doors once again for you to discover and enjoy some of its most interesting buildings and spaces, little known corners and unusual places.

Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture. They offer FREE access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples - a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture.

Click here for free events in Central and West Oxford.

Tuesday 14 September 2010
5.30 pm

Central South and West Area Committee Meeting
at South Oxford Community Centre, Lake Street, OX1 4RP

PLANNING APPLICATION

Oxford Railway Station
New station platform opposite Mill Street

The planning application for the new platform alongside Mill Street will be decided at the Central South and West Area Committee on Tuesday 14 September.

The meeting begins at 5.30 pm. The new station platform item will probably be quite near the start.

The meeting is open to all – you can contact Susanna Pressel with comments. (7 Rawlinson Road, OXFORD ,OX2 6UE; 01865 554001; cllrspressel@oxford.gov.uk)

The papers and the report (in which the officers recommend that the application is approved) are in the Planning section of the City Council website. You can find the details by entering the reference numbers shown below in bold into the Planning Application Search page.

10/01414/CONSLT
Erection of bay platform to Oxford Railway Station to also include entrance building, canopies to platform, reorganised rail users car park (including disabled spaces), taxi drop off area and covered cycle parking.

10/01413/FUL
Construction of "transfer deck" across Botley Road linking existing railway station to proposed new bay platform at Becket Street car park.

The next Central South and West Area committee meeting at West Oxford Community Centre
is at 17:30 pm on Tuesday 14 December 2010

Meetings are also held in other local locations.
To see the dates and locations of the next few Central South and West Area committee meetings, click here.

Wednesday 15 September 2010
6.30 pm - 7.45 pm
WOCA

Yoga at WOCA
New Term starts on September 15th 2010
Sessions on Wednesdays 6.30 pm - 7.45 pm

Relaxing and energizing hatha yoga classes for all levels

£5.50 per class or £50 for the term (10 classes)

Any queries, please contact Joanna Jeczalik
joannaj451@gmail.com
07515 896469
www.yogainoxford.co.uk

Wednesday 15 September 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Wednesday at WOCA

Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues.

Click here for full details of Overeaters Anonymous on the Overeaters Anonymous website

Next meeting: Wednesday 22 September at WOCA

Saturday 18 September 2010
11.00 pm - 12.00 pm
WOCA

Susanna Pressel / Colin Cook (West Oxford councillors) at West Oxford Community Centre.

Every third Saturday of the month.

Sunday 19 September 2010
Sunday Services

For church services in and around West Oxford, click here

Monday 20 September 2010
9.30 - 11.30 am
WOCA

Messy Play (Monday mornings, in the hall)

For details of this and other children's activities at WOCA, please ring (01865) 245761

Monday 20 September 2010
9.45 - 12.00 am
WOCA

Monkey Music (Mondays mornings, in the Mary Town room)

For details of this and other children's activities at WOCA, please ring (01865) 245761

THIS IS THE END OF THE WOCA DIARY ARCHIVE PAGE FOR 2007-2010

For details of current and future events at WOCA, click here

Monday 20 September 2010
6.30 pm - 7:30 pm
WOCA

Bellydance Beginners Caitlyn: Turkish & Arabian Dance

This is a beginners and total beginner class, drop-ins welcome

£5.50 for an hour class

For further details see the website or contact Caitlyn

www.orientaldance.org      email: Caitlyn@orientaldance.org       Tel. 07792 967355

Monday 20 September 2010
7 pm (arrive from 6.45 pm, and start to explore the essences beforehand)
WOCA

Flower Essences – a free talk by Charlotte Barrow.
No booking required – just turn up

 

Flower Essences are a non-invasive, holistic, complementary therapy – and there are hundreds of essences to choose from (and they aren't all flower essences) – Alaskan Essences ... Indigo Essences ... Pacific Essences ... Wild Medicine ... and more...

Come to this free talk and learn more – and make up your own essence to take away

For more details contact Charlotte on ((01865) 712038 or visit www.emotional-healing.co.uk

Charlotte Barrow is an Indigo Essences Certified Practitioner and an Advanced Practitioner Member of the British Flower & Vibrational Essences Association, as well as being a qualified counsellor/therapist. She is in private practice in Oxford.

Tuesday 21 September 2010
7.00 pm - 8.15 pm
WOCA

FRENCH CLASSES

Do you want to brush up your French?
Or maybe you are a beginner and want to give it a go?

Why not join the French classes taught at WOCA by a qualified (PGCE) native speaker in a fun and relaxed atmosphere?

Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7.00 pm - 8.15 pm

FREE TASTER SESSION Tuesday 21 September.

Contact Xavier Schoenmaeckers:
email xschoenmaeckers@aol.com
07928 941759

Thursday 23 September 2010
7.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road
(opposite WOCA)

Organ recital by Mark Purcell (Oriel College, Oxford and Chichester Cathedral)
on the magnificent and newly-restored Hunter Organ

Admission £5 at the door - includes a glass of wine or juice

NEXT CONCERT?

Click here for details of the NEXT organ recital at St Frideswide's - on Thursday 28 October 2010

---

Organists and choirs ...
St Frideswide's is keen to hear from organists and budding organists, and from choirs who would like to use the organ.
If you are interested, please contact Anne James on 01865 725906, email riverbank26@tiscali.co.uk

Click here to see an Oxford Times article about these recitals and the newly-refurbished St Frideswide's organ

Click here for download an illustrated article about the restoration of the St Frideswide's organ
from the National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR)

Saturday 25 September 2010
11.00 am - 13.00 pm
WOCA

Russian Language Rosinka Rus. Children's Centre

Weekly language & literature classes and toddlers' playgroup.

For more details contact:
www.rosinka-school.org.uk
email: info@rosinka-school.org.uk
Tel. 07578 172108 / 07982 971 87

Sunday 26 September 2010
10.00 am
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road
(opposite WOCA)

Harvest Festival
A special service to celebrate harvest, including a collection of tins for the homeless.

Enquiries (01865) 242345

Sunday 26 September 2010
2.00 pm
Botley Park's Kingfisher Corner

Volunteer workparty in Botley Park's Kingfisher Corner - all welcome (children too)

A volunteer workgroup will be tidying around the planting at 'Kingfisher Corner' in Botley Park, and also doing some additional planting.

Kingfisher Corner is in the north-west corner of Botley park - that's the park behind West Oxford Community Centre, on the north side of Botley Road. You can also get to it down Henry Road and then across the footbridge.

Kingfisher Corner is a wildlife wetland area created when the old play area in Botley Park moved. The old site gave us an opportunity to encourage wildlife and diversity in the park. Two ‘scrapes’ were excavated to provide different habitats for plants and animals. Species planted around the wetland area include cherry, alder, rowan, dog rose, buddleia, buckthorn, fritillaries, cowslip, purple loosestrife and marsh marigold. Future plans include building an otter holt on a specially prepared location near the stream.

All volunteers welcome - children welcome too.

Please meet up at 2.00 pm in the park.

Be prepared for mud if it has been raining!

Sunday 26 September 2010
3.30 pm
Binsey Chapel (St Margaret of Antioch)

Well Service followed by Harvest Evensong
A short service at St Margaret's 'treacle well' to celebrate the feast of Michaelmas,
followed by
a special Evensong service to celebrate harvest

Enquiries (01865) 242345

Click here for details of Binsey Chapel and a map

Thursday 30 September 2010
6.00 pm - 7.00 pm
WOCA

   

Neighbourhood Action Group meeting

Take your chance and say what issues directly affect you.
Your Neighbourhood Action Group will ensure that they are tackled at
their root cause and provide long term solutions.

Neighbourhood policing is about communities managing their neighbourhood by working
together and in partnership with all local agencies.

Your Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) is key to the success of neighbourhood policing.
It is this group who plan on behalf of the community and organise for tasks to be completed.

Your NAG is a volunteer working group made up of representatives from the
community. It includes residents, the police, local authority and other organisations,
such as local businesses and schools.

If you cannot attend the meeting but want to contribute,
you can email your concerns to JAW@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Your neighbourhod team can also be contacted via the non-emergency Police number : 0845 8 505 505

Click here for more details of your local police team

Click here for September 2010 update on local policing issues including bike thefts and graffiti

FRENCH CLASSES

The first lesson is free.

Do you want to brush up your French?
Or maybe you are a beginner and want to give it a go?

Why not join the French classes taught at WOCA by a qualified (PGCE) native speaker in a fun and relaxed atmosphere?

New members welcome.
This class is suitable for learners at intermediate level.

Contact Xavier Schoenmaeckers:
email xschoenmaeckers@aol.com
07928 941759

Saturday 2 October 2010
8:00 (doors open 7:30)
WOCA

Oxfordshire Theatre Company

Vertigo
by Jonathan Holloway

Made famous by the Alfred Hitchcock film, experience the stage play about a man trapped by his past and crippled by his fear of heights ...

Oxfordshire Theatre Company, the county's leading professional touring company, is pleased to present this psychological crime thriller of deception and intrigue, based on the original French novel, "D'Entre les Morts" by Boileau and Narcejac.

In association with Red Shift Theatre Company and with the kind permission of the estate of Thomas Narcejac

See OTC's production of Vertigo at WOCA

Join Dr Jacques Ballard as he introduces the fascinating case of Roger Flavieres, a man who’s compelling story of obsession, murder, manipulation and deceit will have you on the edge of your seat.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of Paris in the 1940's, Roger Flavieres, a retired police officer, is hired to follow the wife of an old friend. The mysterious Madeleine captivates his heart, but is the relationship what is seems or something far more sinister?

Vertigo is a compelling thriller of passion and intrigue which takes you on a journey full of twists and turns, crime and black humour; it will delight lovers of inventive theatre and crime stories alike.

Oxfordshire Theatre Company are delighted to welcome a superb cast, including regular West End actress, Sophia Thierens, as the leading lady, Madeleine Gevigne and local Oxfordshire actor Steve Dineen as Roger Flavieres. With a creative team including international composer Ivan Stott and award winning designer Laura McEwen, the production promises to exceed Oxfordshire Theatre Company's continued reputation for quality touring work.

Contains some adult content, may not be suitable for those under 14 years

TICKETS £8.00 / £6.00 concessions

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Oxfordshire Theatre Company will be in West Oxford again in the new year, with their brand new musical version of Alice in Wonderland (January 20 2011 at West Oxford Primary School).

Written by Neil Duffield, the 2006 winner of the Arts Council England Children's Award 'for work which displays excellence, inspiration and innovation in children's theatre', the new version of this intriguing Oxford-based tale, combines puppetry, song and dance.

Sunday 10 October 2010
5.30 pm - 8.00 pm
WOCA

Harvest Supper - WOCA and My Life My Choice

WOCA and the people who run the WOCA cafe - My Life My Choice - are jointly hosting a friendly harvest supper.

The main course will be provided, but please bring a pudding to share!

There is no charge for this event.

Children welcome.

Poster by Vicky Hirsch of WOCA.
Click the poster to download a larger version!

Tuesday 12 October 2010
7.45 pm
WOCA

Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire (ANHSO)

The Brown Hare - Ian Lindsay (Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust)

The brown hare is a valued game species which has severely declined throughout Europe during the 20th Century. Ian Lindsay will discuss breeding and habitat requirements, and what practical steps canbe taken to reverse this decline.

ANHSO Members Free, Visitors £2

Click here for further information on the current status of the brown hare in Britain.

The Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire (ANHSO) is the oldest Natural History Society in England. It was established as the Ashmolean Society in 1828 and was merged with the Oxfordshire Natural History Society by George Claridge Druce in 1901. The Society works in partnership with many other natural history and environmental groups, for example collaborating in the organisation of events.

The next meeting of the ANHSO at WOCA is on Tue December 14th, 7:45.
Click here to see details of this event.

Tuesday 12 October 2010
Doors : 6:00
Meeting : 6.30 – 9.00 pm
Oxford Town Hall

Bus Users Forum at Oxford Town Hall

The Bus Users Forum is an opportunity for bus passengers to comment on all aspects of bus services in and around Oxford - including reliability, frequency, ticketing, information, and gaps in the local network.

Senior managers from Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, Arriva the Shires and Thames Travel will be there to answer questions, as will Oxfordshire County Council officers who oversee bus services.

Doors will open at 6.00 pm and the Forum will start at 6.30 pm. The bus companies are sponsoring free tea, coffee and biscuits. The Forum will close at 9 pm.

Bus Users UK Oxford Group is hosting the event. Part of Bus Users UK, the independent national body that represents bus passengers, it campaigns for better buses, bus services, bus priority measures and bus ticketing in Oxford to encourage more people to leave their cars at home.

Click here to see the Bus Users UK website

Tuesday 19 October 2010
6 pm
WOCA

West Oxford Matters - open meeting

West Oxford Matters is our local community planning group. The next meeting will be in early or mid October at West Oxford Community Centre. All are welcome.

Anne James, Chair of West Oxford Matters, writes : "For this meeting we are agenda-ing a discussion on the Network Rail plans for Oxford Rail station. These plans were approved by the City Council despite the Area Committee rejecting them, and our local councillor, Colin Cook, voting against them. The scheme does not plan to improve the pedestrian, cycle or vehicular routes on Botley Road where it goes under the railway. We think local people need to be informed about this major development which has gone ahead with no real consultation with residents of West Oxford. And we hope by having a discussion and agreeing what we want we will have an (albeit small) opportunity to shape the margins of what we are going to end up with."

If you have any items you would like to add to the meeting's agends, please contact Anne James (telephone 01865 725906, or click here to email)

Previous meetings have covered the following issues:

• Transport, traffic and speeding
• Low Carbon West Oxford
• Flooding
• Policing and anti-social Behaviour
• Creating a community where everyone matters
• the planned developments for Oxford's West End, Oxpens and Stations

Tuesday 19 October 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy restarts ...

The all-ability non-selective West Oxford Academy restarts tonight for the autumn term with the first of eight Tuesday sessions :

"The Diamond synchrotron: illuminating science" with Sara Fletcher

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.
Or £10 for all eight sessions - save £2.00 !

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone else who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The second in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 26 October 2010 at 8 pm.

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy continues tonight with the second of eight Tuesday sessions :

The greatest history lesson ever with Peter Furtado

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.
Or £10 for all eight sessions.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk at sometime in the future, or know someone else who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The third in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 2 November 2010 at 8 pm.

Thursday 28 October 2010
7.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road OX2 0BL
(opposite WOCA)

Organ recital by Dan Chambers (St Barnabas Church, Oxford and St Hugh's College Oxford)
on the magnificent and newly-restored Hunter Organ

Admission £5 - includes a glass of wine or juice, and nibbles

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Click here to see an Oxford Times article about these recitals and the newly-refurbished St Frideswide's organ

Click here for download an illustrated article about the restoration of the St Frideswide's organ
from the National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR)

Friday 29 October 2010
9.30 – 11.30 am
WOCA

Parent & Toddler in WOCA main hall.

For details of this and other children's activities at WOCA, please ring (01865) 245761

Friday 29 October 2010
10.30 – 12.00 am
WOCA

Hilary's Music continues ...

11.00 - 11.30 — Mary Town Room
11.30 - 12.00 — Hall

For details of this and other children's activities at WOCA, please ring (01865) 245761

HALLOWEEN
Saturday Night - Sunday Night
30/31 October 2010

Police officers will be patrolling in the area.

A mobile police station will be outside West Oxford Community Centre between 7.00 pm and 8.30 pm on the 30th and 31st of October.

For more on West Oxford's Neighbourhood Police officers, click here

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning 30/31 October 2010
British Summer Time (BST) ends

Clocks go back one hour at 2.00 am on Sunday morning.
One EXTRA hour tonight !

Tuesday 2 November 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy continues tonight with the third of eight Tuesday sessions :

Air traffic control: with Jim Hague

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The fourth in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 9 November 2010 at 8 pm.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: our list of all West Oxford Academy events in Autumn 2010

Tuesday 9 November 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy continues tonight with the fourth of eight Tuesday sessions :

Is the future nuclear? with Calum Byrom

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The fifth in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 16 November 2010 at 8 pm.

Tuesday 16 November 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy continues tonight with the fifth of eight Tuesday sessions :

Pre-modern Japanese syntax: A corpus based study with Calum Byrom

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The sixth in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 23 November 2010 at 8 pm.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: our list of all West Oxford Academy events in Autumn 2010

Tuesday 23 November 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy continues tonight with the sixth of eight Tuesday sessions :

Recovering the proceeds of crime: freezing and seizing the assets of criminals with Jeffrey Bryant

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The seventh in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 30 November 2010 at 8 pm.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: our list of all West Oxford Academy events in Autumn 2010

Thursday 25 November 2010
7.30 pm (Doors open 7 pm)
West Oxford Democrats Club, 1 North Street, Osney Island

Oxford Flood Alliance

Third annual public meeting

The Oxford Flood Alliance (OFA) is a voluntary community-based group, lobbying for action, and convincing local authorities to work together to reduce flood risk.

Come and find out what’s already been achieved this year to reduce the risk of flooding in our area, and what’s happening next.

MPs, Councillors and local press have all been invited to the meeting, so come along and show them a united front!

They’ll keep taking notice — and most importantly, they’ll keep taking action.

Thursday 25 November 2010
7.30 pm
St Frideswide's Church, Botley Road OX2 0BL
(opposite WOCA)

Organ recital by Michael Harris (St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh)

Admission £5 - includes a glass of wine or juice, and nibbles

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Organists and choirs ...
St Frideswide's is keen to hear from organists and budding organists, and from choirs who would like to use the organ.
If you are interested, please contact Anne James on 01865 725906, email riverbank26@tiscali.co.uk

Click here to see an Oxford Times article about these recitals and the newly-refurbished St Frideswide's organ

Click here for download an illustrated article about the restoration of the St Frideswide's organ
from the National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR)

Sunday 28 November 2010
Sunday Services

For church services in and around West Oxford, click here

Sunday 28 November 2010
2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
Botley Park's Kingfisher Corner

Volunteer workparty in Botley Park's Kingfisher Corner - all welcome (children too)

A volunteer workgroup will be tidying around the planting at 'Kingfisher Corner' in Botley Park, and also doing some additional planting. Replanting willows, planting flowers and shrubs, general tidying and maintenance; also might be cutting a path through the wildlife area.

Kingfisher Corner is in the north-west corner of Botley park - that's the park behind West Oxford Community Centre, on the north side of Botley Road. You can also get to it through Botley Park, or down Henry Road and then across the footbridge.

Kingfisher Corner is a wildlife wetland area created when the old play area in Botley Park moved. The old site gave us an opportunity to encourage wildlife and diversity in the park. Two ‘scrapes’ were excavated to provide different habitats for plants and animals. Species planted around the wetland area include cherry, alder, rowan, dog rose, buddleia, buckthorn, fritillaries, cowslip, purple loosestrife and marsh marigold. Future plans include building an otter holt on a specially prepared location near the stream.

All volunteers welcome - children welcome too.

What to bring: Wellies and waterproofs (probably!) plus trowels and forks if you have them.

Contact info: Hugo Crombie — cromby.2006@tiscali.co.uk

Sunday 28 November 2010
6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
WOCA   <<   click for map and travel info

Oxford Karate Club

We are the local club of the
Japan Karate Association England (www.jka-england.org)

Affiliated to:
Japan Karate Association
English Karate Federation

JKAE Qualified Instructors

Every Sunday at this time at WOCA

Tel. for Info: 07860 907703 / 01865 220404
Or e-mail: Said Nouar said6757@yahoo.co.uk

Monday 29 November 2010
9.30 – 11.30 am
WOCA Hall

Messy Play

For details of this and other children's activities at WOCA, please ring (01865) 245761

Monday 29 November 2010
9.45 – 12.00 am
WOCA Mary Town Room

Monkey Music

For details of this and other children's activities at WOCA, please ring (01865) 245761

Monday 29 November 2010
6.30 pm – 7:30 pm
WOCA

Bellydance Beginners - Caitlyn: Turkish & Arabian Dance (beginners class)

This is a beginners and total beginner class, drop-ins welcome

£5.50 for this one-hour class

For further details see the website or contact Caitlyn

www.orientaldance.org
email: Caitlyn@orientaldance.org       
07792 967355

Tuesday 30 November 2010
11.45 –12.45
WOCA Main Hall

Post-natal Pilates Class - Ivana Starkova, Stott Instructor.

Strenghten pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, ease back pain, improve posture.

Babies welcome.

£12 for a single session, £60 for 6 consecutive weeks. Please book in advance.

For booking and enqueries, please contact Ivana Starkova

email: enquiries@ispilates.co.uk
07818 062351
www.ispilates.co.uk

Tuesday 30 November 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy continues tonight with the seventh of eight Tuesday sessions :

Pots for the people - looking at English slipwarewith Elizabeth Newbery

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

The eighth and last in this series of eight West Oxford Academy sessions is on Tuesday 7 December 2010 at 8 pm.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: our list of all West Oxford Academy events in Autumn 2010

Tuesday 30 November 2010
West Oxford Community Association Newsletter
December Edition – FINAL DEADLINE for contributions

TODAY is the FINAL DEADLINE for contributions to the December 2010 edition of the West Oxford Community Newsletter.

Leave your contributions at the Community Centre (marked for the attention of Keith Birnie) or e-mail to westoxfordcc@googlemail.com

What's West Oxford News? It's the printed newsletter for and about West Oxford. Copies are delivered free to every household in West Oxford. It's been going, in one form or another, since 1975.

Click here to download a copy.

Past issues of West Oxford News : 2002 - 2010 Did you know you can also download past issues of West Oxford News from this website? We have copies going back to 2002. Click here to see the West Oxford News archive page

WOCA cafe is now open
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
10 am – 3 pm

WOCA EVENTS — DECEMBER 2010

Wednesday 1 December 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

Wednesday evening Yoga classes (Mary Town Room)

Click for details

Relaxing and energizing hatha yoga classes for all levels

£5.50 per class or £50 for the term (10 classes)

Any queries, please contact Joanna Jeczalik
joannaj451@gmail.com
07515 896469
www.yogainoxford.co.uk

Wednesday 1 December 2010
7.30 pm
WOCA

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Wednesday at WOCA

Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues.

Click here for full details of Overeaters Anonymous on the Overeaters Anonymous website

Sunday 5 December 2010
Sunday Services

For church services in and around West Oxford, click here

Sunday 5 December 2010
6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
WOCA   <<   click for map and travel info

Oxford Karate Club

We are the local club of the
Japan Karate Association England (www.jka-england.org)

Affiliated to:
Japan Karate Association
English Karate Federation

JKAE Qualified Instructors

Every Sunday at this time at WOCA

Tel. for Info: 07860 907703 / 01865 220404
Or e-mail: Said Nouar said6757@yahoo.co.uk

Tuesday 7 December 2010
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
WOCA Cafe

West Oxford Academy

West Oxford's all-ability non-selective Academy's autumn term ends tonight with the last of current series of eight Tuesday sessions :

Is it organic? And does it matter? with Ann James

Tickets £1.50 per session - includes nibbles and a glass of wine (red or white) or soft drink.

Each session consists of a 15-20 minute talk by a local resident, followed by questions and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

A session lasts no more than an hour or so. A wonderful chance to find out about a wide range of topics and meet new people!

If you are able to give a ten-minute talk sometime in the future, or know someone who could, please contact Susan Hutchinson: allat42@gmail.com or 01865-792358.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: our list of all West Oxford Academy events in Autumn 2010

Thursday 13 January 2011
1:30 – 3:30 and 4:15 – 7:30

West Oxford Community Centre
Blood donor session

The next 2011 blood donor session at WOCA will be posted here when it has been announced