Carterton Town Council - News - Working with the Community

Town Council News

Refurbishment of Alvescot Road Recreation Ground

The Town Council plans to refurbish the Alvescot Road Recreation Ground (ARRG) and the major part of the project is the replacement of the existing play area with items of equipment which will appeal to a much wider age range. The equipment will be zoned into areas designed for younger and older children and separated by grassed mounds. There will also be seating and some planting to soften the appearance of the area. These proposals have been worked up in consultation with youngsters and the local community including the police. Local residents have been consulted, and a copy of the letter is attached here

The existing pavilion is not included in this project but in the next few months we will be carrying out minor repairs to the building and providing fencing to prevent youngsters from getting between the building and the hedge.

We also intend to install new paths and a central feature, which will act as a focal point for public performances as well as for informal gatherings. Plans are available from the Town Hall and will be included on this website as soon as we are able to do so. The western end of the Recreation Ground will be left open to provide an area for events and for ball games.

100th Birthday of Carterton Resident August 2010

Harold Morris of Blenheim Court, Sycamore Drive, Carterton, celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday 28th August. Carterton Town Mayor, Cllr Norman MacRae, called in to see Mr Morris the afternoon before his birthday during a family party and presented him with a birthday card and bottle of whisky on behalf of the Town Council.

Mr Morris, whose wife Linda died 17 years ago, has three children – Roy 75, who also lives in Carterton, Ronald, 69, who lives in Suffolk, and Muriel, 65, who flew in from Canada to join the celebrations yesterday.

Mr Morris, who moved to Carterton two years ago, also has eight grand-children, 15 great-grandchildren and is due to become a great-great-granddad in November. Born in Edmonton, north London, in 1910, he was a lorry driver and reservist in the Second World War. He is the first male to reach 100 from his Housing Association. We wish him many congratulations.

Carterton Celebrates Banner Making

We were delighted to welcome Helen Jacobs to the Town Hall on 25th August 2010 to do a banner and flag making session for dressing the town during the Carterton Celebrates weekend on 11th and 12th September. Town Hall staff and members of the public had a go at making stensils and printing their chosen designs onto pieces of material to be made up into flags and pennants. An example of one design, showing a tomato for which Carterton was reknown, is shown on the left.

Helen then went back to her workshop and used all the stencils to put together two large banners, shown left, one of which will be displayed on the balcony at the Town Hall, and the other at the Carterton Community Centre. The smaller banners and flags will be distributed around the town to give a festive atmosphere.

The programme of events and further details are shown on the Carterton Fast Forward News page of this website.

Schools Swimming Gala - July 2010

The annual Schools Swimming Gala, organised by the Town Council, took place at the Carterton Leisure Centre on Monday 12th July 2010. The winning school (see photo left) was Gateway Primary School, with Edith Moorhouse Primary School 2nd, St Joseph's RC Primary School 3rd, St John's Primary School 4th and Carterton Primary School 5th.

Town Councillors and Town Hall staff helped with the judging, assisted by members of the Carterton Lions.

The trophy was presented by Cllr Mrs Crossland, former Town Mayor, as the current Mayor, Cllr Norman MacRae, was unable to attend.

Armed Forces Day - 21 June 2010

The Town Council organised a short ceremony at the War Memorial in Alvescot Road on Monday 21st June 2010 to commemorate the start of Armed Forces Week. In attendance were the new RAF Brize Norton Station Commander, Group Captain Dom Stamp, Carterton Town Mayor, Cllr Norman MacRae MBE, together with town councillors, representatives of the RBL, RAFA and SSAFA and local clergy.

The Armed Forces flag will be raised each day during the forthcoming week to honour HM Armed Forces, past present and future.

Across the country people are getting involved, with communities holding local events and businesses showing their support in various different ways for Armed Forces Week.

The Maples Play Area - May 2010

The official opening of the newly refurbished Maples Play Area took place on the evening of Thursday 27th May 2010. A BBQ was held and all local residents were invited to come along.

The Mayor and Mayoress, Cllrs Norman and Carole MacRae, took an unusual route in 'cutting the ribbon'! (see photograph left)

The play area now comprises a swing seat large enough to take adults or several children, an extra wide slide, play sand, a paved barbeque area and log seating. The old brick wall has been replaced with attractive black railings. The overall feel is that of a small park rather than just a playground, and the residents are delighted with it.

The Town Council would like to give thanks to Flora Gathorne-Haber for the design of the play area and Arborforce for its construction. Particular thanks on Thursday also go to Amanda for providing and coping with the bbq single-handed!

Exceptional Citizens Awards - April 2010

Tim Stevenson OBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, presented Exceptional Citizens’ Awards to four residents of Carterton at a reception held on Monday 26th April 2010 at the Town Hall.

Councillor Maxine Crossland, Town Mayor, said ‘The Town Council introduced these awards in 2007 to recognise exceptional achievement by residents of Carterton. I am delighted to announce that we have four very worthy recipients in 2010 to join the nine already awarded.’

Mr Stevenson said ‘It is a very great privilege for me to be able to present these awards. I am always delighted to be involved in anything which acknowledges great personal achievement’

Tim Stevenson OBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, presented Exceptional Citizens’ Awards to four residents of Carterton at a reception held on Monday 26th April 2010 at the Town Hall.

Mr Stevenson said ‘It is a very great privilege for me to be able to present these awards. I am always delighted to be involved in anything which acknowledges great personal achievement’

St George's Day - 23 April 2010

The Dragon’s Den Competition was instigated last year to celebrate St. George’s Day. This year, local schools were set the task of making a mechanical knight which was capable of being pulled along and included an element of movement. St. John’s C of E Primary School submitted the winning entry, for which they received the John Browne Trophy and a cheque for £500.

The judging took place on Thursday 22nd April and the photograph shows the six entries, with the winning entry on the extreme right.

This project formed part of the St George’s Day Reception organised by Carterton Town Council on Friday 23rd April at the Carterton Community Centre, Marigold Square.

Civic dignitaries and local residents were delighted to see the procession of Knights at the beginning of the evening, before being wined and dined and entertained by the Brize Singers. The photograph shows the main hall at the Carterton Community Centre bedecked with English flags.

The Reception is an Annual Charitable Event, which this year supported MIND and Dogs for the Disabled.

Carterton 10K - March 2010

This year's Carterton 10K was held on Sunday 28th March 2010, on a sunny dry day perfect for running. It was the fifth 10K jointly organised by the Town Council and RAF Brize Norton and proved to be the most successful, with a total of 272 runners signing up in advance or on the day, and 248 making it past the finishing line. The photograph shows some of the leading runners with the Town Mayor, Maxine Crossland.

We are delighted that the 10K continues to be so successful, and must give our thanks to the organisational skills of Pete Thorbjornsen and his colleagues of RAF Brize Norton, together with the support of the Carterton Leisure Centre, Broadshires Health Centre, Carterton Midcounties Co-op, Foxbury Farm and all the people who helped with marshalling on the day.

International Market 2010

Carterton's first International Market was held on Marigold Square on Sunday 21st March, 2010, from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. More than 25 traders were selling their wares from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland and Poland, with many wearing traditional costumes. The market sold Fairtrade products such as arts, handicrafts and wooden carvings from Africa, South East Asia and Latin America.

Market co-ordinator, Olivier Simonin, said: "These products cannot normally be found in your high street, and there really was something for everyone."

The market square was a bustling and colourful scene on Sunday in the unexpected sunshine. For food-lovers there were Brittany biscuits, olives, Italian nougat, a wide variety of cheeses, garlic, saucissons, tartiflette from the Alps, charcuterie, fresh breads, croissants, and bagels. Other products on sale included handbags and leather goods, scarves, Marseille soaps, lavender, children's toys, pashminas, wooden arts, and crafts.

It is hoped that the market will return later in the year.

Christmas Lights - 4th December 2009

Despite a very damp evening, hundreds of people turned out for the switch-on of the Christmas Lights in Carterton on 4th December. To the delight of local children, Father Christmas turned on the lights at 6 pm in the presence of the Town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Maxine Crossland, on the Town Hall balcony.

The Mayor also sent best wishes to Jack Timms, Carterton's oldest resident, who will be celebrating his 101st birthday on 11th December. Jack turned on the town's lights last year.

More than 40 charity and food stalls lined both sides of the Alvescot Road, many of the shops stayed open late, and there was a children's funfair and amusements sited in the car park behind the Carterton Library. The crowd was treated to a display of fireworks after the Switch-On, followed by school children singing Christmas carols, accompanied by the Witney Town Band.

The Town Council would like to thank everyone who gave their support to this event, including the amazing Christmas lights erected by Peter White.

Remembrance Service - November 2009

The Remembrance Service and Parade took place in Carterton on Sunday 8 November 2009. The Service was held at St. John the Evangelist Church in Burford Road, followed by the Parade and laying of wreaths at the War Memorial next to the Town Hall.

RAF Brize Norton Station Commander, Group Captain Jon Ager, attended the Service along with other Station personnel and took the salute at the March Past in Alvescot Road. The Station Commander said: 'I, along with my Execs, are proud to be invited to participate in local Remembrance Services, and many of the personnel and civilians from across the Station will also have attended their local churches. We all have a duty to remember the Fallen and to honour their sacrifices.'

Exceptional Citizen 2009

The Town Mayor of Carterton, Cllr Mrs Maxine Crossland, was delighted to present an Exceptional Citizen Award to Mrs May Satell at her home in Clarkston Road, Carterton, at the end of October.

Councillor Maxine Crossland said: "The Town Council introduced these awards two years ago to recognise exceptional achievements by residents of Carterton. May is a very worthy recipient and I am delighted that she has been honoured in this way."

May has lived in Carterton for 39 years. For the last 11 years she has run the Carterton Over 60s Club, which meets on a weekly basis and has a flourishing membership. Many years ago, May ran a Home in Summertown, Oxford, until her elderly mother needed more of her care, at which time she took over the running of the Carterton Day Centre and continued there for 8 years.

May has been involved with the elderly and the mentally and physically handicapped for all of her working life, selflessly giving her time and attention to those who needed help and support.

May has been married to Pat for nearly 25 years and they have six children.

Extreme Wheels Day - 8th August 2009

The Extreme Wheels project is organised and managed by skate park users and their friends and it is keenly supported by Carterton Town Council, local businesses, churches, Carterton Youth Council and various community volunteers. On 8th August 2009 (Extreme Wheels Day 2009) 1000s of photographs were taken by the project’s official snappers and Likal.com were on site producing the video footage (the videos are available to view on YouTube), and the sound engineer recorded the live music show.

The ‘Extreme Wheels Day LIVE’ CD album has now been produced by Mr. Kevin Ross, on behalf of the Extreme Wheels project team and with kind permission from all featured artists. The CD is on sale for just £3.99 and is available from Carterton Town Hall and Rapture music stores in Witney – all proceeds will be kindly donated to the Carterton Extreme Wheels Project.

Civic Service- 28th June 2009

St. John's Church Carterton, in association with Carterton Town Council and Save the Children, held a Songs of Praise style Civic Service on Sunday 28th June 2009. The Service was attended by the Carterton Town Mayor and her Consort, Cllrs Maxine and Brian Crossland, the Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, the High Sheriff of Oxford, Carterton Town Councillors and Chairmen and Town Mayors of local county, district and town councils.

A flower festival also took place in St. John's Church over the same weekend and one of the beautiful displays is shown on the left. The Flower Festival was organised by the Cotswold Flower Club in support of Save the Children.

Minister's Visit - 25th June 2009

We were delighted to welcome South East Minister, Jonathan Shaw, to Carterton on Thursday 25th June 2009. Mr Shaw met serving personnel and retired veterans at Carterton Town Hall as part of Armed Forces Week.

The first ever Armed Forces Day was marked with events up and down the country on Saturday 27 June 2009. It was held to give the nation the opportunity to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community.

The Minister was joined by Town Mayor Cllr Mrs Maxine Crossland and introduced to, amongst others, Wing Commander Catherine Coton, RAF Brize Norton, and Captain Graham Cook, Commander of Carterton Detachment South East Army Reserve Forces. The Minister also met local representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Force Association and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

Carterton 10K - 29 March 2009

The Carterton 10K Road Race was held on Sunday 29th March 2009, arranged jointly by the Town Council and RAF Brize Norton. 199 entries were received in advance and 220 runners took part on the day.

The course started and finished at the Carterton Leisure Centre and refreshments and a barbecue were available for the runners after the finish. The Town Council has received many positive comments about the race which has been an annual event since 2006. Many thanks to everyone involved.

We would particularly like to thank Pete Thorbjornsen and Sean Macfarland of RAF Brize Norton for their excellent organisational ability, Lions Club members, town councillors and town residents for acting as marshals, the Town Mayor for presenting prizes, Foxbury Farm for providing a BBQ, the Midcounties Co-op for supplying bananas and water for all the runners, and Broadshires Health Centre for letting us use their car park on the morning.

Thank you one and all. Your support for the 10K next year would be much appreciated.

Photographs: Tan Marchant, Andy Betson, Stuart Batts, John Readshaw