Tim Huckvale writes: The answers to the Christmas Picture Quiz are:
Results of the January draw:
Tempted? Read more about the Village Hall Lottery
Tim Huckvale writes: In recent years at Christmas my brother Mark has created a picture quiz for the family to puzzle over during the holiday. He is happy for me to share it with fellow villagers.
You may also download the complete quiz for printing.
Opening hours for Sibford Stores & Post Office over the festive period:
Wed 3 Jan onwards: normal opening hours Mon – Sat 8 – 6, Sun 8 – 1
Sue Bannister writes: The Mulberry Bush School, Julie Lynn-Evans and I would like to thank Oli Broom for a wonderful talk about his 14 month bike ride to Australia for the Ashes in 2009 and the book he wrote about his adventures. We are most grateful for all the support we received from attendees, donors, canapés makers and all those who helped on the night. We still await a final figure but with doubling by the Big Give we will have raised over £12,000 for The Mulberry Bush School, Standlake.
We are already thinking about next year and do hope that you will join us then.
While you’ve got Christmas carols buzzing round your head, you should find these opening words of some (mostly) well known carols easy to unscramble. Answers after Christmas (or, as an additional challenge, see if you find them now – they are on the website!)
Diana Thompson writes: Don’t forget, you have until December 20th to collect Christmas gifts for Polly Preedy’s clients in Banbury. We are taking wrapped shoe boxes to as many homeless people as we can again this year.
Contact Diana Thompson at diana_thompson
Thank you.
Sibfordians will be sad to hear of the death last week at age 99 of Bill Crabtree, local keeper of bees and geese, prize-winning shepherd, fount of knowledge on all things apple – and much more.
The funeral service is at Banbury Crematorium on Friday 22nd December 2023 at 12 noon. Barbara tells us that there is no need for formal funeral dress.
Bill requested no flowers – he would rather you made a donation to the Countryside Preservation Trust. To make a donation, or leave your own tribute to Bill, please visit https://billcrabtree.muchloved.com/
There will be a reception after the funeral at The Moon and Sixpence, Hanwell.
For more information, please contact Sue Sabin at sue5595
A recent near miss – but well done!
Claiming to be a Detective Chief Inspector from Holborn Police Station (the Met), this crook very nearly persuaded a resident from the Gower to part with a substantial sum of money. He said he had a woman in custody who had access to the victim’s bank accounts and required confirmation of the account details. He advised the victim to phone 999 to check the veracity of the call, but kept her telephone line open for nearly an hour, so that any such calls would go direct to him.
Together with the Bank’s Security, who had contacted her to query the amount, our victim relied on her instinct that there was a problem, and fortunately cancelled the transaction before it was too late.
The “policeman” was very persuasive , very persistent and very cross at seeing his fraud fail.
1-0 to the good guys!
Peter Hine, Gower & Burdrop Neighbourhood Watch, 01295 788 830
Results of the December draw:
Tempted? Read more about the Village Hall Lottery
Sibford Gower Parish Council
Clerk to the Council: Kirsty Buttle
NOTICE OF VACANCY
IN OFFICE OF PARISH COUNCILLOR
PARISH OF SIBFORD GOWER PARISH COUNCIL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that James Garstin has ceased to be a member of Sibford Gower Parish Council, and that a vacancy now exists in the office of Councillor for the said Parish Council.
In accordance with the Local Elections Rules an election to fill the vacancy shall be held if, within 14 days after the date of this notice (i.e. no later than 20 December 2023), a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer, Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury OX15 4AA by TEN electors for the said Parish.
In the event that no such request is received by 20 December 2023 the vacancy will be filled by co-option.
Yvonne Rees
Returning Officer
Dated 30 November 2023
Note: In computing the fourteen days Saturdays, Sundays, day of Christmas break, of the Easter break or of a bank holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning are disregarded.
