Villagers' joy at being the best (From Witney Gazette)

Villagers' joy at being the best

9:00am Wednesday 19th July 2006 in Witney By Nione Meakin

OXFORDSHIRE villagers were jubilant after being crowned winners in the annual Best Kept Villages competition.

The results of the competition, organised by the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC), were revealed at a special awards ceremony last Thursday.

Clanfield was deemed the best kept medium-sized village.

Parish councillor Brett Gaertner said: "It's great. The reason for us doing the competition is so the villagers take pride in the village.

"At the dinner they said although there's a mixture of all kinds of houses, both old and new, you couldn't tell one section of the village apart from the other, it's all very good.

"It gives the appearance of being very well looked after.

"We notice every year the village is tidier, it shows everybody in the village is taking care. It's a lovely village to live in and this year the village looked good for a longer amount of time."

Villagers in East Hagbourne, which came second in the same category, were disappointed Clanfield pipped them to the post.

Parish council clerk Robin Parsley said: "It is always a little bit disappointing when you are not number one.

"A lot of hard work goes in and it's nice to have it recognised even if we did not win."

Steventon was the overall winner of the competition, following its success in the large villages category last year.

Duns Tew won the small villages category of the competition, for the first time in more than 20 years.

Competition organisers ORCC said: "Judges had a difficult task selecting the winners from the original entrants, but it was also an enjoyable one because, as ever, standards were very high."

The competition was sponsored by Calor gas. Brian Challis, from the company, presented the winning villages with framed certificates at an awards ceremony in Holton Village Hall on Thursday nightJuly 13.

Calor is running another competition for the national village of the year.

Judges will be looking for well-balanced, pro-active, caring communities which, irrespective of size, have made the best of local opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all residents.

The gas company will give away £39,000 prize money in total to the winners.

Overall winners: 1: Steventon 2: Cropredy 3: Filkins and Broughton Poggs Large Villages 1: Harwell 2: Adderbury 3: Berinsfield Medium Villages 1: Clanfield 2: East Hagbourne 3: Shipton-under- Wychwood 4: Freeland Small Villages 1: Duns Tew 2: Cassington 3: Checkendon 4: Horton-cum- Studley 5: Drayton St Leonard 6: Kingham CPRE Nature Conservation Awards Specially commended: Wootton (near Woodstock) Highly Commended: Clifton Hampden and Burcot