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| ABOUT THIS PAGE
News items likely to be of short term general interest
both inside and outside Blewbury are reproduced here from the latest
issue of the Blewbury Bulletin. Articles of longer term general
interest fom current and recent issues are reproduced on the articles
page. Items of specialist interest are included Ladycroft
News. A wide variety of other pages, not in the printed Bulletin,
can be accessed from the Home Page.
GETTING
STOP PRESS NEWS The Bulletin quite often hears of
information that is of importance to Blewbury and needs to be circulated
before the next Bulletin publication date. We put short term news
on this page, but not everyone has access to the internet, and many
who do don’t make a regular habit of looking here. The Bulletin
therefore maintains a list of email addresses, called the ‘Stop
Press list’, which it uses to broadcast items of short term
interest. Residents in the village and nearby are welcome to join
this service
If you want to receive Stop
Press news by email , please email the Editor (editor@blewbury.co.uk
). with the word INCLUDE as the subject of the e-mail - nothing
else is needed. Messages sent out to email addresses on the Stop
Press list will be sent as blind copies – ones where no one
can read your name or email address. If you later on decide you
no longer wish to receive Stop Press emails, you should email the
Editor with the word UNSUBSCRIBE as the email subject.
If
you have news you think should be circulated using this
mechanism please contact the editor by phone (01235 850427) or email
editor@blewbury.co.uk.
Please note that anyone supplying information for publication is
responsible for the accuracy of their report. They must also supply
their name and contact details - these will not be published if
you ask for them not to be. The editor reserves the right not to
send out submissions as Stop Press email.
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Blewbury
"In One Year And Out The Other" |
|  This
is the final title for what has been generally known as ‘Ron’s
Book’, a book which is full of articles and pictures about
what happened in the village in 2009. It is intended as a record
of life here, for the interest and amusement of the present generation
and also, we hope, as a time capsule for our descendants 50 years
hence.
The book
is complete and is being printed. A public launch will take place
in Blewbury School Hall on Saturday 3rd July from 10 am to 4 pm.
Everyone is welcome. There will be a display of paintings and photos
collected during the compilation of the book, and the book will
be on sale, price £10. Come and have a cup of coffee or tea,
see what you think and buy your copies.
From
Monday 5th July the book will be on sale at the Post Office, Savages,
Blewbury Garage, Farm Hair Studio, the Barley Mow and the Red Lion.
Paul Whitehead will be contacting those who have already paid for
copies.
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Blewbury
Brass Band Centenary - Come to the Celebrations |
|  One
hundred years of the Brass Band in Blewbury will be celebrated by
a party in the Playclose (Village Hall if wet) on Sunday
July 11th , to which you are all invited. Admission
free.
It
starts at 12.30 pm with a fanfare by the Band. The programme is
follows:
12:30
- 1:00 pm Band playing
12.30
- 2 pm Pig roast - helpings for sale
1:00
- 3 pm School Choir, School Recorder Group, Maypole Dancing; Adult
Recorder Group, Edmund Jones playing Scottish and Irish Music
on his violin; Jenkins Noyse (Quartet)
3:00
- 3:45 Band leads a Sing-a-long of well-known songs. Words provided,
so come along and join in.
3:45
- 4:15 Folk from the Fleur
4:15
- 4:30 Band finale
Cream
teas will be on sale from 2.30 - 4 pm..
‘The
Story of Blewbury Brass Band’ will be on sale for the first time
(price £6). This history of the Band mentions the large number of
people who have been involved with the Band over the past century,
many of whom are of course still members. From Monday 12 th July,
the book will be on sale at Savages, the Post Office and Blewbury
Garage.
At
the party there will also be various stalls - Cakes, Cards and Wrapping
paper, Jewellery, Children’s Tombola, Fair Trade stall; VPA Produce
and Plants; and book stalls selling local history books, the new
Band book and the new Blewbury Book (see above).
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| Recreation
Ground Update |
The
Parish Council has signed a letter of intent with Farnrise Construction
Ltd for the first phase of Recreation Ground improvement works.
Contractors are expected to arrive on site on June 28 th , and are
due to complete this phase of the work by Christmas. It will include
the main pavilion/community room building, the new cricket square
and other essential landscaping, the extension, fencing and resurfacing
of the tennis courts, the provision of services to a future tennis
hut (but not the hut itself) and other ancillary works required
by the planning conditions. Other items such as tennis and croquet
club facility upgrades, car park resurfacing and the brise soleil
for the main building will follow as time and budget allow. The
old pavilion will be demolished towards the end of the process in
order to minimise the period in which there will be no pavilion
facilities at all. It is hoped that there will be a short ‘ground-breaking’
ceremony when the actual construction starts sometime in early to
mid July.
Blewbury
Community Interest Company
As
notified in previous Bulletins, the Parish Council is establishing
a Community Interest Company (CIC) as the vehicle for running the
new pavilion/community facility. The CIC will be able to carry on
activities which benefit the community and in particular to devise
and undertake the management and activities that will promote the
use and development of recreation and leisure facilities for the
benefit of those living in Blewbury. This relatively new form of
organisation avoids the need for a charity to register as a limited
company in order to trade.
CICs
are designed specifically for those wishing to operate for the benefit
of the community rather than for the benefit of the owners of the
company. This means that a CIC cannot be formed or used solely for
the personal gain of a particular person, or group of people. CICs
also have a statutory “Asset Lock” to prevent the assets and profits
being distributed, except as permitted by legislation. This ensures
the assets and profits are retained within the CIC for community
purposes.
The
CIC will formally take over the management of the new facility on
December 31st 2010 and will be responsible, for example, for managing
the day to day running of the facility, maintaining the condition
of the building and, of course, representing members’ needs.
The
Parish Council was advised that an incorporated structure was desirable
for many other reasons including:
•
individuals would have no personal liability and in the case of
the Blewbury CIC no financial reward
•
the company would be able to hold in its own right any lease of
land
•
the company would be able to apply for any licences in respect of
there being a bar on the premises
•
the Parish Council, as landowner, would have control through the
lease in the use of the land but would not need to have day-to-day
involvement
•
the company can apply for additional grants in future for any further
improvements that may be necessary.
The
CIC Board members are all volunteers who responded to articles in
the Bulletin. The Board members are Sheila Loy, Gwen Hibbs, Derek
Watson, Phil Claridge and Keith Ifould. They are more than willing
to undertake this voluntary governance role, seeking to deliver
high quality, financially self-sustaining, recreational facilities
to Blewbury and the surrounding community.
All
the Clubs currently using the Recreation Ground, or who have an
interest in using the Community Room, will be invited to join the
Company as members. There will be regular meetings between Club
members and the Board.
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| Village
Produce Association |
 The
VPA had a lovely trip to Pam Lewis’s garden, great weather and beautiful
gardens and lunch! Our next little jaunt is on Wednesday 7 th July,
to Clematis Corner in Shillingford. To book, please ring Eileen
on 510095. We are meeting at Blewbury Village hall at 7pm; car sharing
will be organised there if necessary.
It
has been such a hectic year so far, dogs, kids, dandelions, guide
camp etc that I completely forgot to mention the Annual Summer Show,
this will be held on Saturday 31 st July, the schedules are available
from the Post Office in Blewbury, or on my front porch, (Tadcombe,
Besselslea); (Or they are available to download from the Upton Village
webpage.). Please pick one up if you would like to enter the show,
entry forms need to be back to me by Weds 28 th 10pm, email karencbrooks@googlemail.com
or pop them into the Post Office, Blewbury or to Maggie in
Upton. Then simply bring your entries to the village hall between
8.30 and 11am on the Saturday, and come back at 2.30pm when the
show opens to the public, to see if you have won!!
If
you can’t be bothered to enter, then just come along at 2.30pm,
to see who has scooped all the prizes, and who will be winning the
coveted silver cups! We will be serving teas and homemade cakes,
a tombola and raffle, and at 4.30pm, we will auction off some of
the prize-winning entries!
If
you need more info, then ring me (Show Secretary) on 850219, and
I will try to help you! I will be fighting off the pigeons who are
trying to eat the cherries off the tree, and waging war on anything
that may dare to eat or destroy my roses!! Maybe I should train
the dog to guard them?!
The
talk for the September meeting is on the 1 st , Vale Room, Blewbury,
when R & J Nickless will be giving a “Bee Demonstration”. Are
they making cakes? Making them dance? I think we should know?!
Happy
Gardening, Karen Brooks
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| News from
the Chickens |
Mary
Kate writes.....Still no sign of the boys. They must be having
a lovely holiday. We’ve seen a lot of the Neighbours recently.
Mr. Neighbour asked Mrs. Neighbour how much she thought that one
weighed, pointing at Custard. She said ‘Forget it, the last
ones were as tough as old boots, I’m not doing that again’. She
was wearing sandals which is puzzling. 
Toffee
writes.....I am revising my opinion of that Morag with her posh
Pangbourne ways. A few weeks after her arrival, a parcel arrives
for her from e-bay. Some eggs she’d ordered, apparently. Well
is that what they call it these days. So eggs arrive, she
sits on them, then Milady Fidgety Knickers is too smart to sit on
them all herself and palms three of them onto Lavender, who as we
all know is such a broody hen, is thrilled. Can you imagine?
Those two sitting, hogging the egg distribution centre, for a month?
We’ve had to resort to laying our eggs underneath an old wheelbarrow.
Though to give her, her due, Dandelion has made a lovely job of
the nest under there.
Lavender.....Eggs
of my own again. I cannot thank Morag enough for her selfless
egg donation.
Morag
writes.. .. These hens are inexpressibly vulgar. Not only
do they live in a plastic house which can only be described as Blewbury
pokey, there have been dark yokel mutterings about my acquiring
my eggs from e-bay. Don’t they appreciate that I am too posh
to push and this is the modern way.
Dandelion
writes.... My new nest under the wheelbarrow is a triumph.
This season I have used, creams and taupes with highlights of green,
blending the textures of the sawdust, twigs and dried bamboo leaves
to create a contemporary while relaxing sanctuary in which to lay
our eggs. I’m hoping to get a write up in House and Gardens.
Fudge
writes.... You’ll never guess what? Morag’s e-bay eggs have
hatched and they are DUCKS. I wonder if she can get a refund?
Egg
count. 5 a day from & 7 chickens. All sick of omelettes.
Ann
Edwards
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| Sustainable
Blewbury |
 Blewbury
Village Society Environment Group
Forthcoming
Activities and Events
 Blewbury
Produce Stall: Our new weekly produce stall has been running for
over a month now and has attracted lively interest from both producers
and consumers (see photo). It takes place every Saturday 10am to
noon, at Blewbury Garage forecourt on London Road , and will continue
throughout the summer.
So
far contributions have included variety of garden and vegetable
plants, salad, herbs, rhubarb and vegetables. Free-range eggs are
regularly available, and also sometimes cakes, biscuits and preserves.
Almost everything brought along has been sold. Proceeds go to the
producers, less a small contribution towards our costs. Please bring
any produce between 9.30 and 10.00 – see our website for further
details.
Contact:
Sarah Deco, sarah.deco@care4free.net or 01235 851441 for information.
A
fantastic opportunity to earn real Green money!
On
Monday 5th July the Blewbury Energy Initiative (BEI) will be holding
an information meeting to describe the very attractive investment
opportunity now made available by the new feed-in tariff for generating
your own electricity (please see the enclosed leaflet).
The
BEI is organising a collective approach so that residents in Blewbury
and Upton may club together to obtain an attractive discount by
installing solar photovoltaic systems during a limited time span
in 2010. To achieve the best benefit for all it is important that
as many as possible come to the meeting on 5th July in the Blewbury
Methodist Chapel at 8.00 pm. If you cannot come, please contact
John Richards on tel: 850218 or e-mail: johnr@gmail.com
Apple
Day, Saturday, 16th October
A
village celebration of apples, orchards and local distinctiveness
- please keep the date free. Events planned include: apple stall,
apple juicing, apple variety identification, mapping local orchards,
craft exhibition . . .
Watch the Bulletin and web site for further details. Thanks to all
who have so far provided information for the orchard survey.
Please
visit our web site www.sustainable-blewbury.org.uk
for details.
If
you wish to become involved in any of the above or to receive our
bimonthly Newsletter please give your e-mail address to Mikes Marshall
or Edmunds ( mike@twintrees.demon.co.uk
or wme@btopenworld.com
) .
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| Wells for
India |
|
Blewbury
has a long tradition of supporting “Wells for India ” in water harvesting
projects in Rajasthan (most readers will remember the tube well
we drilled on the Playclose to raise awareness of water scarcity
during the Millennium Festival!) .Through St Michaels we continue
our support with a Lunch at the Manor Barn (see details below).
 We
are supporting a community (Cheemana) in the Thar Desert which has
just suffered two years of drought. The objectives are to i) increase
availability and accessibility of water through constructing “taankas”
for harvesting rainwater (see upper right); ii) Increasing the availability
of food and fodder; iii) Create opportunities for economic independence
for women iv) Improve basic health care services; v) Create opportunities
for primary education; Establish gender sensitive community based
organisations for managing resources created. Lower right shows
members of a self help group who attend vocational training as part
of the project. These women are learning sewing skills as a way
of improving their livelihoods.
DETAILS
OF SUMMER LUNCH - SATURDAY 7th AUGUST AT THE NEW BARN AT BLEWBURY
MANOR 12.30 - 2.00pm
For
our lunch Jo and Mark Blythe are generously allowing us to use their
lovely barn which will make it a very special event.
You
will be welcomed with a glass of wine or a soft drink and a
variety of interesting breads to nibble or dip. When you are
ready you can then move to a table and enjoy our extensive buffet. We
will have a selection of cold meats, quiches, coronation chicken,
salmon plus a huge variety of salads for you to choose from.
There will be lots of wonderful puddings or cheese followed by tea
or coffee. All this is included in the ticket price;
extra glasses of wine can be purchased.
Cost £12,
or £6 for children ages 5-12 who must be accompanied by a responsible
adult. .
Tickets
will be on sale at Blewbury Post Office from Monday 21st June -
Numbers are restricted so please buy your tickets early.
St Michael's Church Action Group - Ann Saunders 850245
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| Thanks |
THANK
YOU for the many gifts and cards but most of all for the
support, concern and congratulations over the last few weeks.
Baby Henrietta Rose is now home and becoming healthier (and
heavier!) by the day.
Alex
& Alex Elderfield
CHRISTAN
AID COLLECTION A total of £1404.22 was collected in Blewbury
in the recent house to house collection. A further sum will be added
to this from the tax authorities from people signing Gift Aid forms.
Many thanks to all for your generous donations – and to all our
collectors
Kathy
Edmunds
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| Stepping
Stones Orphanage, West Bengal, India |
|
| Many
thanks to all those who are contributing to the Father’s Day Curry
Lunch at Watts Barn on 20 th June especially to Heather and Graham
who are hosting it and the Pre School Team who are sharing the event
with Stepping Stones. As the event is after the bulletin deadline
I don’t know the results yet but with all the offers of curries
and help and the forecast looking good at present, I anticipate
a very tasty and successful day.
Coral
Richards
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|
| Local History
Group |
|  Wells
. Stories are flooding in. (Sorry, the title does lead
to many puns.) Several people have commented on how beautifully
cold the water was direct from the well. Other people have remarked
on how clear it was, though we do have a story of a mouse accidentally
scooped up in the dark and blocking the teapot spout. Please keep
the stories coming in. Many people used well water and it’s part
of a way of life now gone but still remembered.
Please
contact Mark (email mjpalethorpe@hotmail.co.uk
, tel 851609) or
Audrey (email audrey.long@waitrose.com
tel 850427 ) or any other History Group member if you
have a well or a memory of using one.
Next
meeting is at Robinsons, Parsonage Lane , at 8 pm, on Tuesday, July
13th. No meeting in August.
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| Blewbury
School |
| The
School and the World Cup
Tucked
in the foot of the Downs , Blewbury can feel a long way from the
cosmopolitan, multicultural party that is the World Cup. Turning
on the television has so far in the tournament shown the spectacle
of nationalities coming together to enjoy the game. I would like
to thank Blewbury School for making sure that my children understand
their part in the global community. Over the last year the school
has entertained teachers from Germany , Switzerland and Uganda ,
all of whom enrich the curriculum far more than any text book or
television programme ever could.
In
September I wrote about my feelings as my daughter started at the
school. Since then I have seen Megan and her friends in Class 1
flourish gaining in confidence and putting down a solid foundation
for their education. When numbers of them descend upon my house,
as they do from time to time, the insistent buzzing is not unlike
the torturous vuvuzela trumpets. I am always amazed that all I hear
when I enter the classrooms is the sound of excitement and learning.
Perhaps we need to dispatch one of the members of staff to South
Africa to calm the trumpeters.
Tom
Laugharne
Blewbury
School - World Cup Party - Friday 9 July from 3.15pm - late
on the school playing field
Come
along and join our World Cup Party! We have a giant inflatable 5
a side human table football game. Get together a team (5yrs upwards)
and enter our tournament. We have a bar, BBQ or Chilli being served
all evening, with music and camp fire from 6pm.
Enjoy
the many stalls we have including .....
World
Cup Corner with penalty shoot outs, dribbling skills etc
Raffles and Tombolas, Face Painting / Tattoos / Nail Bar, Treasure
Hunt, Decorate your own T Shirt Competition,
Plant Stall, Cream Teas, Crockery Smash, Sweet Shop, Teachers in
Stocks…and lots of others
Hope
to see you all there.
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| Play Space
Update |
| Following
the announcement in the last edition of the Bulletin, a grant of
£47,000 has been secured from Oxfordshire County Council through
the Playbuilder Scheme to develop a multi-use play space in the
south west corner of Tickers Folly Field (adjacent to the existing
Skateboard ramps and BMX bike track). The outline plans that secured
the grant went beyond the traditional tarmac, swings and slide approach
in that it presented a concept of a landscaped and planted area
that would be safe and exciting for young people to meet within
and play, as well as providing an area that the whole community
could benefit from.
With
the grant now secured, we are now looking to involve both adults
and young people (focused on the range 8-13 years of age) in further
developing this concept into real tangible plans, raising further
funds and overseeing the site development. It is hoped to share
these plans for public consultation in September.
Anyone
interested in joining the current Team should contact Anthony Stiff
on 850802 or John Gilbert on 851524 by Sunday July 11th . Similarly,
any comments or ideas that anyone may have at this stage would be
welcomed - the sooner the better. In the meantime, the concept drawings
for the project are shown below:
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| Village
Society |
|  Dates
for the Diary
•
Mid Summer Walk – Sat 10 th July to the Bell at Aldworth and back
•
Comedy Store ***Tickets on sale*** Sat 11 th Sept at Village Hall
from 10.30am till noon & thereafter at PO & garage
Future
Events
•
Comedy Store – 9 th October at Blewbury Village Hall
•
Halloween Dance – 30 th October at Blewbury Village Hall, bar &
band provided
•
Fire Works Night – 6 th November at Tickers Folly
•
Angels Choir – 16 th Nov at St. Michael’s Church, a combined performance
by children from Sudan & Rwanda
BVS
website: www.blewburyvillagesociety.org
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| Autumn
Leaves |
| AUTUMN
LEAVES is a well established club for older members of
the local community providing entertainment and social activities.
We hold monthly bingo sessions in the Blewbury Vale Room and arrange
coach trips in most months of the year. We also enjoy Summer Tea
and Christmas Lunch events. The annual membership cost is only £3
and we are always happy to welcome new members.
Please
contact either the Chairman, Tony Brereton (01235 850526) or the
Secretary, Pam Savage (01235 851082) if you wish to join or obtain
more details. Note that some members live in Didcot, Harwell and
Upton so the club is not restricted to Blewbury residents only.
Thank you.
Tony
Brereton (Chairman)
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| Players
News |
|  July/August
2010
Performances
of our summer production of ‘A Servant to Two Masters’ by
Carlo Goldoni are from the 21st to 24th July . ‘Truffaldino
would do anything for double helpings at dinner. When he tries working
for two masters, he lands himself in a double portion of trouble.’
This fast moving farce of mishap, mix-up, bluff, double bluff, love
and longing is freshly served in a deliciously witty adaptation
by Lee Hall, the writer of Billy Elliot . The Garden
Opera Company are set to return with a performance of
Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’, so pencil in the 22nd
August for this. La Traviata is one of the most popular
of all operas, loved for its drama, its excitement and its famous
music. The social scandal, stormy love affair and doomed heroine
of La Dame aux camélias inspired Verdi to write music of matching
passion and memorable melodies.
“Garden
Opera, the small touring company without equal in Britain ” …Opera
Now . With their usual generosity, the Box Office
for both events will be at Savages Greengrocers and Nurserymen,
London Road , Blewbury. Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm and Sat 10am till
noon. As a new venture tickets will also be available from the Cornerstone
Didcot via their box office, Telephone number 01235 515144 and open
Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 6 and Sunday 11 – 4 . Additionally tickets
for both events are available from Oxford Playhouse by Telephone
at 01865 305305 from Monday – Saturday 10 – 6 or
on-line at www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford.
If you have any queries about the Players contact our secretary
chrislakeland@hotmail.com
and keep in touch with us at www.blewburyplayers.co.uk
or if you are interested in becoming one of our Friends,
please contact the Friends Secretary , Blewbury Players, 22 Grahame
Close , Blewbury , OX11 9QE or Julie@carlhetherington.co.uk
.
|
| Damage
to Trees |
Damage
to trees in the Play Area by the Village Hall has recently increased,
with children snapping off branches to use as play items. On at
least one occasion, the damage took place with adult supervisors
present. Please remember that the natural landscaping is as much
a part of the Play Area as the play equipment itself: if you are
playing, or supervising play, please ensure that it is treated with
care.
|
| Malthus
Charity |
| THE
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF WILLIAM MALTHUS
This
Foundation is for the benefit of young people resident in Blewbury.
The governing scheme states that: Subject to the payment of expenses,
the Trustees shall apply the income as follows:
(a)
Towards providing benefits of any kind, not provided for the School
by the LEA, as may be agreed between the Trustees and the Governors
of the School.
(b)
In promoting the education of children and young people under the
age of 25 years resident in the Parish, who are in need of financial
assistance. In particular.
(i)
In awarding grants for further education at schools, universities,
colleges and educational institutions as approved by the Trustees.
(ii)
In providing financial assistance, outfits, tools, instruments,
books etc. to pursue their education or to prepare for or enter
a profession, trade, occupation or service on leaving school,
university, or other educational establishment.
(c)
In assisting such persons entering upon any of these occupations
by providing them with outfits or paying fees, travelling or maintenance
expenses, or by such other means for their advancement in life or
to enable them to earn their living as the Trustees see fit.
It
should be noted that the scheme gives the Trustees no specific authority
to make grants for the provision of facilities or buildings.
The
annual income of the Trust is about £6000 a year from fixed investments
and is well managed b seven Trustees on a voluntary basis, but the
task is eased with the help of beneficiaries and their parents.
Substantial grants are made to the School each year; and the Old
School, occupied by the Playgroup, is insured at a cost of £1000+.
The bulk of the residual funds are expended in providing grants
for students attending places of further education. These grants
are made at a Trustees’ meeting held in early September each year
when the level is assessed by dividing the funds available by the
number of applicants.
Applications
must be made, in writing, to the address below by the LAST SATURDAY
IN AUGUST each year. For 2010 this is 28th August. It is
preferable to deliver the applications by hand as they are not acknowledged.
Applicants should include their names, addresses, dates of birth,
intended places of further education, and proposed courses of study.
The necessity for the applicants to meet this deadline is stressed
as there is a considerable amount of preparatory work to be undertaken.
Late applications will be held over by the Trustees until their
March meeting, when grants are often lower because the requirements
for the rest of the year are unknown.
The
Trustees are required to obtain written acknowledgements from applicants
who are awarded grants. They appreciate the help of applicants’
parents or guardians in ensuring such acknowledgements are sent
to the Clerk following receipt of grants. All applications and correspondence
should be addressed either to the Chairman or the Clerk of the Malthus
Trust, Martins, Westbrook Street , Blewbury, Oxfordshire. OX11 90A
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