OUR NEWS
DECEMBER 2024
Turkey Orders
We are currently taking orders for turkeys and other meats from Cutler and Cashin but be quick as we need your order in by Saturday 7th December.
Orders will be available for collection from the Shop between 9.30am and 11am on Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December.
Kelmscott Pork and Bread Orders
We are also taking orders for Kelmscott Country Pork meats and bread orders from Blakes.
Order forms and details on the turkey packs and other meats on offer are available from the Shop.
Christmas Raffle
Hilary’s Christmas Raffle, in aid of Breast Cancer, will be held this year on Saturday 14 December at 10am. Lots of prizes to win. Raffle tickets are available NOW to purchase.. Tea, coffee, cakes and mince pies will be available for a donation so bring along loads of cash.
Do come along and join us in supporting this very worthy cause..
Advent Window
Keep an eye out for our Christmas window display. We have chosen Friday 13 December.
NOVEMBER 2024
Annual General Meeting Held
The Shop’s AGM took place on Tuesday 15 October in the Village Hall attended by a good number of shareholders. It was an evening of much thanks and heartfelt gratitude to Hilary and Alan, as they chaired the meeting and presented the accounts for the last time, although both will continue to support the Shop. Hilary is remaining on the Committee and Alan will continue to volunteer in the Shop.
Lynne Savege and Jennifer Rooke were duly elected as Chair and Treasurer, (the position of Secretary remains vacant but we are actively seeking someone) along with Hilary Skinner, Barry Heath and Sue Yardley as Committee members.
At the close of the meeting Lynne Savege, as the new Chair, spoke of the Shop, how it is an important village asset and needs everyone’s support for it to continue to thrive before giving huge huge thanks to Hilary and Alan for the years and years of time and effort and the love they both have for this shop. The officers, volunteers and villagers showed their appreciation by presenting Alan with a bottle of one of his favourite whiskeys and Hilary with a bottle of her favourite wine along with a huge bouquet of flowers.
OCTOBER 2024
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
All shareholders are warmly invited to our AGM on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024, at 7pm, in the Village Hall.
Do join us for wine and nibbles, together with shop related discussion – to this end, the agenda is below. If you are not yet a member and would like to attend, share application forms are available from the Shop. Shares are available at £10 each (one per adult resident).
We look forward to seeing you there.
AGENDA
1. Present
2. Apologies
3. Chairman’s address
4. Adoption of Chairman’s Report
5. Treasurer’s Report
6. Adoption of Treasurer’s Report
7. Signing off – 2023/2024 accounts
8. 2024/2025 Management Committee – confirmation of proposed new officers:
Chair – Lynne Savege
Treasurer – Jennifer Rooke
Secretary – vacant
Committee Members:
Hilary Skinner
Ann Choyce
Sue Yardley
Barry Heath
9. Thanks to outgoing officers
10. Budget, plans and trading
11. Any other business
SEPTEMBER 2024
Shop Announcement : New Chair and Treasurer
September, heralds the start of the new financial year for your village shop. Our Treasurer, Alan Heath, and our Chair, Hilary Skinner, have retired as of 31st August, 2024 and we thank them for their huge contribution over many years.
Your new Treasurer as from 1st September 2024 is Jennifer Rooke and your new Chair is me, Lynne Savege, so might I extend a warm welcome to Jennifer and a long and fruitful collaboration with our Committee and volunteers – Ann Choyce, Sue Yardley, Barry Heath, Sally Denyer, Amy Geschke, Ena Constable, Mary Jawade and Michelle Witty. To that end, both Hilary and Alan intend to volunteer occasionally, otherwise they will miss seeing everyone!
We look forward to filling more volunteer roles shortly, so do come forward, your village shop needs you.
Alan will present the past year’s accounts at our Annual General Meeting in October/November, when the new Committee will be signed in- I’ll let you know the date as soon as I know it and urge you to attend the AGM to give thanks to our stalwart team, past and future.
We thank you for supporting your village shop.
Lynne Savege
Chair
JULY / AUGUST 2024
Veggie Boxes : More than Vegetables
Lynne Savege’s Veggie Boxes can include more than you may think!
Goodies such as delicious deli food, assortment of nuts, baklava and other sweet delights or even a bunch of flowers may now be included in your order
You may not be aware but the fruit and veg included in these boxes come from the local market in Carterton. All produce is chosen with care and although it may not be as cheap as in supermarkets they are all of exceptionally good value and quality, indeed fresher and longer lasting than supermarket produce.
To find out more about what can be included in your Veggie Box or indeed you wish to place an order, please email Lynne at savegelynne@gmail.com
JUNE 2024
Volunteers
We are always looking for more volunteers, whether it is for holiday cover or on a more regular basis. Further information can be found on this website – see the tab “Volunteer” or contact Hilary Skinner (hilaryskinner7@icloud.com) who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
MAY 2024
The Opening of the Swimming Pool & the Platinum Garden on Saturday 4th May 2024
went swimmingly with the Shop serving bacon baps, sausage baps and hot coffee using our new coffee machine. Hilary had ordered warm and sunny weather
and that is exactly what we got! It was a fun and busy morning for everyone!
APRIL 2024
Come Celebrate: Saturday 4th May 2024
Please join us at the Village Shop on Saturday 4th May from 10am to 1pm to celebrate the opening of the Swimming Pool and the official opening of the Platinum Garden. We will be selling sausage baps, bacon rolls, tea and coffee.
The Shop will also be celebrating – the launch of our new range of freshly brewed coffee. Using our recently acquired coffee pod machine, the Shop will be selling a variety of coffees such as espresso, americano, latte and cappuccino. As it is a Saturday the Sop will also have a small selection of freshly baked bread, cinnamon buns and fresh croissants for sale.
Do come along!
MARCH 2024
Our Greeting Cards
Each year proceeds from the card sales are awarded to a village charity. At our AGM in November 2023 it was agreed that 2022/23 proceeds, an amazing £240, would be awarded to the Swinford Museum.
Recently Hilary Skinner (on behalf of the Shop) presented Diane Blackett (representing the Swinford Museum) with a cheque for £240.00p.
FEBRUARY 2024
Whilst helping out in the Shop as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, Alice and Rosa Dunmall designed this poster for the Shop. It is very good isn’t it?
We have managed t have the poster included in the last two issues of St Filica Newsletter.
Well done girls and thank you!
JANUARY 2024
New Phone number!
DECEMBER 2023
Christmas Raffle
Our Christmas Raffle, in aid of Breast Cancer, will this year be held on Saturday 16 December at 10.30am. Raffle Tickets are on sale NOW – in the Shop.
Do come and join us for some mulled wine and mince pies
Postscript
Congratulations to Gill Allison who won First Prize of the large hamper of goodies and thank you to all who participated. The Raffle raised an impressive £170.00
Turkey Orders
We are currently taking orders for turkeys from Cutler and Cashin (formerly Baylis) but be quick as we need your order in by 10th December.
Upton Smokery
We are also taking orders for any of the following from Upton Smokery. Again, we need to know by 10th December.
| Smoked Chicken Breast | 200 – 275g | £4.50 |
| Smoked Chicken Breast | x 5 | £20.00 |
| Sliced Smoked Salmon | 100g | £6.50 |
| Sliced Smoked Salmon | 200g | £12.50 |
| Sliced Smoked Salmon | 400g | £24.50 |
| Gravadlax | from | £6.00 |
| Salmon Pate | 130g | £4.50 |
| Potted Shrimp | 175g | £9.50 |
A service charge will apply for each order
NOVEMBER 2023
Greeting Cards : Christmas Card
We are very pleased to announce that this year the Shop has produced a Christmas Card.
It is of holly and ivy, painted by Fiona Cowburn with the wording “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” printed inside.
Cards are available in the Shop at £2.00 each or 5 for £8.00.
Greeting Cards : Further cards
We have increased our range of blank greeting cards.
These new cards are painted by Ronnie Bailey and Jennifer Holroyd – more autumnal and wintery this time. We have also a new card of a linocut by Fiona Cowburn named “After the Fire” which she produced whilst in France last year.
All of Ronnie’s and Fiona’s cards are priced at £2.00 each whilst Jennifer’s (slightly smaller in size) are priced at £1.80 each.
OCTOBER 2023
Annual General Meeting: 7 November 2023
This year’s Filkins Community Shop AGM is taking place at 7pm on Tuesday 7 November in the Village Hall. All shareholders are warmly invited. A copy of the Agenda has been published and is available in the Shop.
If you are yet not a shareholder and would like to attend the meeting, please ask one of the team for a share application form. Shares are still available at the cost of £10 each.
We look forward to seeing you 7pm on Tuesday 7 November 2023.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Breast Cancer Coffee Morning 
Hilary’s “Coffee Morning” in aid of Breast Cancer is taking place this year on Saturday 7 October 10am – 12 noon.
Please come along and join in the fun. Not only will there be plenty of coffee (and tea) and loads of tempting cake but also a raffle with great prizes as well as much frivolity from Hilary!!
It’s bound to be a great morning.
So come along!
JULY / AUGUST 2023
Mustard Foods
From the beginning of this year Mustard Foods ceased producing its dishes in the small pouches (2-3 servings), deciding to focus on the larger pouches (4-5 servings). Up till recently the Shop had a good stock of the small pouches but alas no more.
To stock the full range of Mustard Foods large pouches would be an expensive outlay for the Shop with no guarantee we would sell them well before their best before dates. However….
For those who still wish to buy Mustard Foods pouches, the Shop is happy to take your order and the next time (usually once a month) our “special courier” visits Mustard Foods office in London, will collect your order and bring it back up for you to pay and collect!
Copies of an up-to-date List of Mustard Foods Dishes with prices are available from the Shop.
JUNE 2023
Bowled Over!
Filkins Bowls Club held a Village Club Day, “Let’s Roll” on Sunday 25th June. Various village clubs and individuals met to try their hand at bowling, many for the very first time! Twelve teams took part with each team playing three rounds. Points were awarded for the closest ball to the Jack etc. Just like proper club bowling!
Ann Choyce and her husband Julian volunteered to represent the Shop and we were so pleased they did – as it turned out, they were the winners!
Congratulations Ann and Julian!
MAY 2023
Coronation “Big Lunch” Celebration
What a great day it was celebrating on the kickabout field! There was plenty of food, drink and entertainment, for everyone with the Shop joining in with Prosecco and Strawberries.
APRIL 2023
Playground and Pool Opening
Please join us at the Shop on Saturday 29 April from 11am to 1pm to celebrate the official opening of the playground and the opening of the swimming pool.
Sausages, bacon rolls, tea and coffee will all be on sale – do come!
MARCH 2023
Easter Opening Hours
Over Easter the Shop will be open:
Good Friday 7 April Closed am Open 3 – 4 pm
Saturday 8 April Open as usual
Easter Sunday 9 April Closed
Easter Monday 10 April Closed am Open 3 – 4 pm
Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter 
FEBRUARY 2023
Our Garden Borders
Thank you to St Filica for donating £257 towards the replanting of the borders in front of the Shop. As you can se work has already begun with the help of the Gardening Club Chair Lorraine Chitty. Roger Chitty also lent a hand or is that feet?!
JANUARY 2023
Robert Courts MP visits the Shop
Our local Member of Parliament, Roberts Courts, visited the Shop on Friday 6 January 2023 in recognition of our recent National Lottery Funding success.
