What's on in and around Oxfordshire, October 13 - 19

Stories by Starlight: Start 6.45pm, finish 8.15pm. Suitable for adults and children. Meet in car park on the Plain, Shotover Country Park, at top of Old Road, Headington. 1 adults, 50p. children. Further information 01865 715830 (Oxford City Council).

Paradise 2000: poetry, drama, music, storytelling and more Rose Hill Community Centre, 7pm. Tickets 5, concessions 2.50, include buffet. 01865 728981.

50-50 auction: John Masefield Cheshire Home, Burcot, 7.30pm.

Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society meeting: Town Hall, Wallingford, 7.45pm. Coffee available. Visitors welcome, admission 1.50. Lecture on the Bayeaux Tapestry by Judy Dewey. _______________________

Saturday, October 14:

Oxford Charity Arts and Crafts Fair: Templars Square Shopping Centre, Cowley, 9am-5.30pm.

Charity Christmas card and gift fair: Methodist Church Hall, Burford, 9am-1pm.

Rambling club walk: Mongewell and Nuffield, 12 miles. Meet Cripley Road near Oxford Rail Station, 9.30am.

Charity stall: Blewbury Antiques, London Road, Blewbury, 10am-12noon, details, 01235 850366. Proceeds go towards cost of converting a listed building into a meeting house with toilets.

BBOWT Volunteer Conference: presentations on bio-diversity and nature reserves, plus a chance to join discussions on a variety of topical issues. Cost 6 to cover refreshments and lunch. Oxford Brookes University, Wheatley Campus. Booking essential, tel 01865 775476. Also at the same venue, 4pm, BBOWT annual general meeting.

Jumble sale: Seacourt Hall, Botley, Oxford, 9.45am.

Table top sale: Sunningwell Village Hall, 10am.

Craft fair: Cumnor Village Hall, 10am-4.30pm. Refreshments served all day. For the British Heart Foundation. Free parking.

Nearly new sale: Cumnor Primary School Hall, Cumnor, 10am-noon. Children's clothes, toys and equipment. Coffee and homemade cakes.

Jumble sale: Gladstone Community Centre, Gladstone Road, Headington, 11am. In aid of childminder's drop-in centre. Jumble sale: Carswell School, Bostock Road, Abingdon, 11am.

Public talk: speaker: Canon Christopher Hall on Reflections on Nicaragua. Christian Socialist Movement (Oxford Branch), at St Columba's United Reformed Church, Alfred Street, Oxford, 11.15am. Coffee from10.30am.

Table top sale: Milton Heights Community Centre, near Abingdon, 1-4pm. Proceeds to Oxford Lagagectomy Club. Bookings tel: 01235 832246.

Jumble sale: 43rd Oxford Scout Group HQ, Boults Lane, Old Marston, 2pm.

Jumble sale: Wootton Community Centre, Wootton, near Abingdon, 2pm.

Nearly new sale: Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon, 2pm. Children's and baby clothes, toys and equipment. 01235 555519.

Christmas sale: for Guide Dogs for the Blind; cards, books, cakes, white elephant, refreshments, Pyrton Village Hall, 2pm. Free car park.

WI jumble sale: Holton Village Hall, 2pm.

Jumble sale: Appleton Village Hall, 2pm.

Jumble and cake sale: Wood Farm Community Centre, Titup Hall Drive, Headington, 2pm. For the Slade Nursery School.

Harry Potter Quiz: South Oxford Community Centre, Lake Street, Oxford, 2pm. With Potterania fancy dress competition. 2 entry to quiz. Proceeds to Lake Street Community Playgroup.

Jumble sale: St Alban's Hall, Charles Street, Oxford, 2.30pm. In aid of The Porch.

Messiah Sing-In: Kennington and District United Church Choirs at Church of St Francis, Hollow Way, Cowley, 3pm. Messiah Sing-In: Lord Williams's Festival Chorus at Thame Sports and Arts Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, 7.30pm. BT Voices for Hospices event. Tickets: 01844 215680.

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Sunday, October 15:

Car boot sale: West Oxford School, Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford, 10am-1pm. 01865 793728.

Cycle ride: Wantage CTC meet at Wantage Market Square, 10am, for 40-50 miles all day. 01235 764257.

Ballet classes for children: given by Royal Acadamy of Dancing examiner. The Downs School, Compton, tel 01869 347016 for further details.

Autumn show: Mesembryanthemum and other Succulents Show. Langdale Hall, Witney, 10am-4pm. Light refreshments.

Open day: The Oxford Bus Museum, Long Hanborough, 10.30-4.30pm. Free bus rides. Refreshments. 01993 883617.

Fungus Foray and Fry-up: Start 10.30am, finish 12.30pm. Meet in car park on the Plain, Shotover Country Park, at top of Old Road, Headington. 1.00 adults, 50p children. Further details 01865 715830 (Oxford City Council).

Olympics 2000 talk: rowing journalist and curator of the Golden Oars exhibition, Chris Dodd, relives the excitement and tensions of the Games, witnessed live from the press box in Sydney. River and Rowing Museum, Henley, 11am. Representatives from the winning crews may attend. Tickets 6, tel 01491 415605.

Car boot sale: Sea Scouts Headquarters, Meadow Lane, Donnington Bridge, Oxford, 1pm. 01865 453253. Miniature railway rides: Cutteslowe Park, from 2-5.30pm.

Apple Day: organised by Wolvercote Tree Group at Wolvercote Community Orchard, Godstow Road, opposite the Trout Inn, 2-5pm.

Messiah Sing-In: Kennington and District United Church Choirs at St Swithun's Church, Kennington, 3pm.

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Monday, October 16:

Nature talk: Badgers in My Kitchen, P Kidner, hosted by Oxfordshire Badger Group. Exeter Hall, Kidlington, 7.30pm. 01367 850302.

Monthly meeting: Oxford City Central Amnesty International Group. Talk on Welcoming Asylum Seekers. Pauling Centre for Human Sciences, 58 Banbury Road, Oxford, 7.30pm.

Illustrated talk: Our Changing Countryside, by Graham Wren. Civic Hall, Didcot, 7.45pm. Organised by RSPB Vale of White Horse Group.

Woodstock Society meeting: annual general meeting followed by talk on 18th Century Portrait Miniatures the Ivory Years, by Dr Robert Edwards.Community Centre, New Road, Woodstock, 8pm. Visitors 1 admission.

Berkshire Family History Society meeting: Vale of the White Horse Branch.Tomkins Room, Baptist Church, Ock Street, Abingdon, 7.30pm. Hugh Granger will speak on An Eventful Journey from London to York. Please telephone 01235 203042 for further details. _______________________

Tuesday, October 17:

The Oxford Times In Business Fair: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, 11am-7pm. For further information please telephone 01865 425449.

Carers coffee morning: Carers Centre, 174a Cowley Road, Oxford, 01865 205192. Every Tuesday.

Association of the Retired and Persons Over 50 meeting: talk by John Bishop, The Fire Service. The Cherwell County Club, opposite the Post Office, Banbury, 11am.

Water aerobics: Blackbird Leys Pool, noon-1pm, every Tuesday. 01865 779843.

Support group: Every Tuesday afternoon 2.30-4.30pm, Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, finding out more about our training and support groups, using our service or know someone who might be, or simply want to know more about what we do, drop-in for a drink, a chat, or to look at our information. Potential and current volunteers, Referrers, potential and current service users and anyone with an interest in our work with Living with Dying. Tel 01865- 316200 for further information.

Drop-in Centre: regular drop-in centre for people with life-threatening illness, carers and friends; potential volunteers welcome. St Barnabas Community Centre, 33a Canal Street, Jericho, 2-4pm. 01865 316200.

Free healing: Oxford Spiritual Healing Centre, 43 St Giles, Oxford, 6.30pm. 01865 716371. Abingdon Amblers Athletic Club: New members of all standards welcome, Tilsley Park, Abingdon, 6.30pm. Seniors tel 01235 550688. Juniors tel 01235 535780.

Ladies' running sessions: Four to five miles every Tuesday, meet at Wantage Leisure Centre, 6.45pm. 01235 223304.

Sequence dancing: Beginners tuition 7pm, general session 7.30pm. Witney Sequence Club, Langdale Hall, Witney. Tel to check venue, 01865 722250.

Fitness sessions: Circuit training, 7pm, sweat and tone aerobics, 8pm, Headington Parish Hall, Dunstan Road, Headington, 7pm. 01865 777508 for details.

Fencing session: Burford Blades Fencing Club, 7pm, equipment provided, all abilities welcome. 01993 702755.

Aftma Kung Fu and kick-boxing: 7pm and 8pm respectively, Old Gaol Leisure Centre, Abingdon, 6pm. 0410 321648.

Book talk: speakers will include Juliet Gardiner, Professor Diarmiad McCulloch and Joanna Innes with Who's Who in British History a new book spanning 2000 years of British history. Blackwell's, Broad Street, Oxford, 7-8pm.

Abingdon Squadron Air Training Corps: Meet Tuesdays and Fridays 7.15pm, Wootton Road, Abingdon. 01865 433368.

2410 Didcot Squadron Air Training Corps meetings: Tuesday and Thursday in Trenchard Hall, Newlands Avenue, Didcot, 7.30-9.30pm. For young persons aged between 13 and 18. 01235 555420. Oxford Photographic Society talk: The Natural World, by John Chamberlain. Nurses Seminar Room, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome.

Bingo session: Oxsrad Sports Centre, Marsh Lane, Marston, 7.30pm.

Wantage Male Voice Choir meeting: War Memorial Hall, East Hanney, 7.30pm. New members always welcome. No audition required. 01235 768249

Witney Historical Society meetings: held on third Tuesday in each month. Corn Exchange, Witney. 7.30pm. 771088 Witney.

Ashmolean History Society meeting: talk by Lawrence Bee on an Introduction to British Spiders, Earth Sciences Department, Parks Road, Oxford 8pm.

Oxford 18 Plus Group: Meets every Tuesday from 8.45pm. Tel 01235 810361 for further details.

Wantage Camera Club: Methodist Church Hall, Newbury Street, Wantage, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome, admission 2, refreshments available. Weekly.

Tyndale Lecture: speaker Michael Ashton. Manual of the Christian Soldier. Oxford Christadelphian Hall, Tyndale Road, Oxford, 8pm.

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Wednesday, October 18:

The Pathway Workshop: handmade garden furniture and other items. Made by disabled people at Dunnock Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, open daily 9am-4pm.

Refreshments on sale: Church Centre, St Michael at the Northgate Church, Cornmarket Street, Oxford, 12-2pm.

Dyslexia Drop-In Centre: Baptist Church, Bonn Square, Oxford, noon-2pm. Every Wednesday.

Cherwell U3A Oxford meeting: with talk by Bernard Braley Introduction to Eden. St Columba's Church Hall, Alfred Street, off High Street, Oxford, 2pm. Weekly meetings, tel 01865 242885 for details.

Parent and Toddler Group: every Wednesday at Sandhills Primary School in the Playgroup Hut, 1.30-3.30pm. For details please tel 01865 434204.

Over 50s club talk: Railways of Yesteryear by G. Stephenson, Community Hall, Cheney Lane, Headington, 2.30pm.

Eynsham Road Runners meet: Every Wednesday at Sports Pavilion, Eynsham, 6.30pm. 01865 862077.

Modern Sequence Dancing: With professional tuition. SS Peter and Paul Church Hall, West Way, Botley, Oxford, 7.15pm. 01993 773506.

Botley Army Cadet Force: Young men and women aged 13-18 welcome, Scout Hut, next to Matthew Arnold School, Botley, 7.30-9.30pm.

Wildlife talk: Wildlife of the Chilterns, by R D'Ayala. St John Ambulance Hall, Greys Road, Henley, 7.30pm. 01491 572789.

Wantage Barbershop Singers rehearsal night: Stockham School, Stockham Way, Wantage, 7.45pm every Wednesday. New male and female members welcome. 01235 835353. Royal Green Jackets: Oxfordshire Royal Green Jackets Battalion Berinsfield Detachment ACF, open to boys and girls aged 13-18 at Tower Road, Berinsfield, 7.30-10pm every Wednesday. 01865 778844.

Chipping Norton Horticultural Association meeting: talk by Jenny Steel on Plant Folklore Soldiers, Sailors and Seven Sisters, Lower Town Hall, Chipping Norton, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome, refreshments served.

Cajun and Zydeco dance classes: Lake Street Community Centre, South Oxford, 7.30pm. 01865 510066.

Weekly whist drive: King Alfred Drive Community Centre, Didcot, 7.30pm. Every Wednesday. 01235 816745.

Ridgeway Speakers Club: Visitors welcome, The Guildhall, Abingdon, 7.30pm, (01235 850366).

Stonesfield Folk Dance Group: Village Hall, Stonesfield, 8pm. 01608 810184. Every Wed.

Oxford International Folk Dance Group: Meets Wednesdays in St Giles Church Hall, Woodstock Road, 8.15pm. No partner needed. 01865 310216.

Trumps Social Club: For 20-45 year olds, Linton Lodge Hotel, Linton Road, Oxford, 9pm. 01865 776864. Short mat bowling: Village Hall, Yarnton, 7.30pm. Also Monday mornings. 01865 376552.

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Thursday, October 19:

Coffee and tea shop: With home-made cakes, WI Hall, Brize Norton Road, Carterton, 9.30am-12.30pm. Every Thursday.

Rubber bridge: Wallingford Bridge Club, Bullcroft, 2.30pm. Partners not necessary. Every Thursday. Tel 01491 612652 for information.

Public lecture: Translating Translations, by Gwyneth Lewis, Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, Regent's Park College, Pusey Street, Oxford, 5pm.

Taster sessions: kayak racing at Falcon Club, Donnington Bridge Road, Oxford, 6pm. Turn up any Thursday. 5 per session per person. Adults only. 01865 727388. Part of the Riversports Campus Project.

Natural healing: For you and your pets, Old Magistrates' Room, Abbey House, Abingdon, 6.30pm.

Book signing: David Starkey at Borders, Magdalen Street, Oxford, 6.30pm.

White Horse Harriers AC meet: Wantage Leisure Centre, 6.45pm, every Thursday. 01235 223304. Fencing session: Thame Duellist Fencing Club 6.45pm, equipment provided, all abilities welcome. 01993 702755.

Scrabble session: Small friendly group welcomes players of all abilities. Guildhall, Abingdon, 7pm. 01235 529607.

Abingdon Amblers Athletic Club: New members of all standards welcome, Tilsley Park, Abingdon, 7pm. Seniors 01235 550688. Juniors 01235 535780.

Grove Table Tennis Club: All levels and abilities welcome to this friendly club, Village Hall, Grove, 7.30pm. 01235 765856.

Icknield Badminton Club: Watlington club and league: Four courts, 7.30-10pm. Further details 01491 836049.

Line dance classes: Regal Centre, Wallingford, beginners 7.30pm, advanced, 8.30pm. For more information call 01491 825910.

St John Ambulance Adults: Meet every Thursday 7.30-9.30pm, for first aid and fun, open to 18-65 year-olds. Naldertown, Wantage. Contact Ann Collier tel 0701 0708999.

North Oxford Folk Dance Group: Beginners and experienced dancers welcome, The Bowls Pavilion, Cutteslowe Park, Oxford, weekly until July 6 (not May 4, election day) at 7.45pm. 01865 559065/779417.

The Abingdon & District Camera Club meeting: Guest Lecturer John Herlinger. Photospeed Lith Printing. Methodist Church Hall, off Appleford Drive, Abingdon. 7.45pm. (Behind The Boundary House). All photographers and budding photographers welcome. First two visits free. Headington Quarry Folk Dance Club: Methodist Church Hall, Quarry High Street, 8pm. Dancing to live music.

Aikido session: Abbey Sports Centre, Berinsfield, 8pm. 01491 415500.

Dancing session: Modern Sequence Dancing, Village Hall, Stonesfield, 8pm.

Didcot 18 Plus Group: Meets every Thursday from 8.15pm. Tel 01235 810361 for further details.

Round dancing: Beginners class (featured rhythm Cha Cha), Kennington Methodist Church, Upper Road, Kennington. 8.15pm. Organised by Scarlet Ribbons Round Dance Club. For further information please tel 01865 453744. Alternate Thursdays. Please tel to confirm dates.

Pig Bingo: 4th King Alfred Scout Group, Scout HQ, Springfield Road, Wantage, 8.15pm.