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Free sailing pays off for boat club

First timers had an opportunity to take advantage of the sunshine and hit the water with free sailing lessons at Goring Thames Sailing Club’s open day on Saturday.

More than 400 people turned up on the day with experienced sailors and rookies alike enjoying boat trips. Club members accompanied newcomers.

Robert Harrison, club publicity manager, said the weather was perfect: “The sun was shining and the light breeze meant that everybody wanted to get out there. The kids especially couldn’t wait.

“ We had seven families sign up on the day and over 50 took membership forms home, so I consider it a great success.”

Members gave demonstrations of a boat capsizing through the day to quell any fears visitors might have.

Mr. Harrison said: “We showed how something like a capsize, which sounds scary, can be salvaged easily once you know how. The kids would see the demonstrations then want to have a go themselves!”

He added that the club had also received £8,000 from the Awards for All lottery grant scheme to go towards buying new boats. “We got some new boats last year and there’s more to come, so we will practically have a whole new fleet soon.”

Primary school pupils undergo an Art Attack

Langtree School in Woodcote treated pupils from five feeder primary schools to an Art Attack from award winning illustrator Korky Paul and lessons in making art from rubbish.

Korky, who illustrated Winnie the Witch, acted out some of his books with slides and drew quick sketches for pupils to keep. He aims to get more children reading and writing, especially those who don’t have books at home.

“ It’s been excellent, a really nice idea,” he said.

“ I want to get kids interested in art and especially embracing originality. They don’t want to colour in. It gives you such a sense of satisfaction to create your own art from scratch.”

Orinoco, an Oxford charity, took that idea one step further, teaching the children to use waste materials to create their own printed pieces of art. The charity’s leader, Howie Watkins, says the charity is out to banish boredom and save the world.

“ We’ve had some really interesting pieces created and the kids are enjoying it. At the same time they are hopefully learning about recycling and looking at rubbish in a different way,” he said.

Zoe Wiggington-Cooke, college performing arts co-ordinator, said the day will help to get primary pupils thinking artistically before they move up to Langtree School.

“ Obviously with our art school status we want our pupils to embrace something like this and it seems that they have,” she said.

“ Our guests have been fantastic and Korky is so good with the children. He’s a really positive role model.”

Big attendance at 'green' conference

Woodcote played host to environmental groups from across the district for Oxfordshire’s Local Environment Group Conference in April. Members from 26 of Oxfordshire’s environment groups met at Langtree School, Woodcote, to discuss the management of the area’s pond, how to survey for rare plants, identify moths and establish wild flower meadows in an event hosted by Woodcote Conservation Group.

Cynth Napper, community officer for Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum, said: “The mix of workshops, presentations and site visit, along with plenty of time to browse the groups’ own displays led to much discussion and ideas to take home.”

Any groups in the area interested in taking part in the next conference can contact Cynth on 01865 407034 or at cynth@oncf.org.uk

Fair is good business

Woodcote Village Hall played host to clubs, organisations and businesses in the area for the third annual Small Business Fair on Saturday, April 26th.

Pupils from Langtree and neighbouring schools entertained with a series of drum rolls and organisations such as the Lions Club, Woodcote Cricket Club and parish council attended.

Christopher Quinton, chairman of the committee said: “The purpose of the fair was to be as inclusive as possible and to reinforce the feeling of community in Woodcote. It was great to involve the youth and their enthusiasm was very evident. We are very pleased to have raised over £300 towards the upkeep of the hall.”

Parishioners meet new bishop

The Church Of Saint Mary the Virgin in Whitchurch held a special Ascension Day celebration with a visit from the new Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev. John Pritchard, on May 1st.

The bishop preached at the service in front of a hundred-strong audience from all over the Langtree Team’s area and Henley Deanery before taking a tour of the parish.

The celebrations were followed by a party held in the new rectory, where the bishop chatted with parishioners from Whitchurch and the surrounding areas.