Image of fish and chips

It’s all happening in June in E&D!

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Eyes down for our big midsummer quiz!

Back by popular demand, this Midsummer Quiz Night on Friday 23rd June will be our last event before the hall closes for refurbishment.  The usual format, get to the hall for 7pm to find a table, sort out your team name and joker, and order in your drinks from the bar, including Loddon Brewery ales.  A fish & chip supper is provided at around 8.30pm (vegetarian options available) and the quiz will finish by about 10.30pm.  Tickets are £12 or £10 for a child size portion or the vegetarian option.

Teams of 4-6, come as a team or join one on the evening! To reserve your places contact Beth, (01189 461987).  The last two quizzes have been very well attended.  You can pay on the night once you have reserved your place or by BACS to HSBC bank, sort code 40-16-33, Account No. 21068296.

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Magic midsummer music

Join in the fun at this fabulous summer classical concert and picnic evening at Holmwood, Binfield Heath and help the fund-raising campaign for Dunsden Village Hall. There will be a mix of ensemble, solo and duet performances from Oxford Lieder’s young professional singers. The music starts at 5.30 and the concert will end around 8pm. Among the delights to be performed are selections from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Così Fan Tutte, and Le Nozze di Figaro together with music from Carmen and Hansel und Gretel. Songs will include pieces by Schubert, Pulenc and Vaughan Williams as well as Gershwin’s ever popular ‘Summer Time’.

Canapés and canopies…

The gardens open at 4.30pm and you will be able to wander around and admire the lovely planting and the views. Bring your picnic plus rugs and small gazebo if you wish, for the hour-long interval in the concert.

Help our halls…

Proceeds from this concert go to both Dunsden Village Hall and the Binfield Heath Scout Hut, both of which are vitally important community buildings and each is urgently in need of restoration and repair. Please support us – there are some great raffle prizes too! Tickets are available from Binfield Heath Stores or online

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Image of the interior of a beer brewery

Beer and bidding plus a defeat for Gladman

Get your tickets now for village hall curry night fund-raiser at the Loddon Brewery

A fun evening is promised as the Loddon Brewery opens its doors for a charity auction in aid of the village hall on Saturday June 10th. There will be displays about the brewing process as well as a chance to sample Loddon ales. Tickets cost just £15 including a welcome drink, and a two course meal supplied by the award-winning Himalaya MoMo House. There’ll be a silent auction of several dozen amazing lots at bargain prices, including trips on a helicopter, a glider and a combine harvester.

You can also bid for some great family days out, including a spa day and a visit to the Roald Dahl Museum or dinner and a night’s stay at the French Horn or Great House in Sonning. If you are feeling more adventurous, why not bid for a sculpture to be created from a sitter of your choice or a special piece of music to be written for you? Local guest auctioneers will also be on hand for a selection of the more popular lots. All proceeds go towards the transformation of Dunsden Village Hall into a bigger brighter and warmer space for the whole community. See the lots on offer now.

 CAGE celebrate Gladman defeat

Campaigners have been celebrating the announcement that South Oxfordshire District Council has decide to refuse permission for the construction of 245 houses on land between Peppard and Kiln Roads next to Emmer Green. The Chairman of CAGE said ‘this is a tremendous victory for all those who have written with their objections and for the dedicated campaigners from local parish councils and residents’ groups who have been working away at opposing the scheme since it was first lodged in the autumn. The countryside we care about will continue to be threatened and CAGE will remain vigilant. An appeal on the grounds for refusal is now possible, but at least campaigners have some much deserved breathing space.’

 

What should we do with the telephone kiosk on the village green?

The parish council has now acquired the red phone box on the village green at Dunsden from BT, which was about to remove it. The aim is  to preserve it as a long-standing part of the village scene. Other possibilities include the installation of  CPR equipment or the provision of local information about the Dunsden Owen Association trail, the community orchard and other parts of local life of interest to visitors.In Binfield Heath a phone box has been converted to a book exchange. The kiosk at Playhatch is a listed structure, as it is part of the setting of Playhatch House, which is a listed building. Please use the comments section to contribute your ideas!​

Henley Road due to close for months during summer due to subsidence

Engineers have found that the collapsing A4155 near The Flowing Spring will now need to be completely closed for around two months over the summer (exact dates yet to be fixed). It was hoped that the shoring up works could be carried out using single lane working. Diversions will be available. Install the phone app Waze for the latest highways information from Oxfordshire County Council.

Historical image of the parish councillors

Spring news

Upcoming events

Quiz Night!

This Saturday 29th April, 7pm. Licensed Bar

Quiz nights at the village hall are always popular – there’s a great atmosphere, some brain teasing questions and a fish and chip supper is included in the ticket price of just £12. Bring a team of 4-6 or join up with others on the night. Sausage & chips or vegetarian options are available. Booking advised: contact Beth on 01189 470339 or email dunsdenvillagehall@yahoo.co.uk
www.dunsdenvillagehall.co.uk is registered charity no. 273293 · all proceeds to the hall appeal.

Grand Auction of Promises for Dunsden Village Hall

Online and Loddon Brewery, Saturday June 10

Join in the fun with our fabulous auction of generously donated lots. Ever fancied a wing walk on a light aircraft? A helicopter flight or a trip in a glider? Other lots include decorated cakes, dinner and a night’s stay at the French Horn Hotel, a ride on a combine harvester and even a custom clay sculpture of you or a person of your choice. There’s also a football signed by Pele, theatre tickets, and a round of golf for four. Browse the first wave of lots and start bidding now!

The event will conclude with a live auction at the Loddon Brewery, on Saturday June 10, with refreshments provided. Tickets will be available online soon.

Dunsden Village hall is the heart of our community, but the Victorian buildings badly need a makeover! We are campaigning to raise the final £30,000 needed to enable a new entrance hall and a bright new extension to be built. There will also be new kitchens, loos, lights and floors, making the hall much more attractive for family social events, shows and much more.

Many thanks to all our kind donors.

 

Open Day at Dunsden Community Orchard

Saturday June 3rd from 2.30pm

There’ll be tea and trees at a special open day for the community orchard. It’s part of the Chelsea Fringe Garden Festival. Wilfred Owen will also feature, with exhibition panels in the hall about his time in Dunsden. Look forward to delicious tea and cakes in aid of the village hall appeal, together with short talks about the orchard and an opportunity to try out the Dunsden Owen Association’s smartphone trail around the village.

 

Get walking in the Chilterns this May

A new Chilterns-wide Walking Festival is being held from 15 – 29 May featuring over 70 walks and activities over 15 days.

Enthusiastic local guides and walk leaders will be sharing their deep love and understanding of the Chilterns countryside. There will be new themed walks including Chilterns food and drink, Iron Age Hillforts and popular culture such as Midsomer Murders filmed locations. There will be walks for young families, for people with limited mobility or with a particular interest. There will be health walks and food walks, ‘I-never-knew-that’ interpretative walks and boat walks. The Dunsden Owen Association, with its interactive smartphone app, hopes to be part of the second festival in September.
 
Local highlights include:

  • Henley on Thames – A guided walking tour of the town’s Midsomer Murders filmed locations
  • Leisurely days of countryside cycling on an Electric Bike Tour.
  • Henley on Thames – a leisurely boat trip one way, walk back along the Thames Path
  • Take an Ancient Feast with a recreated Iron-Age menu.

Secure your places on walks and activities: www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChilternsWalkingFestival.
 

 

 

 

Image of a sculpture of Wilfred Owen

Where should Wilfred go?

The Wilfred Owen Association has generously offered to give Dunsden a sculpture by Anthony Padgett of the famous WW1 poet Wilfred Owen who lived here 1911-13.

The Committee of the Wilfred Owen Association favours a position where it can always be seen. The church, parish council and village hall committee favour an indoor position because the green is already cluttered and because of the risk of crime.

The result of this poll will be considered when the Wilfred Owen Association makes a final decision later in the year. Please vote online now and share your view!

Flyer with snowdrop flowers for Snowdrop Sunday

Snowdrops at All Saints

This periodic event at All Saints Church, Dunsden provides a good opportunity to see inside the church where the young Wilfred Owen was assistant to the Rector. For more information see the church website.

Sunday 26 February, Church Open Day, 10 am to 5pm

  • Guided tours of the church and grounds
  • Live music and readings
  • Learn about the Wilfred Owen Trail
  • Refreshments, including mulled wine,
    tea, coffee and home-made cakes
  • Large off-road car park
  • Free entry
Map of the Gladman plan

Last chance to comment on Gladman plan

You have until 20 January to post your comments on SODC’s website about the Gladman plan to almost triple the number of houses in our parish. Just click on this link to record your views. Every comment helps!

A group of local parish councils and residents’ associations is completely opposed to the scheme, which they see as ‘unsustainable’ according to Government guidelines. There has been strong opposition from people living in Emmer Green, who can see the development wrecking an attractive landscape as well as placing an intolerable burden on local services.

The Henley Standard reported local opposition to the scheme recently.

Reading Borough Council planning officers have recommended councillors vote against the scheme. A decision will be taken at the planning meeting on 11 January.

Thames Water has said they see the scheme posing a threat to local water supplies.

The final decision will be taken when SODC votes on the scheme on February 1st. We hope to see as many people as possible at the planning meeting on this date.

 

Image of local councillor David Bartholomew

County Councillor publishes objection to Gladman plan

Councillor David Bartholomew has lodged his objections to the Gladman Developments plan for 245 houses in Eye & Dunsden parish.

Register your views on the SODC website now.

Objection

  1. The county boundary was revised in 1977 to reflect the actual boundary of the built-up area of Reading. This proposed development straddles urban Reading and rural South Oxfordshire thus compromising the county boundary and destroying the clear distinction between urban and rural areas.
  2. The development would cause severe harm to the rural character of the area.
  3. The development would clearly be part of Reading in practical terms, but would fall into the Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Eye & Dunsden Parish Council areas of administration. This would present serious issues in terms of funding and management of resources for all councils concerned.
  4. There is little employment in the immediate area and it is highly likely most residents would need to cross Reading Bridge or Caversham Bridge to get to work directly or via the mainline railway station. Most of this travel would be by car. Reading Borough Council has already identified both these bridges as being used well beyond their capacity and the increase in congestion would be substantial, conflicting with the objectives of sustainable development.
  5. This area is not scheduled for major development in the SODC Local Plan.
  6. The Sonning Common Neighbourhood Plan has been ‘made’ and while this site isn’t within the area of the plan, it is immediately adjacent to it, so should be taken into consideration. The rural character of the site is as important to Sonning Common residents as it is Emmer Green residents.