Hi all  - this will be the last newsletter from the current website before we switch to the new one, probably :-)

If you want to keep getting news and events emailed to you please sign up on the new website, here

www.hugofox.com/community/great-coxwell-21164/home

Once everything is transferred over, the new website will make use of the website address of this (old) website, i.e.

www.greatcoxwell.com/

Any questions email me, Gav, [email protected]

Many thanks,
Gav
​

In response to the post here I received some emails from another erstwhile village resident, Davnet Van Tinteren - as follows:

"Re Virginia Jealous's comment about the dawn chorus walk to Badbury Hill, that was in fact my 11th birthday party and Mrs Nias wasn't leading that one although I think she and her son Philip came along.

Virginia had a sleepover at my house which was terribly exciting for me because I think it was the first time I'd done that. We and a troop of village children and, what I now realise, was a bunch of very kind parents, including the Teagle family congregated before dawn and walked up The Holloway to Badbury Hill and watched the dawn come up and hear the birds start to sing. For me and my youngest sister it's an enduring memory that was very special. After we'd rambled about a bit everyone went back to our house (now called Helm's Deep, in Puddleduck Lane) and my father had got a barbecue going and made bacon sandwiches and tea for everyone.

Mrs Nias most certainly did lead us carol singing round the village - again a large gaggle of children and some devoted parents. I think we were trying to raise money to restore the Reading Room which was very dilapidated and still had an old fashioned pump in the kitchen.

Another memory is when a BBC film crew came in 1974 and filmed Beowulf, directed by Don Fairservice. Virginia and I were given roles as serving wenches. 

One winter the pond at the Tythe Barn froze (much to the bewilderment of its resident geese) and we skated - well I fell over - and my father amazed me skating when I had no idea he could do such a thing.

I recall summer days in the school holidays when a bunch of the village children would pack together, and go for great long walks that kept us out most of the day. Invariably we walked up Puddleduck Lane well beyond Bob Miles's pig farm and then down a lane known to us as Muddy Lane up where Billy Nias had his sawmill, and eventually wound its way round the village to the very bottom. Somewhere along the way we'd make a camp fire and bake potatoes in the embers and warm cans of baked beans for lunch.
It was a lovely place to live and grow up, and I remember it very fondly."

I asked Davnet a bit about the house she mentions on Puddleduck Lane

"We actually lived in 2 houses in Puddleduck Lane (one after the other), which were the 2 houses literally as th Hill flattens out, on the left as you go downhill.
 
One was built in Cotswold stone and had a deeply pitched roof and deep eaves, and the other was a pale brick house next door. Again with deep eaves as my mother wanted to attract swallows to nest there. 
 
They were self built houses with my father doing as much of the work as he could. My mother designed the first house we lived on and wanted it to echo the Tythe Barn in its shape.
 
Someone along the way has extended it very beautifully indeed.
 
It wouldn't surprise me at all if our first house was called Swallows now, but when we lived there it didn't have a name.
 
If you had a surname like van Tinteren and lived in Puddleduck Lane your post was never going to go astray!

We moved to the village from Faringdon in March 1968."

Having checked the map we settled on the houses being Jemima and Meadowcroft as they are called today, I found some original planning documents for that time.

West Winds was granted permission in 1961, Shallows (not Swallows as the planning map shows) was granted permission in 1964, Orchard Cottages was granted permission to be converted from 2 cottages to the 1 we see today in 1965; and what was described (maybe transcribed incorrectly) as Holms Dees in 1966 followed by Jemima in 1968.

Mallards 1971
Brookside 1971
South View extended in 1976

The Cattle Barn on Puddleduck Lane was shown as being used as a pig farm as late as 1989 before conversion to the stables and tack room and is, I guess,  Bob Miles' Pig Farm referred to by Davnet

In the maps below from 1883 and 1899 we can see Orchard Cottages, Puddle House and Southview and just about make out the field or orchard in the 1947 aerial photo (its pretty dark!) before the few houses were added to the village during the 60s and 70s.

Anything to add? Email Gavin - [email protected]

We would like to invite local residents to a small “Have Your Say” meeting at the Reading Room.
 
This will be an informal opportunity for us to come over, introduce ourselves, and meet with you and other members of the local community. We’re keen to listen to your views, answer questions, and hear any ideas you may have.
 
If the meeting is well received, we would be very happy to look at making this a regular event every couple of months, should that be something the community would be interested in.
 
Proposed date:
Reading Room
Wednesday 13th May
11.30am

Hi all,

Just another note on the impending changes to the newsletter and website, during May the old newsletter will stop so if you want to continue receiving news you need to get alerts from the new website.

To do that click here add your email address, check the News and Events boxes and then Click the Create button, you will get an email asking you to confirm, you wont get any alert emails unless you confirm it in the email you will be sent.

NOTE - CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL

Some people have reported the email goes into the spam, so please check there and add the email address to your safe senders list.

Any problems drop me an email - [email protected].

Here's the background:

https://www.greatcoxwell.com/news--blog/website-and-newsletter-changes
https://www.greatcoxwell.com/news--blog/update-to-website-and-newsletter

The speed limit on the A420 has changed to 50mph, see attached for details.

a420_shrivenham___faringdon_speeds_-_made_notice.pdf

Dear  Parish Clerk,
 
Please find attached our invitation to you to the inaugural meeting of the FRIENDS of WICKLESHAM QUARRY on 10 May at Little Coxwell.
​
Please would you kindly circulate this email and attached invitation to residents of Great Coxwell. All are welcome!
 
The invitation outlines the context of the formation of this group, and wider implications for the western Vale and Midvale Ridge. 
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday 10 May!
Best wishes,
 
Anna Hoare
 
P.S. In case you haven't seen the proposals for 2,500 houses on the rest of Wicklesham Farm, you can find them here on pages 242-403.
https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/JLP-Reg-18-Part-1-Responses-H.pdf
 

Please be aware that the previous email addresses for the Parish Council will be closing over the next few days.
 
Unfortunately, it is not possible to set up automatic forwarding to the new accounts so any emails sent to the old accounts will not be received.
 
The new email addresses are:
 
Cllr J Russell                                                -                            [email protected]
Cllr R Hankinson                                       -                            [email protected]
Cllr N Hawkes                                             -                            [email protected]
Cllr R Gilmour                                             -                            [email protected]
Cllr S Sutton                                                 -                            [email protected]
 
Clerk                                                               -                            [email protected]
 
David Hatton
Clerk to Great Coxwell Parish Council
07888 203145

The agendas for the 4 meetings being held on the 14th May 2026 are now on the website. Links below.
 
Annual Parish Meeting
https://greatcoxwell-pc.gov.uk/community/great-coxwell-parish-council-20863/parish-meetings/
 
Annual Parish Council Meeting
https://greatcoxwell-pc.gov.uk/community/great-coxwell-parish-council-20863/may-2026/
 
Parish Council Meeting
https://greatcoxwell-pc.gov.uk/community/great-coxwell-parish-council-20863/may-2026/
 
Reading Room Trustees Meeting
https://greatcoxwell-pc.gov.uk/community/great-coxwell-parish-council-20863/20261/
 
David Hatton
Clerk to Great Coxwell Parish Council
07888 203145

​

Residents across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being encouraged to share their views on how rubbish, recycling and street cleaning services are run in their area, via an annual survey.

Whether you think things are working well or could be improved, your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of waste and street cleaning services across both districts. 

Last year, more than 2,100 people took part in the 2025 survey, with more than 81 percent of respondents indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied with the waste collection service.  As a result of the feedback, staff received extra training to help ensure bins are returned correctly after emptying, further checks were put in place around litter bin emptying and measures put in place ensure street cleaning standards across the area. There has also been increased communication on which items go in which bin, especially around food waste.

A new survey has now launched for 2026 giving residents another opportunity to have their say on everything from household waste and recycling collections to street cleaning and local waste reduction initiatives.

Take part in the 2026 Waste and Street Cleaning Survey now at: southandvale.gov.uk/WasteSurvey

The survey is open until 4 June 2026.

If you have any questions or need the survey in an alternative format (including large print, Braille, audio, Easy Read or other languages), please email [email protected] or call 01235 422146.

Cllr Sue Cooper, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We want to ensure our waste, recycling and street cleaning services continue to be effective and as easy to use as possible, and one way of doing that is by listening directly to our residents. By taking just a few minutes to complete the survey, you can help us understand what’s working and where we can do better.
“Our main aim is for everyone to create less waste and to reuse items, rather than throwing them away or buying new ones unnecessarily.   While we are always aiming to improve our street cleaning, prevention is better than the cure so we always urge residents to take their litter home, where possible, so it can go in the appropriate bin and hopefully be recycled.”
​
Cllr Robert Clegg, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Waste at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This is a real opportunity for residents to influence the future of our waste and street cleaning services. We want honest feedback—whether that’s praise for what we’re doing well or ideas for improvement.  Good waste collection and street cleaning services are essential to keeping our communities clean and sustainable. Your views will help us target the improvements that matter most to local people.”
This survey focuses on services provided by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.  It does not cover any questions relating to Household Waste Recycling Centres as these services managed separately by Oxfordshire County Council.

Dear all,
 
I did not think I would be so lucky, but I managed it!  Out of the Blue is coming to Great Coxwell.  Do not miss this incredible group of a capella singers.   There is so much to say about them, I will leave it to you to read about them here.
 
Book your tickets here or email me to reserve your seats and pay at the door.
 
The money will go towards this incredible group, but also towards the Roof Fund Charity for St Giles Church.
 
Best wishes,
Lynette 

​Click here for the poster