The apple tree on the small green “island” near to the Village Shop was planted over fifty years ago in the mistaken belief that it was a flowering cherry! The above photograph was taken in 1961 since when “The Cottage” on the right has been considerably enlarged. The large opening in “Forge Cottage”, hidden behind the new sapling, was once the entrance to a wheelwright’s shop. Note the magnificent elm which until 1974 stood on what is now the garden to “Kirklees” and behind the cottages a sycamore which stood on Castle Hill. The apple tree has provided “ammunition” for several generations of children and recently lost a limb, resulting in the somewhat bizarre shape seen in the photograph below.

Colston Bassett Blue Stilton

A wide range of Christmas food products can now be ordered at the Village Shop. These include vegetables, salads, fruits, bread (various), flowers and wreaths, and Delicatessen items such as Game Pie, Pork Pie, Chicken and Ham Pie, Cheeses (Stilton, Brie de Meaux, Somerset Brie, Cheddar and Black Bomber), Roast and Smoked Hams, Cumberland Sausages, cream and dairy products and Murray smoked salmon. Orders must be placed by Monday 3rd December (Cream and Dairy Products by 18th December). Collection date week commencing 19th December.

Download your order forms here.

Vegetables – Salad – Fruit.

Xmas Bread Order.

Xmas Flower and Wreath Order.

Delicatessen Xmas and New Year Order List.

Completed order forms should be taken to the shop or posted to: Sulgrave Village Shop, The Reading Room, Magpie Road, Banbury, OX17 2RT

Villagers will not need reminding of the death last year of our much loved community postman, John Down. Planning permission has now been granted for the installation of a bench in his memory outside the village shop. A final push is needed to secure the £500 required for this project and all donations will be gratefully received.

See next page for full details.

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Quality fresh flowers can now be bought daily at the village shop. You can order a bouquet or an arrangement which, depending when in the week you order, will be delivered to the shop within a week. You’ll get a telephone call to let you know that they’ve arrived; David will provide more details next time you are visiting the shop.

Read the latest news update from the shop.

Parish councils are elected bodies that serve around 15 million people in England and spend about £500 million a year. Now, public spending watchdog the Audit Commission puts the spotlight on the timeliness and quality of their financial reporting.

Audited accounts are the main way public bodies show accountability for managing public money. Parish councils must publish their accounts within six months of the end of the financial year. They do this in the form of an annual return.

As required by the statutory Audit Regulations, Sulgrave Parish Council has published the above notice to the effect that the audit for the year ending 31^st March 2012 was completed on 17^th August 2012.

Local electors may examine the audited accounts between 9.30 am and 2.30 pm on working days, by appointment with the Clerk to the Council, Christine Coles, telephone: 01295 276229.

This is the impact which the proposed turbines would have on the view of the village from the Old Windmill. The government inspector concluded that they would become a key feature in views of Sulgrave, at odds with the scale of the settlement and the prominence of the church tower. Nevertheless her decision was that the “wider environmental benefits of the proposal” outweighed this and the many other disadvantages of the scheme and that Broadview’s appeal against the refusal of planning permission should be allowed. A legal challenge to this decision has now been lodged by South Northants District Council and the Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group is seeking funds to make its own challenge.

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Even more people than usual crowded into the Church Hall for the annual village Harvest Supper, on the eve of the Harvest Festival Service in St James’ Church. With patience and goodwill, everyone found a seat and Shrimp was able to declare the proceedings open.

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After 38 weeks of 2012 the shop’s trading performance is up 2.1% on the same period in 2011 and for the first 2 weeks of September, up 14% & 8%  respectively. However, several young helpers have now taken up their places at university which has left us with gaps in our volunteer roster. Could any one that can spare an hour or two each week, especially at the week ends, let David know in the Shop please? This is a real case of ‘YOUR VILLAGE SHOP NEEDS YOU!’

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The annual Sulgrave Produce Show was held in the Church Hall on September 1st. Despite poor weather for most of the growing season there were some very good vegetable entries and an impressive array of flowers, fruits, preserves, cakes and wines. Photos of all winning entries on the following pages.

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Saturday 13th October from 2.00 pm.

Remember the wonderful opening day?