SANDFORD ON THAMES VILLAGE MAGAZINE ON LINE
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Whether or not you agree with Mrs King's views and efforts concerning the village she at least attends the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council, a number of ordinary Parish Council meetings and wherever possible any special meetings called in the village.

Finally we have a District Councillor who is this mysterious person who represents us on the District Council. What does this person do for us and how can contact be made?

In the past two years I have seen this person only once and that was concerning the smell coming from the sewage works and this was because it concerned the councillors own Parish. The last two Annual Meetings of Sandford Parish Council, the councillor has certainly not attended. I have attended most of the Parish Council meetings since May 1983 and have yet to see this mysterious councillor.

I spoke to this person on the phone inviting them to attend the meeting held in the village hall last year, concerning the gypsies, they promised to come but failed to attend.

During all our trouble, with the gypsies, this councillor has failed to assist us in any shape or form.

However, I feel sure that this councillor will be in the village the early part of next year simply because the County Councillors are up for re-election.

Finally who is this mysterious person, she is Mrs. Connie Norman of Littlemore.

Whether her politics are red, blue or pink we the people of Sandford should feel grieved that we have had no support from her in our struggle with South Oxfordshire District Council over Ten Acres, and other gypsy related problems.

EDITOR.

We also considered outline plans for the Greater Leys Departments, most of which is in Sandford Parish.

We still reel it is foolish to put a large housing estate next door to the Sewage Works and its disposal fields and next to another over-large estate, but the planners are unlikely to change their minds on this.

We have queried the provision of pedestrian access from Sandford to Kiln Park, 10 Acres and the Sewage Works, as this is not clear from the plan.

Mrs Nikki King reported on a meeting she had with other elected representatives of South Oxfordshire District Council about 10 Acre Site. Conditions of tenancy have been agreed and will be enforced. The same representatives will meet the Parish Council in July, by which time we hope new standards will be in place on 10 Acre Site.

ELIZABETH BURRA.

Dont forget to tell your friends outside the village that they can also hire the hall. Just get them to ring Marg Harris for the details.

An account of such a fight held near Sandford which proved fatal is recalled in Jackson's Oxford Journal for May 1817:-

The fighting began at 2 o'clock and as was usual at the timed, continued round by round until one was either knocked out or retired. The description of the fight which went on for 26 rounds was at times quite brutal, such as the following extract shows:-

"Round 1 - The combatants hit a round counter in commencing. Clayton afterwards placed a severe hit on the front of his adversary's head which floored him and drew blood"... and again... Round 3 - "Some severe blows were exchanged without attempting to break ground. Clayton placed two blows to one in proportion and one of Batts eyes was sewed up, but the lancet was applied and relief obtained".

Rounds 11 and 12 also 13 were fought upon equality - the two men hit each other until they were rather more tired of hitting than receiving. They went down at length. Batts was gradually getting the best of the fight but the 26th round brought a sudden and unexpected end. The report continues:- "In the 26th, he gave him a knockdown blow on the side of the head which terminated the battle. The deceased never spoke after he fell. There were several medical gentlemen attending him the moment the accident happened, but all their exertions were fruitless. He was taken in a senseless state to the Public House at Sandford Mill, where he expired about seven in the evening.

The following day an inquest was held on the body of Thomas Clayton. The unfortunate man above mentioned at the King's Arms Public House at Sandford Ferry before Mr. Cooke, one of His Majesty's Coroners for the County.

The inquest had to be adjourned to the following day due to a lack of evidence as the witnesses had disappeared and summonses were sent out to compel their attendance.

Two days after, on the Wednesday, the jury met again at the King's Arms and after a half hour a verdict of willful murder was made against William Batts who was eventually found near the "Cape of Good Hope" on the Plain then described as the London Road.

"1817 ist May. Clayton Thomas aged 26 killed in a boxing match with William Batts of Witney, Oxon."

One can well imagine that the fight must have been the talk of the village for many weeks some 167 years ago, and everyone would have known in which field it took place.

Now alas, we can only speculate.

[Kingcup - more info]

2. A mobile home is sited on a properly licensed residential site and has a minimum length of 28". A caravan cannot be sited on a residential site.

3. A residential mobile home is fully partitioned off into separate rooms and is properly insulated for permanent occupation. Most mobile homes have central heating.

4. A mobile home sited on a residential park is connected to mains water, sewage and electricity.

5. The 'written statement under mobile homes act 1983' issued to all mobile home residents never uses the word 'caravan' only 'mobile home'.

It can be seen from the above list that Kiln Park is a Mobile Home Park and not a caravan park.

Ingredients:
50g/2oz sultanas.
100ml/4 fluid oz sherry.
6 large slices of bread, buttered.
425g/15oz canned apricots, or peaches.
3 size 3 eggs.
568m1/1 pint fresh milk.
Cocktail cherries and angelica Leaves for decoration.

Make the pastry cases in advance and keep in a tin for up to 2 weeks. Fill and top with your favourite fruit a few hours before serving.

For 4 portions.

FRENCH FLAN PASTRY.

125g/5oz Plain flour.
75g/3oz butter.
50g/2oz caster sugar.
1 egg yolk.

FILLING.

125m1/¼pt double cream.
125m1/¼pt cold thick custard.
2 drops of vanilla flavouring.
400g/1 lb strawberries.
3x15ml sp redcurrant jelly.

METHOD:

1. Place flour in a bowl, and make a well in centre. Cut butter into small pieces, place in well with sugar and egg yolk. Using the fingers draw flour into butter and egg, mixing until well blended. Alternatively place all ingredients in a food processor and process until a ball forms. Turn onto a board and knead with the fingertips until smooth. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins.

2. Prepare a moderate oven (l90C, 375F, Gas 5). Divide dough into 4. Roll 1 piece to a 15cm (6in) circle. Use to line a 10cm (4in) individual fluted flan tin: Lift pastry into tin, gently ease onto base and up sides. press pastry into flutes with fingertips. Roll off surplus with a rolling pin, press pastry into flutes again, prick base well with a fork. Repeat with remaining pastry to line 3 more flan tins.

3. Place on a baking sheet. Hake in centre of oven for 15 min until golden. Leave to cool for 10 min, then remove from flan tins and cool on a wire rack.

5. Hull the strawberries and wipe. Arrange the strawberries will hulled sides down in pastry cases.

6. Melt the redcurrant jelly over a low heat in a small saucepan. Using a pastry brush, coat strawberries with jelly. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with remaining cream mixture.

One morning before the end of the year I was told to report to Head Quarters, where I was told to instruct my 6 men to pack their kitbags and we were to report to the transport officer who told us we were to be taken to RAF Lyneham Wiltshire without delay.

On arrival we were driven to an isolated part of the RAF Camp and we bedded down. During the night lorries came and brought in more personnel. After breakfast, an officer called all NCO's together and told us we were going on a secret mission and we were given a postcard for each of our team which simply said 'I AM WELL, LETTER FOLLOWING', to be addressed home, then to standby with our kitbags ready to move out at a moments notice.

Later that night we moved out in lorries and boarded a transport Dakota Aircraft which flew us the Eastrje South France, lovely warm weather. While we had a meal the plane was refuelled and in short time we were airborne again.

After 2-3 hours flying, the plane started to descend and we could see Mount Vesavious belching out smoke and fumes which told us we were near Naples Italy.

After landing and a meal we were paraded and told we could go into Naples so long as we got back to camp by 2100 hrs. That visit alone deserves another story. (Lovely warm weather again).

Early next morning we took off again but none of us had a clue which direction we were going. We eventually landed in Greece and after a meal was told we could go into town and to be back again by 2100 hrs.

This time it was so warm we were allowed to remove our jackets, while we looked at the bombed out buildings, we heard gunshots and a civilian policeman told us to take shelter and keep our heads down, after about 2 hours he came back and told us all was clear now and to return to camp.

Apparently, we had wandered in between the rebels and the Government Groups and luckily that none of us got hurt.

Next day we were airborne again leaving behind all that lovely sunshine, with our overcoats packed in our kitbags, after flying for 3 hours.

We started to descend and could see the ground was covered with snow and the lower we got the colder it became. Eventually we landed on a very

The next morning we reported for duty on the airfield. I was in charge of the cooking which we did in a marque with hydro burners (like a blow lamp), with blow heaters to warm the air, tables and benches set up and food (compo rations, everything tinned) and hot tea for everyone. Of course we all wanted to know where we were, eventually we found out that this was Sacu Airfield near Yalta.

During that day several 4 engined American planes arrived with airmen and equipment; we fed them all and they put their field rations in with ours.

Next day Mr Winston Churchill arrived by air and taken off in a big car heavily guarded by our security men also Russian Men.

Later on President Roosevelt arrived in a 4 engined plane but only 3 of the engines were working. He landed safely and the engine fitters and crew worked all night to take out the faulty engine and replace it with one from another plane. I take my hat off to those men, they were out in the open with great big search lights and blow heaters by the dozen to get the job done, the temperature was zero but luckily the snow held off.

While the conference was on we were taken to a camp and given a Russian dinner consisting of cabbage soup, black bread, ½ slice each of this bread, followed by meat loaf, cabbage and brown rice with ½ a pint of vodka per man.

At the end of the Conference we came home by sea on board the S.S. Franconia via Malta, and we were given 7 days leave.

Mr. Richardson. Kiln park.