Didcot Diary

Issue 8 May 2013

Didcot’s new Mayor Edmond’s Park Gym Consultation Didcot Town Fayre

Welcome to the May issue of the Didcot Diary

The last few weeks have been a very busy time for the Council, our plans for the Didcot

Town Fayre, see page 8, are coming along well, the annual meeting of the Council took

place on Monday 13th May where the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Peter Read handed the

chain of office to the incoming Mayor, Councillor Axel Macdonald, more information is on

page 3.

As well as the appointment of the new Mayor the annual meeting is where Committee

Members are usually appointed for the coming year.

Members and staff joined together with residents for a litter picking event which took place

on Saturday 11th May. There were fewer volunteers than for other similar events that have

been organised in recent years but 38 Bags of rubbish were collected and Didcot must be

looking a little tidier for our efforts, more details are on page14.

In the parks and gardens our gardeners have been hard at work catching up with all the

tasks that couldn't be done during the cold weather and a new basket swing is being

installed in the Ladygrove play area.

We hope you find the contents of this issue interesting and informative. If you have any

questions or suggestions for future issues please let me, Karen Dodd, know by calling

01235 750035 or email me on kdodd@didcot.gov.uk.

Contents

Didcot’s new Mayor 3

Edmonds Park Outdoor Gym 4&5

Park Life 6

Ladygrove Lakes 7

Didcot Town Fayre 8

Allotments 9

Rock with the Mayor 10

Crimestoppers 10

Didcot Food Bank 11

Didcot and District Horticultural Association 11

Didcot TRAIN – Close Every Door 12

Welcome to Didcot signs 12

U3A June meeting 12

Message from the outgoing Mayor 13

Litter pick 14

Community Governance Review 15&16

Didcot Twinning 17

Didcot Civic Hall 18

What’s on at the Civic Hall 19

2

At the Annual Council meeting held on Monday 13th May 2013 Councillor Axel Macdonald

was elected Mayor and Councillor Scott Wilgrove was elected Deputy Mayor for the year

2013/2014.

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Peter Read, thanked the

Council for the opportunity to represent Didcot at many

different functions during the past year; he is pictured

right offering his congratulations to Councillor Macdonald.

Councillor Macdonald said:

“I'm honoured and humbled to have been elected Mayor

and will endeavour to continue the role in the traditions of

previous Didcot Mayors.

The previous Mayor's energy and enthusiasm will be a hard act to follow. I will continue to

promote Didcot, her people, businesses and charities wherever and whenever possible. I am

delighted to be the Mayor as the town expands and with that expansion face the new challenges

as they arise with the aim of ensuring all who work and live in the town can attain a high quality

of life which endures as the town grows.

I will seek to raise charitable funds for the Felix Fund and Balsam Family Project which are my

selected charities. 11 EOD Regiment RLC are part of the town and I pay homage to the grit,

guts and determination of those serving both current and past and not forgetting the family they

leave behind when off on duty - we owe them our deepest respect. The Felix Fund, the bomb

disposal charity provides support to any military personnel who have conducted or assisted with

Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties, and their families. More information can be found on the

Felix Fund website, www.felixfund.org.uk.

There are also many less fortunate in society who have not had the start in life that many would

hope for. My second charity is the Balsam Family Project which was founded in 2009 with a

vision to create a sense of family for parents/carers and their young children where unconditional

love and friendship could be taught, modelled and experienced; again more information is on

their website, http://s404812214.websitehome.co.uk/Balsam_Wordpress/about-2/”

3

Pictured left is Councillor Scott Wilgrove receiving

congratulations from the new Mayor on his election as Deputy

Mayor.

Councillor Wilgrove said he was looking forward to supporting

Councilor Macdonald this coming year and that it was an honour

and privilege to serve Didcot in this role.

EDMONDS PARK: OUTDOOR GYM PROJECT 2013.

Your chance to comment

Be part of helping our town get fit and active

The Council is investing further at Edmonds Park with a new outdoor gym facility, which will be

free to use during the park’s opening hours. Displayed below are a some ideas about options

for the type of equipment that could be installed.

It is planned that fitness equipment will be in three areas within the park which will allow users

to make a circuit around the park, either running or walking.

The outdoor gym will be available to all to help us get active

and raise fitness levels. There is a range of gym kit to work

all muscle groups using your own body weight as a

counterbalance. By using clever leverage mechanisms in the

design this kit can be used safely unsupervised.

Before work commences the Council is seeking the views of

residents and your comments would be valued.

There are various designs available and a photo display will

in the Civic Hall from Monday 13th May.

So come along, take a look and tell us what you think.

This project will be funded by grant aid and an application will be submitted to WREN, who

have generously helped us in the past with other projects.

Feedback about the project in early June would be very helpful. A consultation form is on the

opposite page, please print and return it to Didcot Town Council, Civic Hall, Britwell Road,

Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7HN or email comments to council@didcot.gov.uk.

4

EDMONDS PARK OUTDOOR GYM

We are planning an outdoor gym at Edmonds Park which will be at 3 areas within the park. Tick/ circle reply

Would you use this kit? Yes No

Would other family members use this kit? Yes No

Could it become part of your fitness regime? Yes No

Which kit would you use:

Power Bike Cross trainer Free runner Chest press Body twist Sit up bench Push up bars Upper body trainer

Age groups using kit? 10-16 17-25 25-40 40-60 60+

Any other feedback? Please write in the space below.

Thanks for your help

5

Park Life Spring has finally arrived and there is a riot of colour with late Daffodils flowering along with tree

blossom and Tulips.

There is a colourful show outside the Civic Hall with mixed Tulips and bright Polyanthus and in

the Diamond Jubilee garden there has been a good mixture of Daffodils and dwarf red

Tulips in the beds surrounding the gazebo. The roses growing up that structure are starting to

put on good growth and will be full of bloom later this summer – just in time for wedding photos

for couples using the venue!

This year we will be having hanging baskets

and they are growing on at the nursery, but

as everyone has experienced this year,

plants and the growing season are behind

due to the cold weather.

No doubt they will catch up soon.

Baby ducks on the lake is a sure sign

spring has arrived.

6

Loyd Rec

Some work has been carried out at Loyd Rec to fell two

Horse Chestnut trees that were diseased.

It is planned that the trees will be replaced later this

year with a suitable species.

Edmonds Park Sports Courts

The completion of the refurbishment of the

sports courts at Edmonds Park has been

delayed by the continued cold weather but

the contractors were on site week

commencing 20th May to paint and line the

courts and it is hoped the work will be completed

by the end of the week.

Ladygrove Lakes

The lakes were given a clean up by Ladygrove Fishing Club members and Council staff in April

ready for the start of the fishing season.

The lakes have had Cormorant predation over the

winter so the start of the season was brought forward

to 1st April this year – so there is a presence on the

bank to deter these hungry birds.

The fish refuges which were put in the lake a

few months ago are paying dividends in that the

Cormorants have to dive for longer to try and catch

fish which can hide within the wire netting below the

surface.

As a result the Cormorants have got a bit fed up and gone to other sites for easier fishing!

The refuges will be planted up so they will green up over the summer and form a floating

wildlife sanctuary.

The Rutherford/Appleton Lab fishing match took place late April with over 39lbs

of fish being caught by the winner.

There are more matches planned for later in the year.

Sunday 23rd June from 11am – 5pm for the Police vs Adult club members.

Friday June 28th 4.15 – 8.15 pm for the club Junior Match; prizes will be awarded by the

Mayor.

Sunday 30th June, 8am – 1pm for the Jim Goodall Charity Match for Cancer Research; the

Challenge and Masters Cups.

If you would like to become a member of the Ladygrove Fishing Association please contact

Acorn Angling at Brasenose Road or call 01235 816132. Membership is restricted to Didcot

residents only.

Baby ducks on the lakes are a sure sign that

Spring has finally arrived, regardless of the

weather!

7

Didcot Town Fayre

Didcot Town Fayre will take place in Edmonds Park on Saturday 13th July, between 12noon

and 5pm. The fayre will be an afternoon of fun for all the family with lots to see and do; and a

celebration of Didcot.

Confirmed so far for the arena tent are Beat Street Jive, Zumba and Bokwa, Egyptian Dance,

Didcot Diamonds Cheerleaders, All Saints School choir and the Gospel Choir so that will be a

very lively place to be throughout the afternoon.

There will be food and drink available to purchase, the Scouts are organising a bbq and the

Civic Hall a beer tent. There will also be hot and spicy food from Taste of Texas and pizza.

We know there is a wealth of talent in

Didcot and to showcase that an

inter-site produce show is being

organised by the allotment plot

holders, there will also be a craft tent

and a baking competition. So if you

are handy with a pair of knitting

needles or baking tins why not join in

and help make the fair a real

community event.

As well as all this there will

be colouring competitions, bouncy

castles, go-carts, the Enchanted

Players, dog agility demonstrations,

Didcot Casuals, Positive Pets and

lots, lots more.

Make a date in your diary and join us

for a fantastic afternoon in the park.

If you would like to have a stall in the

craft tent or take part in the baking

competition or put on a demonstration

in the arena tent or would just like to

know more about the fayre please

contact Karen Dodd or Sue Atkins by

calling 01235 821637 or email

council@didcot.gov.uk.

8

Allotments

Produce Show

The long cold winter has kept allotment plot holders off site for many months

but the sun is finally shining, the ground is warming up and the allotment sites are suddenly

a hive of activity.

As part of the Didcot Town Fayre, see page 8 for

more information, an inter-site competition is being

organised and we look forward to seeing all the

good things that can be produced locally.

The competition will consist of produce grown on

each site and used to create an artistic display. If

you are an allotment plot holder and would like to

get involved please speak to your site representative

or contact the Information Centre on 01235 812637

or council@didcot.gov.uk.

Waiting lists

There has recently been a lot of movement on the allotment waiting list with some plots being

given up and re-allocated. The current figures are:

Broadway site 0 Cockcroft Road site 2

Mereland Road site 4 New Road 4

Wantage Road 0

If you would like to go on the waiting list for an allotment please contact Sue Atkins on 01235

812637 or council@didcot.gov.uk. There is a £15 administration fee to be registered on the

list.

9

Network Rail De-vegetation work

Network Rail have advised they will be carrying out essential vegetation clearance works in Didcot as part of their plans to electrify the main line.

The work was scheduled to start on Monday 29th April and to last for approximately 7 weeks. Work will be carried out Monday to Friday between 08.00 hours and 18.00 hours.

Network Rail have advised that every effort will be made to minimise disturbance to residents. For more information please visit www.networkrail.co.uk or telephone 08457 11 41 41

Rock with the Mayor

During his Mayoral year Councillor Peter Read raised money for

the Alzheimer's Society and RESTORE charities, both being

very active within Didcot for those with mental health or dementia

problems. Councillor Read will be presenting cheques to his chosen charities

at a reception in the Civic Hall at 6pm on Saturday 18th May.

His final charity event of the year was Rock with the Mayor which

took place in the Conservative Club on Foxhall Road on Saturday

27th April.

Music was provide by the Crimps and Richard Polley who provided

the disco. A total of £300 was raised and will be shared between

these two good causes.

Councillor Read said:

“This was a brilliant evening of fun with around 50 people taking part to raise money for

charity. The event was organised by Sue Atkins and her husband Den who plays guitar for the

Crimps and the hall was supplied free of charge so big thanks to the club directors as well as

the band and Richard Polley for the disco.”

Charity Crimestoppers asks what is the real

cost of cheap tobacco?

The independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is urging the public to tackle the issue of illegal tobacco in

Thames Valley. In partnership with Trading Standards offices across Buckinghamshire,

Berkshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire the public is being urged to visit

www.crimestoppers-uk.org/itsadrag and recognise the damage that sales of illegal tobacco

have on their local communities.

“Illegal tobacco sales can be easily overlooked and considered no more than holiday makers ‘doing someone a favour’. Everyone loves a bargain but the sale of illegal tobacco can have a knock–on cost to our local communities,” comments Phil Gomm, Chair for Thames Valley Crimestoppers.

Trading Standards in Thames Valley are determined to crack down on traders of illegal tobacco but they need information from the public if they are to be successful. They recognise that often people know what is happening in their communities but are too scared to speak out to the authorities.

Crimestoppers offers people an anonymous and safe route to inform on the criminals involved in illegal tobacco sales. Where are they trading? Who are they? Do you think you know where the tobacco is being stored or made?

To give information about crime anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or go online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

10

The Didcot Emergency Food Bank was set up by the Baptist Church four years ago

in response to a growing awareness of the needs of people in the local community. The

food bank is located in the Lower Broadway in a property that is provided rent free by South

Oxfordshire District Council.

The food bank is community based work aimed at providing short term relief by giving food

to local people in crisis. The food bank is completely reliant on donations of non perishable

foods from churches, organisations, schools and individuals. The food bank also has a

designated food bank Nectar card that allows organisers to shop at Sainsbury’s when stock

is low.

The food bank is open twice a week between 11am and 1pm on a Tuesday and Friday

morning and is staffed by volunteers from local churches and the community.

Clients come from referrals from statutory and voluntary agencies who have registered with

the food bank. Clients have their situation assessed before being given a voucher which

can be exchanged for food. On average a hamper for one person will contain food to the

value of £25.00. Last year the donated food distributed amounted to approximately

£20,000.00.

The food bank organisers are very grateful to all those who support them and who show their

concern for the community in such a practical way.

When the food bank opened four years ago it served an average 40 clients a month....this

year so far they are averaging over 100 every month.

If you would like to know more about the food bank or make a donation then please contact

Miriam Loukes by emailing office@didcotbaptist.org.uk .

The Didcot and District Horticultural Association - are they

Didcot’s best kept secret?

The Didcot and District Horticultural Association has just one aim – to benefit all gardeners

and their gardens but some people are unaware they exist.

The association shop, located in Laburnum Close, stocks most gardening essentials and has

a good reference section of gardening books and magazines for people to browse through.

The shop is open between 10am and 12noon on Saturday mornings and between 6.30pm and

7.30pm on Wednesday evenings and the committee members have a wide experience in

gardening matters and are happy to share their knowledge, so why not pop along sometime

and see what’s on offer.

The association are looking for new Committee members to help raise their profile and widen

their activities as well help out in the shop. For more information visit the shop during the

opening hours or call Roger on 01235 819837.

11

Didcot TRAIN To raise funds for their restart project for young offenders Didcot TRAIN present an evening

of musical entertainment with the famous Blackbird Leys Choir.

Close Every Door features songs from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as

well as other light popular music. Close every Door will take place All Saints Church,

Lydalls Road on Saturday 18th May starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 per adult or £5 per child and include a glass of wine and nibbles. Tickets

are available from Ali Adams who can be contacted by phoning 01235 212575 or emailing

ali.adams1@ntlworld.com.

12

DIDCOT & DISTRICT UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE

meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 2pm at

Didcot Civic Hall. Visitors are welcome to come to one meeting

as a taster before joining.

The June meeting will be held at 2pm on Tuesday 18th June at Didcot Civic Hall. The topic

will be Butterflies and orchids of the Upper Thames Valley.

Didcot & District U3A aims to encourage and enable older people in Didcot and District who

are no longer in fulltime paid employment to help each other to share their knowledge,

skills, interests and experience.

Over 20 interest groups have already been set up, including wine appreciation, science &

maths, play reading, creative writing, walking, knitting, bridge, crafts, books, poetry, singing,

badminton, photography, dance and 5 languages.

There’s something for everyone!

For more information tel: 07804159993 or email: didcotdistrictU3A@virginmedia.com

or look on the U3A website: http://u3asites.org.uk/didcot

Welcome to Didcot Signs Some eagle eyed residents have noticed that the Welcome to

Didcot signs have been removed from their usual places on the

outskirts of town.

The signs had started to look less than their best and so they

have been taken away for refurbishment.

They should be back in place soon looking as good as new and

a fitting welcome to visitors to Didcot.

13

My year as Mayor Firstly can I thank Didcot Town Council for electing me to represent

the town at official functions and for private events during this

incredible year of the London Olympics and HM the Queen’s

Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

In addition to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations I was lucky enough

to attend many wonderful functions, there have been far too many

highlights to mention them all but my thanks go to all those who have

invited me to share their events.

Didcot is a rapidly expanding town that has an impressively vigorous

community of volunteers and charities all beavering to support the

community in a huge range of activities and I have been proud to help support them during my

Mayoral year.

One event I would like to single out is the closure the Didcot A Power Station. Speaking at the

Didcot Power Station de Sync event when the station was disconnected from the national grid

was a most moving experience. After forty three years of continuous operation we will miss

them now they have gone

Finally can I say that my greatest experience has been supporting my charities. Being Mayor

gives the opportunity to get hands on experience of supporting the community through charity

work and my choice has been the Restore project in Fleet Meadow and the Alzheimer’s Society

both active in Didcot. Restore supports people with mental health problems whilst the

Alzheimer’s society supports people with dementia with two active social events: Singing in the

Brain and a Memory Café. These aim at stimulating the memory by popular songs and games

like scrabble and dominoes as well as recalling earlier events in their lives. During the year an

amount of £2403.24 has been raised and will be shared between the two charities.

Pictured left, from left to right, is the current Mayor,

Councillor Axel Macdonald, Olivier Guillot from

RESTORE, Councillor Peter Read and Marie Gadd

representing the Alzheimer's Society after the

presentation of the Cheques.

I should like to thank all the organisations and

individuals who have worked so hard to raise funds

for charities within Didcot including the Rotary club,

the Thong rangers , the Didcot Marathon runners, the

Cycling, Rugby and fishing clubs and individual efforts like Christine Reardon’s scarecrow trail

and the Olympic torchbearers. It has been a wonderful year.

Councillor Peter Read

14

Litter Pick

The litter pick that was postponed from 16th March took place on Saturday

11th May. The day started bright and sunny but by 9am the grey clouds

had gathered and rain was threatening again.

Despite the grey skies Councillors Margaret Davies, Des Healy, Axel Macdonald, Scott

Wilgrove, Pete Read and Phil Hayward joined with 9 members of the public to pick up litter

throughout Didcot.

Although the number of pickers was low compared with similar events held in previous years

most of the town was covered with volunteers picking up litter on the Ladygrove, Mendip

Heights, Station Road, Macdonald Close, around the Scout Hut to the Wheatsheaf and along

the A4130 from Marsh Bridge to Tesco.

A total of 14 bags of rubbish and 24 bags of recycling were

collected in just 3 hours, plus a long metal pole. Two

supermarket trollies were reported to Sainsbury’s for collection

and a concrete post and some ceramic tiles which were too

heavy to be collected on the day will be collected by the District

Council fly tipping team.

Pictured below (from left to right) are Councillors Margaret Davies and Peter Read before

starting work , Councillor Phil Hayward, Councillors Scott Wilgrove, Des Healy and Axel

Macdonald with Councillor Macdonald’s daughter, Sophia and wife Denise.

Events of this kind could not take place with out the support of Biffa who loan litter picking

equipment and make special collections and more importantly the volunteers who give up

a few hours of their time to help make Didcot a nicer place to live.

Didcot Town Council want

Your Views on new Parish Boundary Lines for Didcot

As part of the district Community Governance Review, Didcot Town Council believes that the

boundary line of the town should be moved to include the existing housing areas and the

planned areas to the West and the North-East. The map below shows the areas; Great

Western Park, Ladygrove North East and Millbrook:

Including the above areas would mean the boundary of the town changing to the black

outlined area (shaded orange/brown/dark green) on the map below:

Please see over for how to respond to this consultation

15

Didcot Town Council want

Your Views on new Parish Boundary Lines for Didcot

Your Town Council wants to know whether you agree or not that the planned and existing

housing areas of Great Western Park, Ladygrove North East and Millbrook (see map

overleaf) should be included in the parish boundary of Didcot and ask that you let us know by

answering the following question:

Do you agree that the town boundary line should be changed to include the planned and

existing housing areas of Great Western Park, Ladygrove North East and Millbrook?

Yes No

If you wish to add any comments please do:

Name and Address:

(We ask for your name and address to verify that you live in Didcot and your details will not

be used for any other purpose)

You can email your response and details to council@didcot.gov.uk with the subject

Community Governance Review, or complete the form via the website at www.didcot.gov.uk

or send to Didcot Town Council, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7HN or hand it in at the

information centre on Britwell Road, Please respond by Friday 7th June 2013.

South Oxfordshire District Council is completing a community governance review of the

district, which includes the opportunity of changing the existing parish boundaries. Please

note that this review does not include any changes to the Great Western Park development

that is in Harwell parish which lies in the Vale of White Horse District Council area.

Didcot Town Council wants to know if you agree that Didcot’s boundaries should be moved to

cover all of the existing built up areas of Didcot and the new planned housing areas to the

West and North-East. This change would mean the residents in the following areas would be

represented by Didcot Town Council and pay towards the services provided through their

council tax:

Millbrook - within the built up area of town but at present in East Hagbourne parish.

Great Western Park – the planned area South of Wantage Road curving round to Park Road,

which is at present in West Hagbourne parish.

North-East of Ladygrove – between the Northern Perimeter Road (A4130) and the B4016,

which at present is in Long Wittenham parish.

16

Didcot Twinning

This year Didcot sees the end of an era, with the closing of Didcot A but also a beginning, as

the town twins with Planegg, a Bavarian town to the south west of Munich.

Didcot’s Twinning Association was set up in 1997, and the town twinned with Meylan (France)

in 1999. In 2000 more than 60 Didcot residents were warmly welcomed in Meylan, a town on the

outskirts of Grenoble, nestled in a valley between the Vercours and the Belledonne mountain

ranges.

Although the towns differ in their geography, they have much in common. Both Didcot and

Meylan are located near centers of scientific excellence with world famous universities nearby.

In the past 14 years there have been regular exchanges between the two towns.

In these times of financial restraint, you might ask who pays for twinning. In fact, everyone who

travels from Didcot to Meylan pays their own travel costs but, once there, they might find it hard

to spend their euros. Members of the Meylan twinning association provide accommodation and

meals and their association also pays for incidental expenses such as visits to local places of

interest.

In return, when the Meylannais come to Didcot, host families provide free accommodation and

meals, and the visitors’ entertainment costs are covered by our Twinning Association, through

grants and fundraising events. In addition to meetings between citizens, the Twinning

Association has helped other organisations make contact with their opposite numbers in France.

A south Oxfordshire choir and a choir from Meylan have sung in joint concerts, both in England

and in France. There have been exchanges between artists, between young people (including

work experience opportunities) and between sports organisations.

The association is also pleased to support links between the primary and secondary schools

of Didcot and Meylan.

On July 6th 2013, Didcot is about to enter into a second twinning, this time with the German

town of Planegg. Like Didcot and Meylan, Planegg is a small town with strong links with world

class science and an adjacent university in Munich. Planegg, already twinned with Meylan, first

approached Didcot in 2000 to see if the town would like to establish a three-way partnership.

Initial visits opened up contact, establishing friendships, and this all comes to fruition on

Saturday 6th July when the Mayors of Didcot and Planegg will sign the new twinning charter in

the Civic Hall. If you would like to come along for this historic occasion and have the chance to

meet our new partners from Planegg, please get in touch via our website.

The Association is keen to welcome new members and, although it is useful if they can offer

accommodation to our visitors, it is neither a requirement for membership nor to join a twinning

visit. Nor is twinning restricted to Didcot residents; many of the Association’s members live in the

surrounding villages. To find out more why not come to the AGM on Wednesday June 19th at the

Civic Hall starting at 7.30 pm or visit our website www.didcottwinning.org.uk. This website also

carries more about twinning activities with details of forthcoming visits and fundraising events

and you can sign up for our newsletter.

17

18

Rachael Spindler, pictured right, was recently appointed

as manager of the Civic Hall. Rachael is a life long

resident of Didcot and it is hoped that her local knowledge

of the town and it’s community, together with her years of

experience working in the leisure industry will help ensure

the on going popularity of the Civic Hall as a venue for all

kinds of events.

The Civic Hall has a 350 seat auditorium with stage and

licensed bar as well as four activity/meeting rooms with

seating capacities ranging from 10 to 150. During the day

the Civic Hall is busy with meetings and conferences but

in the evening it becomes a more vibrant place with

theatre and musical performances. The hall is also

available for private hire and is the perfect venue for

birthday or anniversary parties.

The Civic Hall is frequently used as a venue for wedding receptions of all sizes and the hall is

now licenced for civil ceremonies and civil partnerships so the whole event can take place under

one roof. The Diamond Jubilee Garden at the rear of the hall provides a lovely backdrop for

photos.

A new wedding package will be released in the near future and in August a wedding fayre is

planned that will help promote all the local businesses that are on offer to make your day a

memorable one.

As well as one off events the Civic Hall is still host to many regular events such as Older and

Bolder, Ceroc, meetings of the University of the Third Age and the RSPB to mention just a few.

Starting on Friday 31st May a new regular event will be an under 18 nights for the younger

residents of Didcot to enjoy live entertainment at an affordable cost

The Civic Hall is now on Facebook so you can follow us for the latest news or events listings

or click onto the Town Council website where you will find information about the Civic Hall.

If you are interested in hiring the hall,

attending an event or wish to find out more

about the Civic Hall, then please contact

Rachael on rspindler@didcot.gov.uk

or 01235 512436.

What’s on at the Civic Hall

19

Didcot Town Council

All Saints Ward

Annie Birchall 07788 645989 c/o Didcot Town Council am.birchall@ntlworld.com

Nick Hards 01235 510146 184 Abingdon Road OX11 9BP nickjhards@aol.com

Jane Murphy 07970 932054 Bramley Cottage OX14 4DP janemurphy6@hotmail.com

Margaret Turner 01235 812958 18 Bosleys Orchard OX11 7NY maggieann.turner@talktalk.net

Robert Bulman 61 Oxford Crescent OX11 7AL

Ladygrove Ward

Tony Harbour 01235 810255 48 Prestwick Burn OX11 7UZ Tony.harbour@southandvale.gov.uk

Neville Harris 01235 511363 180 Abingdon Road OX11 9BP nevharl@aol.com

Chris Harrison 07531 025403 106 Wessex Road OX11 7SU chris.harrison.didcot@mail.com

Roger Hawlor 01235 519061 11 Haydon Road OX11 7JB rogerhawlor@yahoo.com.uk

Phil Hayward 01235 819799 19 Ouse Close OX11 7FE philhayward@live.co.uk

Bill Service 01235 510810 15 Nunney Brook OX11 7FW bill.service@hotmail.co.uk

Northbourne Ward

Andrew Bailey 07889 581635 c/o Didcot Town Council vfrbailey@aol.com

Bernard Cooper 01235 811806 1 Loyd Road OX11 8JX bcooper@ntlworld.com

Axel Macdonald 07425 176404 56 Campion Hall Drive OX11 9RN councilloraxel@gmail.com

Peter Read 01235 211754 6 East Street OX11 8EJ millliways@ntlworld.com

Scott Wilgrove 01235 812181 130 Wantage Road OX11 0AJ scott@wilgrove.net

Park Ward

Margaret Davies 01235 816496 15 Evenlode Drive OX11 7XG mldaviesbb@btinternet.com

Eleanor Hards 01235 510146 184 Abingdon Road OX11 9BP eleanorhards@aol.com

Des Healy 01235 212102 19 Collingwood Avenue OX11 0AL

Catherine Kiely 01235 811596 195 Broadway OX11 8RU cmekiely@yahoo.co.uk

John Moody 01235 210242 63 Norreys Road OX11 0AW Jmoody.dtc@virginmedia.com

Council and Committee meetings in June, July and

August 2013

June

Environment 3rd

Planning and Development 5th

Council 10th

Finance and General Purposes 24th

Planning and Development 26th

July

Planning and Development 17th

Finance and General Purposes 22nd

Personnel and Administration 29th

August

Planning and Development 14th

Finance and General Purposes (if

required)

19th

All meetings commence at 7.30pm and are held in the Civic Hall unless otherwise stated.

The Council operates a policy of public participation at meetings. For more Information

please contact us by email to council@didcot.gov.uk or phone 01235 812637 or write to

Didcot Town Council, Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7HN or visit our

website www.didcot.gov.uk.

Staff

Dominic

Stapleton

Town Clerk

Karen Dodd Deputy Town Clerk

Brenda Andrews Outdoor Services Manager

Sharon Hickman Finance and Administration

Sue Atkins Information Centre

Manager

Paul Copley Grounds Supervisor

Steve Andrews Gardener

Richard Dowling Gardener

Justin Strong Gardener

John Jones Gatekeeper

Neressa Copley Pavilion Cleaner