Lark Rise - Book Now!
Featuring the Meerkats Band Butcher's Arms - January Offers!
Banish the January (and February) blues with a range of great offers at our friendly, warm and lively local. Ben, Ant and the Butcher's Arms team have devised a number of special nights to suit all ages, appetites and schedules:
Mondays - Burger Mondays, buy one get one 25% off your second delicious burger Wednesdays - Pie Day, buy one get one 25% off in February Thursday - Senior Citizens Day, two-course meal and a coffee for £16.50 in February Fridays - Fish Fridays and Fizz Fridays, bottle of prosecco £22 in February Saturdays - Curry Night Sunday evenings - Sharers buy one, get 25% off in February Beat the Blues: Mondays-Thursdays, January and February, book a table and receive 20% off the food bill Mother's Day is also coming up... Treat your Mum to a delicious Sunday roast - if you book before 5th March, Mum gets 25% off her meal and a free glass of prosecco. Don't delay, book your table at the pub now - remember, if we don't use it, we lose it! Tel: 01452 225603 Email: thebutchersarms.oakridgelynch@gmail.com Facebook: Click Here Coach House Tutors
Your Church Needs You!
The Future of the Church in Oakridge The Church in Oakridge is likely to close within the next few years without help from those living within the village.
Since 1837 the Church has played an important part within the Parish of Oakridge. This includes Oakridge Lynch, Far Oakridge, Tunley, Waterlane and Bournes Green. The Church is important to many living in our village, whether you attend Church services and activities; or you use it as a quiet space, for weddings, baptisms, funerals and special occasions; or as a link with the past and with the School. All of this will end if the church closes. Some background. The church has too few members who actively support it by attending services and making financial donations. The annual cost of running the Church is over £22,000. This covers the running costs for the building and the contribution we make to central finds for the cost of ministry including your vicar. Our income from donations is around £20,000. We do not receive any support from elsewhere. So there is a shortfall in income of around £2,000. Other Churches in the Benefice are facing similar issues. The future for Christ Church in Chalford is under review. Many of you will know that Eastcombe Church has already closed, and the building sold. What are the PCC doing about this? We continue to engage within Oakridge. For the wider community there are Mothering Sunday services, Harvest Festival, Easter and Christmas services and activities, Remembrance Services and Open the Book – (dramatised bible story telling for the School), the church café and a House Group. We are discussing with other churches in the benefice whether we should close some churches and consolidate into a smaller number of buildings. Oakridge church is at risk. What can you do? Do you want your village church to remain open? Churches are a feature of an English village and in the past have been greatly valued. Once they are lost they do not re-open. If you would like to help your village church - make suggestions on what we can do to keep the Church going - by joining us at one or more of our services - with cleaning, flower arranging, providing music - with the maintenance and upkeep of the building - with publicity, notices and meetings - by joining our mailing list, so you receive details of services events and other news - with financial help, The primary need is for regular income. The Diocese runs a Parish Giving Scheme which anyone can join. All donations, both large and small, are gratefully received Contact details – For regular giving and donations please contact John Rhodes our Treasurer – phone no 01285 760264 john.rhodes@jkmiddlefield.net For other ways of helping please contact Linda Reardon 07794 425915 – Linda_adam2000@yahoo.co.uk Thank you for reading this, and for your interest in the Church in Oakridge. We look forward to hearing from you. Oakridge PCC The Future of "What's On"
To those individuals and village groups who kindly made generous donations to What’s On funds – a huge thank you. These, together with the Parish Council grant, will ensure that this printed version will continue into 2024 (and hopefully beyond). After investigation, it is more cost effective to outsource the printing of each edition, which averages around £130 per print run. One positive of this form of printing will be that photos/images can be included, where space permits of course, so please do bear that in mind when submitting articles for publication.
I would be interested to receive any comments or suggestions, or can provide banking details for anyone wishing to make a donation – please email me at editoroakridgewhatson@gmail.com, or call 01285 760339. If you’d like a free digital copy direct to your email inbox, please sign up here. In Memoriam
We have recently said a sad farewell to two prominent members of our community, Richard Mackie and Bob Gardiner. Bob’s memories of growing up in Oakridge were featured in the October/November 2020 edition, and Bizzie White adds her tribute to Richard below.
Richard was a true gentleman, so wise, so interested and involved in Oakridge and its environs. He was special, so much part of the community and loved by all. His devotion to his family and they to him was heart-warming for all of us.” It is impossible to think of a more perfect memorial to someone much loved. Many wrote of his enthusiasm for wildlife which was inspirational and sprang from a profound understanding of the natural world and of birds in particular. Happiness shone out of him in the dawn chorus walks. The walks finished very satisfactorily with breakfast at the Old Cottage organised by Judy and Sylvia White. He was, of course, very hands on with helping clear scrub from Strawberry Banks, Three Groves Wood and Siccaridge Wood. Sue Dodds remembers Richard in his element “Bounding down the steep slopes like a mountain goat, while I trailed cautiously behind him. One day we were taking a ladder down to Three Groves Wood to put up bird boxes. A passer-by asked why were we carrying a ladder in the wood? Richard replied, “to clean windows.” Ask a silly question of a schoolmaster……. Ann Fry from Far Oakridge remembers Richard when he was a pupil at Kelly College. Who would have thought a Devon lass and a Devon lad would meet up again about 50 years later in a small Cotswold village? Richard much enjoyed her very special cinnamon buns. Richard’s connexion with St Bartholomew’s was long and deep. He was for many years churchwarden with Meryl Short. They worked so well together that I’m not entirely sure I believed him when he said he was very much in awe of her. He loved being in the choir, front row of course, and he also sang with Geraldine’s choir in Nailsworth. Music was such a great part of his being. For many years he helped with the bookstall at the village fete and contributed his “Nature Notes” in the village magazine, What’s On. He loved swimming and friends remember his zest for life as he ran into the waves at Croyde Beach, without wetsuit, surfing on his wooden board. Friends wrote that there are some people who make our lives richer, and one of those, was Richard. Lunch Club - BACK
Lunch Club is held at the Village Hall on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, at a price of £8 per head.
All welcome, arrive from 12 noon, to sit for 12.30. A wonderful chance to catch up with friends, or meet new. If you would like to come but haven’t already put your name on the list the previous month, or need to cancel your place, please leave a message for Ali Mills on 01285 760568. This must be done by the Friday before the Lunch Club at the latest, to allow for food ordering and preparation. Ollie's Shop
Oscar and I are super excited to bring you a sneak peek at our “Delicias de España” section. A selection of the very best products directly sourced from Spain: from staples from my mother’s kitchen when I was growing up (including the best rice from Valencia - essential to make a good paella) to award winning delicacies currently being served only at Michelin star restaurants around the world: award winning Manchego cheese, crisp and bright Albariño wine, hand carved ibérico ham, premium olive oil, delicious olives from the best regions of Spain and even octopus (for the very best Pulpo a la Gallega you can have without leaving your home), …. just to name a few. We will be bringing more every week as well as adding new goodies so stop by to see what’s in store and give your taste buds a well deserved trip to Spain, right here in Oakridge. Buen provecho!
Laura Rojo Oakridge Parochial School
The sun shone brightly and the school green was a hive of activity at the annual May Revels, as visitors flocked to the village to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the numerous stalls, activities, food and drink on offer. As ever, masses of hard work went on behind the scenes from our dedicated parents, teachers and pupils, ensuring that the village had another very special day to remember.
Outgoing May Queen Thea Taplin handed over her crown to Eeva Poole, and the schoolchildren put on the now-traditional maypole dance, as well as a special Jamaican dance to reflect the subject of diversity that they have been studying this term. This year, we were also lucky enough to enjoy a number of extra performances from Ballyhoo pupils, who wowed the crowd with their talents. Food was once again served by Long Table chef Maisie, while Cranham Orchestra provided the wonderful music. At the end of the afternoon the annual tug-o-war was as fiercely fought as ever, this year resulting in a tie! The parents of Oakridge School Association would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who attended, to those who gave up so much time and energy to help organise the event, and to the local businesses and individuals (including the Green Shop, Jolly Nice, Painswick Rococo Garden, Holbrook Garage, Fox Lane Flowers and Loose) who donated raffle prizes. With your help, we raised an incredible £3,243, which is amazing in the current climate and will make an enormous difference to our lovely little school. Claire Robinson, OSA Treasurer. The Oakridge May Revels By Iris and Daisy The Oakridge children and Ballyhoo students danced up a storm in many dances such as maypole and Caribbean. also the OSA raised plenty of money through lots of stalls such as bric a brac, food and books. Class 1 ... Class 1 enjoyed the bouncy castle, face painting and many more. They also contributed to many of our wonderful dances. Class 1 quotes “I love the may revels” “my favourite was the bouncy castle and the face painting Class 2… Class 2 played a large part in both dances thoroughly enjoying themselves. They also helped their parents with many of the stalls including 2 kids from class 2 who raised money for barn owls. Class 2 quotes “I loved all the different stalls” “I thought the may pole dance was really fun because we had a laugh” Teachers quotes “I was really proud of all the children” “lovely atmosphere perfect weather and lovely to see everyone smiling” May day craft … Cupcake case flowers… You will need: • Scissors • 6 (or more) cupcake cases in colours of your choice Method: 1. layer up your cases. 2. make at least 20 small cuts around the edges of the stack of cases. 3. ruffle your “petals” into the centre of your flower. 4. use them to decorate things in a way that you see fit. |
Cinema comes to Oakridge! - Next screening on 1st May
Using the new 3.5m big screen, state of the art projector and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound system at Oakridge Village Hall we now have a regular and significant audience for our program of film that we hope will have broad appeal. A bar will be available the film and during the interval. For licensing reasons we are not able to advertise the name of each film publicly, but the good news is that as a member of the What's On Mailing List you can find out now, and continue to be notified in advance of the film title whenever a film night is planned.
Sign up to the mailing list now at www.oakridgevillage.org/mailinglist for advance notice of these events and others! Doors open at 1845 for a 1930 start. Tickets are just £5 (CARD ONLY) on the door including light snacks. To help the team plan for numbers, please visit our box office to reserve a seat but remember to pay £5 on arrival - www.oakridgevillage.org/boxoffice In aid of Oakridge Village Hall Garden Club
The first meeting of the year was well attended. Members were able to pay their sub and get the card with details of speakers and garden visits. Those who were unable to attend can pay at the April meeting. We were delighted to welcome six new members – we have around 70 in all.
The AGM never takes too long; all the committee were re-elected, and we quickly got onto the talk give by Carl Sadler from the Forest of Dean. He sat on the stage surrounded by wood soaking in hot water, anvil nails and tools. While he talked, he made a garden trug, bending the willow to shape. I would have like to hear more about the history of the trug and not quite so many odd stories. Why did they originate in Sussex and when were they first used? I didn’t feel he was of the high standard of speakers we have had of late. The committee met last week and details of the first visit will be sent out soon. We also talked about our new summer social to be held in July to replace the winter meal. A menu of dressed salmon, coronation chicken and baked ham was mentioned, along with strawberries and meringue. There will be a minimal charge for what, I hope, will be a delightful evening. We hope for a good turn out for the April meeting, a talk of “Remarkable Vegetables”. Gill Wimperis Oakridge Village Hall - into the digital world...
The Trustees of Oakridge Village Hall are pleased to announce completion of a state of the art digital audio/visual installation. This includes:
- 6000 lumens WUXGA laser digital projector - 3.5m wide motorised screen - New up-to-date sound system - Blu-ray player - Chromecast and Apple TV - 900 Mbps high speed broadband - Wireless operation The installation is designed to support many cultural activities such as showing/streaming films, presentations, dances, concerts and theatre. The Trustees plan to launch the facility soon with a village open day when its capability will be demonstrated. History Group
The February talk by Stuart Butler on the radical history of Stroud took a completely different approach from the one with which we are normally presented. Instead of learning history through major events and prominent people, this was, as Stuart emphasised,
history from the bottom up, following in the footsteps of the workers and the jobless around Stroud through the 18th and 19th centuries. Stuart had collected together examples of eye-witness accounts of the rural situation – the poverty amidst the beautiful hills and valleys, the mass demonstrations (for example on Selsley Hill), the torching of property during the Swing Riots and the widespread transportation for life meted out to people of Stroud and the surrounding villages driven to desperation by the collapse of the woollen trade. A good-sized audience enjoyed Stuart’s less formal but extremely informative approach. A summary of Ray Wilson’s March talk about “Gloucester Docks, past, present and future” will appear in the next edition of What’s On. On 24th April David Elder will talk about “Secret Cirencester” and on 22nd May Steve Blake will talk about “Gloucestershire’s medieval churches”. Both should be interesting evenings and we hope you will come and join us. Meetings are held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm and new membership cards with details of all the forthcoming talks are available for £3 per person. New members and visitors are always welcome. Kay Rhodes Check out our new Village Gallery!
With thanks to Beth Hughes for this fabulous collection of local photographs, head over to the gallery....
Sapperton Railway Tunnel
It is interesting to speculate on the effect the construction of the railway tunnel had on the local community. In 1837 Charles Richardson, Brunel’s engineer, began surveying the line of the proposed tunnel by sinking trial shafts and erecting large staffs to assist the surveying on the surface. It was on the 27 April that the people became fully aware of the surveying activity as a large staff was raised. This is described in Richardson’s journal.
“Got hauling pegs &c driven – got large sheer legs up and had some difficulty to get the hauling parts in the right place. The Staff had a violent shake when first lifted off the props. Raised it easily, steadily and without the slightest accident – large crowd of spectators many of whom lent a hand. Tried several ways of getting up the Staff but was forced to climb up by the main hauling rope. Tightened cross tree gyes and plumbed the head of the Staff thereby. Cast hauling tackle adrift and was lowered down. Tightened the gyes but was forced to put a sheepshank, about a yard long, in each.” The construction of the tunnel commenced in 1838 and was completed in 1845. A series of shafts were excavated, and miners were lowered down these shafts to dig out the tunnel and the spoil was hauled up these shafts. These railway miners came from all over the country and the 1841 census records many lodging at Sapperton, Frampton Mansell, Daneway, Far Oakridge and Oakridge Lynch. There was a total of 48 recorded and some miners had families with them, and they rented cottages. This activity must have brought in welcome business to the area where there was high unemployment due to the collapse of the woollen cloth industry in Chalford. Although, no doubt, many locals obtained casual labouring jobs, few were employed as miners but Amnon Bishop of The Frith the son of a local weaver is described in the census as a miner and brothers James and Henry Hayden of Oakridge became tunnel miners later working in many parts of England and Scotland. Following the opening of the railway many Oakridge men went to work on the railway both on track maintenance and on the trains. This of course was not the first time that “foreign” miners had come to the area as in 1784 work commenced on the Sapperton canal tunnel which was completed in 1789. Most of these miners were accommodated at Daneway and, according to Norman Jewson, in barracks on the road from Sapperton to Frampton Mansell. Head on over to the Oakridge History Website for more... Start here for more on transport services... John Loosley Bisley-With-Lypiatt Parish Council
Please see the Parish Council website for Ward information and minutes of Council meetings. www.bisley-with-lypiatt.gov.uk.
The Parish Council (PC) is busy with the project to develop a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) as an addition to Stroud District Council’s Local Plan to plan how the area will progress over the next 10 years. Consultations are under way with Village Hall meetings in the 3 constituent Wards to canvas opinion with ALL residents – so any ideas you have on the way YOU want YOUR area to develop would be happily received. Feel free to contact us if you want to share ideas about our future in Oakridge Ward. Ward Councillors - Roger Budgeon, Dennis Robbins, Beth Hughes, Ian Greves. Clerk - Heather Finlay 07966 763 795 admin@bisley-withlypiatt.gov.uk The John Taylor Foundation
The John Taylor’s Foundation is a local charity that issues small grants to students going on to Higher Education (excluding A Levels) or those undertaking apprenticeships, to assist with the cost of books, tools or equipment.
If you are aged under 25, and live in the Ancient Parish of Bisley (the area includes all of the civil parish of Bisley with Lypiatt, including Eastcombe and Oakridge, most of Bussage and part of Chalford), please apply in writing to The Trustees at jennytaylor1944@outlook.com stating your full name, age, address, university course or employer. The Trustees of the John Taylor’s Foundation meet twice a year in March and September when applications will be considered. From The Ground
Oakridge Parochial School Allotment Project
Read The February/March
Update Here ... OAT (Oakridge Allotment Team) Tel: 07983 65414 Email: info@fromtheground.co.uk Dame Margaret Weston
Dame Margaret Weston, born in Oakridge in 1926, the daughter of Mr Weston, headteacher at Oakridge School in the 1940s (and remembered in several of the recent ‘Memories’ articles), has recently passed away at the age of 94. Following education at Stroud High School and Birmingham Municipal Technical School, she was one of only 3 women alongside 300 men, selected for a student apprenticeship at The General Electric Company, where she became a Chartered Electrical Engineer. Following qualification, she joined the Science Museum in London in 1955, rising to become the first female director of a national museum in 1973. Her aim there was to make the Science Museum more fun, more accessible to children, and more various in its contents, including making its galleries more interactive. She was also instrumental in creating a network of museums extending outside London, the nationwide Science Museum Group.
Appointed a Dame in 1979, she retired in 1986 and spent her last years back in Stroud, where she helped set up the Museum in the Park, and was a patron of the Stroudwater Textile Trust and Cotswold Canal Trust. Oakridge Village Hall
The Village Hall continues to be regularly used by the Ballyhoo Dance School, and by many fitness groups and the Choir, among others.
Don’t forget that the Bookings Calendar is available online - www.oakridgevillage.org/village-hall.html Gigaclear Broadband Access – open to all users of the Hall – help us to keep the service available by signing up. Network: Oakridge Village Hall Gigaclear (No password required) For more, see the village hall page. Booking enquiries: email johnloosley40@gmail.com |
Did You Know? Siccaridge Wood
Siccaridge Wood is one of the few places in the Cotswolds in which the hazel dormouse makes its home, numbers of which are closely monitored as part of a national scheme, while wood ant nests can be found on the ground and silver washed fritillary and comma butterflies flit around the open rides. The Arts and Crafts Movement Oakridge was a hub of the Arts and Crafts Movement and famous painters, furniture makers, poets and other interesting people have lived here. Find out more at our Oakridge History Archive. Daneway Banks Just beyond Siccaridge Wood lies Daneway Banks, where the steep sides have almost lunar like bumps made by generations of yellow meadow ants. A classic example of limestone grassland, it is also home to the large blue butterfly which has been recently re-introduced after being extinct in the UK for several decades. |
Hire Our Village Hall Why not hire our Village hall?
Garden Club - Local Links Download the Gloucestershire Federation of Gardening Societies Spring Newsletter.
Visit the Generous Gardener Website for news of Gardening Lecture Days, Masterclasses and Specialist Plant Sales at The Coach House Garden, Ampney Crucis. Find out about the new Cafe and what's on at Miserden Nursery. |
Oakridge Events Diary If you would you like us to add an event - please get in touch through the Contact Us page. Full calendar and "What's On" available here. Village Hall Bookings Calendar Please see here for a guide to availability
|
"What's On" Newsletter We protect your information and privacy strictly in accordance with all legal requirements and we do not share your personal information with any third party.
What's On Editor: Victoria Beard Tel: 01285 760339 Email: editoroakridgewhatson@gmail.com
Regulars Out and About Chalford Sports & Social Club
From time to time events and courses at the Chalford Sports & Social Club are included in 'Whats On' which you can download above or visit their website at chalford-ssc.co.uk Bisley "Well Dressing"
Bisley's famous "Well Dressing" custom, dating from 1863, is held every Ascention day - Find out more. Useful Links |
Artists and Artisans In Residence Find out about the Artists and Artisans who live and work in Oakridge, Including:
|
Country and Wildlife |
Delve into the Archive at oakridgearchives.omeka.net |
And buy the Book! You can buy this beautiful 175 page fully illustrated hardback 'Oakridge a History' for just £12 from Ollie's Shop or by mail from John Loosely, Email :
johnloosley40@gmail.com |