This geographically large parish stretches from the Ockley Brook on the county boundary with Northamptonshire in the north, to Bainton in the south, and from Hethe Brede Farm in the east to the B430 by Ardley in the west. The landscape has changed in recent years. The M40 junction 10 is on the Ardley boundary. Nearby the Woodland Trust administers Stoke Wood which was formerly part of the Peyton estate. This has a car park and various walks, and is across the B4100 from the Stoke Lyne junction. The parish includes several farms, a service station at Baynards Green on the B4100 Banbury road, the Peyton Arms public house and housing, farmland and several small woods. The land on which a small primary school stood until 1985 has been redeveloped at St Peter’s Close, an area of detached houses. Bicester, together with Bicester Village Retail Centre, lies to the south just 4 miles away and Oxford is 14 miles, Banbury 10 miles to the northwest, and Brackley 7 miles away. Milton Keynes and Aylesbury are northeast and east respectively, each about 23 miles distant.
At the centre of the parish is the village of Stoke Lyne with the church of St Peter. The parish itself is one of ten parishes grouped together as one benefice, the Shelswell Group. It is part of the Bicester and Islip Deanery, which is in turn part of the Oxford Diocese The Church has a kitchen and toilets and the construction of a folding screen across the nave, which allows the west end to be used as a meeting room when required – the Parish Meeting Room which is available for hire. Main village events may include the annual Fun Day held on the patronal festival day in June, the harvest service and supper and the senior citizens’ party.
SCHOOLS
Primary School children (aged 5-11 years) attend Fritwell School, a minibus calls at the church corner for them. Secondary School children usually attend Cooper School or Bicester Community College (both of which are in Bicester). A coach collects them at church corner at 8.00am and returns at 4.10pm. There are playgroups in the surrounding villages.
HEALTH
Doctors:
There are several practices in Bicester, including two working from Bicester Health Centre, Coker Close one from Victoria Road Surgery, one from Southwold estate and one at Bure Park and Langford Medical Centre. The Bicester Community Hospital has physiotherapy and x-ray departments and convalescent facilities but no accident and emergency department. Accident and Emergency departments are at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
North Bicester Surgery at Bure Park:
http://www.northbicestersurgery.co.uk/
Victoria House Surgery on the Buckingham Road:
http://www.victoriahousesurgery.co.uk/
Bicester Health Centre in Coker Close:
http://www.bicesterhc.co.uk/
Montgomery House Surgery in Piggy Lane:
Langford Medical Practice in Nightingale Place, Langford Village:
http://www.langfordmedicalpractice.co.uk/
Accident & Emergency:
Horton General Hospital
Hightown, Banbury 01295 275500
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headington, Oxon 01865 741166
Dental Surgeries and Veterinary practices can also be found in Bicester.
Veterinary Practices
Ferens, Cumming & Cornish
Victoria Road, Bicester 01869 252077
Hart Veterinary Centre
Browning Drive, Bicester 01869 323223
LEISURE
Stoke Lyne Women’s Institute meet in the Parish Meeting Room on the second Wednesday of each month.
Shelswell Lyne Women’s Institute meet in the Fringford Village Hall on the first Thursday of each month.
Youth Club runs from Fringford village hall on most Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00pm
Stay and Play Group for pre-schoolers and their parents meets Friday mornings, 9:30 until 12:00
Sheswell Garden Club meets on the second Tuesday in the month at Hethe village hall, except in some summer months when outside visits are arranged.
Stratton Audley Historical Society hold regular talks and meetings at The Red Lion Pub (See News items Page for meeting details)
Shelswell Walkers hold monthly walks every second Sunday in the month, usually at 2.30pm (see Parish News for details).
Sport the Sports Centre off Queen’s Aveneue, Bicester is an indoor sports and leisure centre, including a swimming area and Bowling alley. The Bicester Sports Club on the Oxford Road organises most outdoor sport.
Bicester Adult Continuing Education provides daytime and evening classes mainly at Bicester Community College.
A University of the 3rd Age group meets every Tuesday afternoon at the Southwold County Primary School.
LOCAL AUTHORITY
Cherwell District Council Bodicote House, Banbury 01295 252535 OX15 4AA
Social Services Old Place Yard, Bicester 242211
PARISH COUNCIL
Chair: Mr N Barnes 01869 346029
Clerk: Anne Davies, 6 Greystones Court Kidlington OX5 1AR email: stokelyne.parishclerk@gmail.com
POLICE
Bicester Police Station
Queens Avenue, Bicester 320919
LIBRARY
Old Place Yard Bicester 252181
Mobile Library (renewals etc) 320347
Alternate Tuesdays, outside The Peyton Arms, 10:00 – 10:20 am
PARISH NEWS
Parish News Correspondent Rena Andrews email: renacyanlion@btinternet.com