It’s our final free 4 page ‘Lockdown’ edition (hopefully back to a full 50p issue in September) with a positive theme of ‘Open for Summer’ with a cautious welcome to visitors and the usual local stories in regular Local News, Arts, Sports, Clubs and Schools – thanks to all who have sent us their reports!
There are free printed copies in all our main shop outlet boxes, the Health Centre, Hospital and St Mary’s Church Porch. Contributions are welcome for our next main September edition – deadline 14th August.
The Chippy Health Centre team and many regular patients will be sad to see Dr Jonathon Whittle and Dr Isabel Welch leaving the Health Centre at the end of June 2020. The two well-regarded GPs express their thanks and gratitude at having had the privilege of looking after such a wonderful set of patients over the past ten and eight years respectively. They are both very grateful for the fond memories, good wishes and gifts from staff and patients – especially all the beautiful knitted baby clothes and home-grown vegetables.
The Health Centre, after an intense few weeks dealing with Covid-19 alongside the usual busy patient demand, continues with special measures in place to look after patients in a secure and safe way. They include procedures for safe entry at the entrance and all appointments have to be pre-booked after a telephone assessment. See https://www.chippingnortonhealthcentre.nhs.uk/
Our GPs are expecting the Government to commission a major flu jab initiative in September, partly to try and reduce pressure on the NHS over winter when Covid-19 remains a major threat as well. There are likely to be special procedures for these clinics – see the September Chippy News and the CNHC website.
Stop by the intriguing mural now opposite Chipping Norton Town Hall – and spot all the things you know and love about the Town – it has Bliss Mill, the Rollright Stones, a tribute to the NHS, and much more. Even the Chippy News is there. Ex-Chippy School’s Luke Embden found himself back here in Lockdown in March for his Dad Paul’s birthday. But lucky for us, Luke’s professional life, based in Berlin, includes doing international art commissions – often for street art – but with a portfolio including work for Covent Garden, Abbey Road studios and Carnaby Street, plus projects for the likes of Nike and Coca Cola. See www.lukeembden.co.uk
Artist Luke Embden Berlin Chipping Norton Beales Coop Artwork portrait by professional portraiture and commercial event photographer Andrew Ogilvy Photography
Luke contacted the Chippy News last month with his offer to give something back to the Town while spending time here, if we could find a suitable public space to start. Connecting him to arts enthusiast Town Councillor Georgia Mazower, then saw the Coop agree that their window in the empty Beales store could be a great start. Dave & Dave kindly cleaned the windows, the Town Council helped with materials – and Luke’s effort over 4 days was the result. He’s had lots of visitors stopping by!
Picture thanks to Vivian Woodell
Georgia hopes that this is a catalyst for other building owners to transform their windows and walls. And with many empty shops, perhaps this will get some momentum behind other initiatives to make the town attractive, open to innovation and different uses by the community bringing in new investors alongside our current hard-working businesses. Nationally, a new report ‘Build Back Better – the High Street’ proposes local radical action. Perhaps there could be some here.
Post script: Another bonus was Luke connecting with his parents’ new Chippy neighbour Andrew Olgilvy. As a professional photographer, Andrew works with portraiture, events, corporate headshots, product, film/TV, architecture and interiors. His work has been used and featured in Country Life, Forbes, the V&A, the British Museum, and Blenheim Palace. See www.AndrewOgilvy.com
With lockdown relaxing and more visitors coming, Chippy’s buses are coming back on track as a good service. From 28th June, Stagecoach’s 7, S3 and 488 services for Oxford and Banbury are nearly back to normal (pre-March) timetables. S3 will be reverting to Cornish Road but many S3 are departing Chippy and Oxford at earlier times than before (eg at xx.03 rather than xx.08 from Chippy and x.47 rather xx.55 from Gloucester Green) There will be different 488 times on Saturdays. Please download latest accurate details from Stagecoach.com website
Fed up with this sad eyesore in Chippy’s Town Centre?
BT is asking if you want to ‘adopt’ the iconic box for community use – library? food bank? Office pod? Paint it blue for the NHS or simply brighten it up? Chippy’s is one of 37 in Oxfordshire up for adoption – yours for £1 – see bt.com/adopt
For other town centre candidates for action? how about that (no longer used) big black pollution box on topside or a dozen old street name signs that could merit a repaint?
The Theatre invites you to have fun exploring new dance moves whilst improving strength, mobility and coordination with dancer Ali Maxwell. A fantastic way to stretch and move whilst having fun! All abilities are welcome and no dance experience is required. These sessions are designed for participants aged 50+.
It’s another free 4 page ‘Lockdown’ edition, with reports on how the Town is cautiously opening up for business, some amusing stories, and regular Local News, Sports, Clubs and Schools sections – thanks to all who have sent us reports!
There are free printed copies in all our main shop outlet boxes, the Health Centre, Hospital and St Mary’s Church Porch. Contributions are welcome for a further similar July edition (while the normal full News edition is suspended during lockdown)
There is a vacancy on the Town Council as Gordon Brown has ceased to be a councillor. For an election to be triggered, 10 electors need to log a request at WODC by 12 June. Otherwise the Council may co-opt someone. See the notice below
Can you make a scare-crow? Now is your chance! Team Anna’s competition to find the very best scare-crow to protect their newly planted sunflowers on William Fowler allotments closes on Saturday. It’s one one their many fun ways of raising funds for the continuing cancer treatment in New York of, soon to be 9 year old, Anna Drysdale. The deadline is this Saturday! Contact GILLBEGNOR@LIVE.CO.UK to arrange collection within 5 miles of Chippy.
Please click here to download the latest Chippy News. It’s a free 4 page ‘Lockdown’ edition, with reports on how the Town is rallying round and finding new ways to work and play! There’s also regular Local News, Arts, Sports, Clubs and Schools – yes there’s still a lot happening and thanks to all who have sent us their reports!
There are free printed copies in all our main shop outlet boxes, the Health Centre, Hospital and St Mary’s Church Porch. Contributions are welcome for similar editions in June and July (while the normal full News edition is suspended during lockdown)
