December 1976 to August 2026
This archive contains issues of Harwell News from December 1976 to December 2025.
Issues from December 1976 to April 2001, including earlier predecessor publications produced by Harwell Parish Council, are presented as historical records. They reflect the language, views, editorial standards and statutory context of their time and may not align with current policies, legislation or community expectations.
Every effort has been made to make these documents accessible and searchable. The files have been digitised from original printed copies and include optical character recognition (OCR) to support searching and screen-reader use.
Editions from July 2001 to December 2025 were produced as digital publications and are therefore easier to read electronically and are more fully searchable.
If you experience accessibility difficulties or need help locating information, please contact the Parish Clerk at clerk@harwellparish.gov.uk or 07749 361957.
Use the search box below to search across all archived issues of Harwell News.
You can search by issue number, year, month or keywords. Results are displayed newest first. Important: The numbered links at the bottom of the page (e.g. 1–10, 11–20) are navigation pages, not Harwell News issue numbers.
Issue 119 - Sep 2002
Open Download Copy Link 5.67 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Launch and early findings of the Harwell Parish Plan process, including strong household response to the village questionnaire, analysis of priorities across age groups, and plans for follow-up focus groups and themed discussions; emphasis on community engagement and shaping a shared long-term vision for the parish; West Didcot expansion identified as a major concern, with promotion of developer consultation events and encouragement for residents to participate; Parish Council communication on consultation processes and representative advocacy; continued management of the recreation ground and use of parish facilities; community correspondence reflecting concern about the impact of the statutory Code of Conduct on long-serving councillors and local democracy; notices from village organisations, clubs and support groups. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Harwell Parish Plan Steering Group; Vale of White Horse District Council; West Didcot developers and consultation bodies; CAPOLD (Citizen Advocacy for People of Oxfordshire with Learning Disabilities); Harwell Women’s Institute; local village clubs and societies.
Issue 118 - Jun 2002
Open Download Copy Link 5.66 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Significant Parish Council governance disruption following the introduction of the statutory Model Code of Conduct under the Local Government Act 2000, including a tied vote on revocation, councillors declining to sign the Code, and resulting disqualification from office; explanation of councillor vacancies and invitation for co-option; Annual Parish Meeting reporting on parish powers and limitations, with emphasis on planning influence and community expectations; recreation ground management including progress on a BMX track proposal, seating for teenagers, grass-cutting and spraying regimes, and cemetery standards; highways and transport issues including speeding surveys, police speed checks, and pedestrian safety concerns; community safety reporting with local crime statistics and policing updates; parish grants and donations to local organisations and charities; dog fouling concerns and enforcement reminders; broader local government transition to executive governance structures at district and county level. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Oxfordshire County Council; Vale of White Horse District Council; Thames Valley Police; Harwell Primary School; Little Pippins Pre-School; Harwell Fun Club; Winterbrook Youth Club; St John Ambulance; St Matthew’s Church.
Issue 117 - Apr 2002
Open Download Copy Link 5.76 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Community fundraising and parental engagement through the Harwell School Association, including social events, prize draws, and business-supported fundraising activities benefiting Harwell Primary School; detailed coverage of village-wide support from local and regional businesses contributing prizes and sponsorship; update on the Harwell School Summer Playscheme, including its temporary suspension due to school building works and intentions to reinstate provision in a future year; continued emphasis on community-led support for children, families, and education; wider village notices reflecting social life, volunteering, and local events. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Harwell Primary School; Harwell School Association; Harwell School Summer Playscheme; local businesses and sponsors (including food retailers, garden centres, and village shops).
Issue 116 - Feb 2002
Open Download Copy Link 5.02 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Celebration of the completion and official opening of Harwell Primary School’s new Computer Suite, marking a major community-led education project delivered through long-term fundraising, volunteer effort, and partnership working; detailed account of the origins and development of the project, including early vision, technical challenges, sponsorship, and the role of the SPECK project team; emphasis on community investment in digital skills and modern learning facilities for village children; school governance and parental involvement; promotion of school communication channels and wider use of village facilities for educational and community activities; notices reflecting ongoing village social life and local events. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Harwell Primary School; Harwell School Governors; SPECK Project Team; Harwell Village Hall.
Issue 115 - Nov 2001
Open Download Copy Link 5.43 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Parish Council governance including South East Area Committee arrangements under new executive structures, Millennium Committee fund distribution to Harwell Primary School and Little Pippins Pre-School, parish donations to drug awareness education and Home-Start, and ongoing concerns over the lack of a formally constituted BMX club on Green Lane; transport and highways matters including submission to the Didcot Transport Study, request for a pedestrian-controlled crossing and speed cameras on High Street, and endorsement of resident complaints about persistent flooding on the A417 east of the village; county council updates on elderly care provision transfer and new duties under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000; Didcot development update following withdrawal of Persimmon Homes court action and implications for Local Plan preparation; announcement of a Parish Meeting featuring Harwell Business Centre redevelopment plans; Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company premiere of Arthur: The Sword and the Legend at Harwell Village Hall; Royal British Legion Remembrance activities and extensive Christmas programme; Harwell School Christmas Fair and community fundraising; commissioned village artwork Harwell on Feast Day by Linda Benton and print sales; Fun Club provision for parents and toddlers including health visitor sessions and Christmas party; Winterbrook Youth Club activities, film nights and village fireworks; Neighbourhood Watch warnings about distraction burglaries and promotion of Ringmaster alerts; Parish Personality feature on Zoe Zimmerman highlighting the Harwell Young Singers, youth leadership, music education and cultural contribution; Safari Supper fundraising event supporting Village Hall exterior repairs; Harwell Produce Show results across adult and children’s categories; obituary and tribute to Laurie Chumbley (1916–2001), founder member and president of Harwell Gardeners’ Club, with reprinted extracts from earlier gardening columns; Sobell House Hospice community support groups and local fundraising initiatives; extensive village events diary, advertising and local services. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Vale of White Horse District Council; Oxfordshire County Council; Harwell Millennium Committee; Harwell Primary School; Little Pippins Pre-School; Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire; Royal British Legion Harwell Branch; Harwell Business Centre; UKAEA; Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company; Harwell Village Hall Committee; Harwell Feast Committee; Harwell Fun Club; Winterbrook Youth Club; Neighbourhood Watch; Ringmaster; Harwell Young Singers; Harwell School Association; Harwell Gardeners’ Club; Sobell House Hospice; Didcot Transport Study; BBC; Gem Graphic Services Didcot.
Issue 114 - Sep 2001
Open Download Copy Link 5.95 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Parish Council governance including proposal for a parish appraisal to identify community needs, facilitated by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council; public village meeting “Improving Your Village” and discussion of priorities for Harwell’s future; recreation ground planning including potential new pavilion location linked to Royal British Legion facilities, teenage seating installation and BMX track proposal on allotment land; traffic calming investigations and pedestrian crossing aspirations for High Street; Didcot Transport Issues Study consultation and community workshops on transport and access; parish grants and donations to Harwell Village Hall and Winterbrook Youth Club; allotment change-of-use fees; neighbourhood watch expansion, Ringmaster alerts and crime prevention; early years and family support including Harwell Fun Club activities, health visitor sessions and nearly-new sales; Harwell Feast Committee AGM, fundraising and commissioning of “Harwell on Feast Day” village artwork; school holiday playscheme with wide-ranging activities and sponsorship; Harwell Environment Group meetings and wildlife talks; community fundraising events including Safari Supper and village quiz; Parish Personality feature on Tony Hughes covering AERE Harwell, research councils, youth work, music, Keep Harwell Rural campaign and long-term village contribution; Royal British Legion activities and Poppy Appeal adaptations due to foot-and-mouth restrictions; gardening, environmental recycling initiatives and scrapstore promotion; primary school developments including environmental education, new computer room, international school links and nursery closure implications; Oxfordshire Best Kept Village Competition judges’ report and results; extensive village diary, local services and advertising. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC); Vale of White Horse District Council; Oxfordshire County Council; Royal British Legion Harwell Branch; Winterbrook Youth Club; Harwell Village Hall Committee; Harwell Fun Club; Harwell Feast Committee; Harwell Primary School; Harwell Environment Group; Keep Harwell Rural; Neighbourhood Watch; Ringmaster; Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company; Harwell School PTA; UKAEA; AERE Harwell; SERC; Chilton Downs Day Care; Age Concern; Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire; Harwell WI; Harwell Gardeners’ Club; Orinoco Oxfordshire Scrapstore; BBC; Gem Graphic Services Didcot.
Issue 113 - Jul 2001
Open Download Copy Link 4.89 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Parish Council governance and planning activity including Structure Plan adoption, Local Plan stage advocacy, planning gain negotiations, and response to planning appeals affecting Didcot expansion; Vale of White Horse District Council reorganisation and introduction of Area Forums and Area Committees under the Local Government Act 2000; recreation ground management including BMX track proposal, mowing and spraying regime, teenager seating, tennis court fence repairs, pavilion maintenance and allotment land use; surface water drainage issues at Winnoway and Reading Road following heavy rainfall; parish grants including support for Harwell School Summer Playscheme; North Drive residents’ concerns about council tax value and parish service provision; hedges overhanging highways and enforcement reminders; detailed planning permissions, refusals and new applications; County Council election results for Wantage Rural division; Annual Parish Meeting reports reflecting limits of parish planning powers and millennium project legacy; Neighbourhood Watch coverage gaps and Ringmaster crime alert system; community safety and shed theft prevention; Little Pippins Pre-School activities, early years funding entitlements and outings; Harwell Fun Club provision for parents and toddlers; Harwell Feast Committee AGM and fundraising events; Village Hall electrical refurbishment funded by grants and future maintenance planning; Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company premiere of Arthur at Harwell Village Hall; obituaries and tributes to Ken Plumb and Tony Griffin recognising long-term voluntary service; Parish Personality feature on Mabel Stevens and independent living at Cherry Tree Court; major community fundraising appeal for Douglas House hospice following Helen House model; gardening notes, seasonal weather data and horticultural advice; extensive local events listings, advertising and village services. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Vale of White Horse District Council; Oxfordshire County Council; Harwell School; Little Pippins Pre-School; Harwell Fun Club; Harwell Feast Committee; Harwell Village Hall Committee; Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company (OTTC); Neighbourhood Watch; Ringmaster; Helen House; Douglas House Hospice; Anchor Trust; Cherry Tree Court; Harwell Gardeners’ Club; Harwell Out & About Club; Royal British Legion Harwell Branch; Harwell WI; Harwell Tennis Club; Harwell Scout Group; British Legion; Esso Research; Harwell Football Club; Gem Graphic Services Didcot.
Issue 112 - Apr 2001
Open Download Copy Link 2.31 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Traffic calming and pedestrian safety priorities including calls for crossings; youth provision proposals and external funding bids; footpath condition and lighting maintenance; policing and community safety updates; financial support for Harwell School ICT facilities; formal engagement with national government over Didcot development; retirement of key staff and appointment of a new Clerk; Annual Parish Meeting agenda setting; planning applications including renewable energy installations; early sustainable living guidance and environmental education. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Oxfordshire County Council; Vale of White Horse District Council; Harwell School; Keep Harwell Rural Campaign; Royal British Legion; Harwell Environment Group.
Issue 111 - Feb 2001
Open Download Copy Link 2.51 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Major Parish Council transition following the resignation of long-serving Chair; budget setting and first precept increase for several years; staffing changes including groundsman arrangements; transport studies linked to Didcot growth; fly-tipping concerns and environmental enforcement; concessionary fares changes under the Transport Act 2000; continued strength of village organisations and social life. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Oxfordshire County Council; Vale of White Horse District Council; Harwell Women’s Institute; Royal British Legion.
Issue 110 - Dec 2000
Open Download Copy Link 3.43 MB 2026-02-01 1st February 2026 2026-02-01 1st February 2026
Key topics: Community organisations and fundraising including senior citizens’ support, auctions, and bingo schemes; family and early-years activities through Fun Club and Little Pippins; village clubs and societies; preparation for Christmas events; Parish Personality feature highlighting long-standing civic leadership; environmental awareness and countryside engagement; continued village cohesion through volunteer-led initiatives. Organisations featured: Harwell Parish Council; Harwell Senior Citizens Fund; Harwell Fun Club; Little Pippins Pre-School; Harwell Environment Group; British Legion.
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