SANDFORD ON THAMES VILLAGE MAGAZINE ON LINE
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The small road behind part of Main Avenue and The Crescent has now been made into a cul-de-sac. Residents whose homes back directly onto this road are asked to park their vehicles in it. The small open end is now part of the drive of No. 4 The Crescent. Except for residents of Kiln Close and anyone parking in Main Avenue up to No. 8 Main Avenue, residents are reminded that a one way system is in operation and must be strictly adhered to. Please instruct cycle riding children that turning into the lower end of The Crescent from Main Avenue could cause a serious accident.

Do not park your vehicle opposite your neighbours car. A width of ten feet must be left to enable all service vehicles to pass freely through. Remember it could be your friends life at risk or your rubbish not being collected.

One further point, dogs are the owners responsibility, they must be kept on a lead when not in your garden and Dust not be allowed to leave excreta on the roadways of the site.



A423 LINK ROAD FLYOVER

People who have to come under this bridge know how dangerous the conditions were during the recent "cold snap" Should any member of the public be injured whilst walking under the bridge and slip on the ice which has formed on the pavement they will be entitled to sue for compensation.

At one point during the bad weather, ice was about four inches thick and although the Parish Council had written and complained about water running out of the bank and across the pavement, nothing had been done. The men who came to look at the drain cannot understand why it is filling up with silt, they have yet to figure out that water coming out of a bank will wash soil into the road and therefore into the drain.

When I phoned and spoke to someone in the Engineers Department about the ice, they pointed out that they were aware of the situation but there was little they could do for localized problems. After threatening to inform the press , this localized problem was cleared in a few hours. As ratepayers we should not be expected to have to make such threats to get these things done.

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A couple of weeks ago, two youths were caught around the back of the church with a large piece of concrete in their hands. The two people who caught them were of the opinion that they were about to throw it through the church window, they claimed they were going to break some ice. Either way they should not have been there, especially whilst a service was being held. This is not the first time these two particular lads have been found in dubious circumstances.

I lot of villagers do not want to see anyone in trouble, this is why no one as yet has made an official complaint to the police, but for these two boys I fee], the warnings must cease. I would certainly be prepared., should I see them again in any compromising situation, to make a statement to the police. I hope others will do the same.



SKIP

On February 6th a skip will be in the Village Hall car park. It is being supplied by S.O.D.C., and any of the villagers can place rubbish in it.



VILLAGE POLICE OFFICER

Between the bottom end of Long Lane and. Blackbird Leys is a cycle track which runs alongside the dual carriageway. It has been brought to my attention that this cycle track is being used as a short cut or as access to the recreation ground, by motor vehicles. The use for access is at its worst on a Sunday. In January, a child using the cycle track was nearly injured by a motor vehicle apparently driving along the track as if it were a road. There are Road Traffic signs at both entrances to this track which clearly and correctly indicate that the track is for the use of pedal cycles only. If you drive a motor vehicle on this track you are committing an offence. I intend to pay particular attention to this area in the coming months and anyone found using it for access or as a short cut will be reported, the fine for which under the new fixed penalty system of £1200

There are a lot of drivers being reported for minor traffic offences in the Oxford area at present. The weather at this time of the year causes those weak links in our vehicles to finally give way. Salt starts eating into what is left of 1986's exhaust system, light bulbs fail under continuous use, usually the day prior to a foggy day, so that YOU stick out like a sore thumb. The rear windscreen demister packs up which subsequently means that on a cold and frosty morning, the only window you can see out of is the front one, through a 12 inch square area, rapidly cleared with whatever article you have to hand at the time, and well, who checks tyres in this weather? Please, check your car is In a roadworthy condition before we do. A few basic checks may prevent you having to pay unnecessary fines or repair± bills for accidents which at the end of the day may be your fault?

My ending to this month's article is a request which has already received much publicity in the media but whi4h I feel cannot be stressed too much. That is, keep an eye on the old folk when the weather turns bad. Some old folk have problems just keeping warm let alone popping down to the shops. If you feel a person needs help beyond what you are able to offer, then let someone in authority know, who can help them. If we all try to do this small thing then maybe we can prevent one of our villagers becoming yet another victim of the winter cold.

Surgeries for February:
Feb. 6th 4pm 5pm
Feb. 20th 4pm - 5pm

If you need help or advice on a problem which might involve the Police, please contact me: Ring Oxford 249881 Ext 2514 and leave me a message. Remember, in an emergency dial 999.

Till next month, take care.
PC REYNOLDS
Community Beat Officer.




PARISH COUNCIL NOTES

1987. This has opened well for the Parish Council. At the Meeting on 5th January Mr Soloman from the Oxfordshire Scout & Guide Services Ltd came to explain the services which can be offered by the Community Programme which he administers. An application will be made for work to be carried out to the two bus shelters and to paint the railings around the rec. Other projects are decided upon, these also might be undertaken, with the Council only having to provide the coat of the materials. An application is being submitted.

The other good news for the New Year, which is probably knowledge, is that Miss Burrs has generously lent the Village sufficient money to pay off the whole of the borrowing on the Village Hall and requires its repayment without interest which means that the Village Hall Management Committee and the Parish Council will each make a lower payment each year until the money is repaid. This was announced at the Village Hall Management Committee open evening, which was pleasantly spent in the Village Hall. It was an opportunity for anyone in the Village to come along and meet others.

It is not too early to mention the elections which will be held in May for the Parish Council. Anyone who is interested can come to any of the Parish Council Meetings the next is on 9th February at 7.30pm. Alternatively, any member of the Pariah Council will be happy to give information about obtaining nomination forms, and how to complete these.

At each Pariah Council Meeting we receive a report from the Development Committee f or the new Blackbird Leys development. The development obviously will affect the Village, and now that outline planning permission has been formally granted it Is now a certainty. There will be housing, open spaces, recreation land and industrial area.

At the recent Parish Council Meeting the amount of the precept on the rates was discussed and it was decided that this would continue at 3.5p as it was during the last year. This means there is neither an increase nor a decrease in the amount of the rates you pay to the Parish Council. It is this money which the Pariah Council has available to use for the benefit of the Village, and it is through the discussion at the Parish Council Meeting that the priorities are decided upon and when and how the money will be expended.

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We were not able to report in the last issue the retirement of the Rev. Val Rogers, who has been our Priest-in-Charge at St. Andrews for the past two years. Val Rogers had announced in September that he felt he would have to retire at the end of the year, as his duties here were already a severe tax on his health. When suddenly he became ill in October and was rushed into hospital we all realiesed how he had been overstretching his health on our behalf. Val Rogers came to Oxford in fact to retire peacefully, and to enjoy his boating, when he was asked to take on Sandford. He cheerfully shouldered this duty, using his considerable gift of teaching to share with his congregation his deep under- standing of the Scriptures. He will be greatly missed, as will Mary his wife, who had readily played the organ at Evensong and other occasions when needed, as well as doing duty as P.C.C. Secretary. We hope that they will now enjoy their real retirement at Eyot Place and will still visit us at St. Andrews. We are fortunate to be able to welcome Mr Mayhew who is already acting as Priest-in-Charge and has made himse1f known with great friendliness, and who here introduces himself more fully.


Fr. Peter Mayhew, M.B.E., B.So., M.Litt., has been appointed and begun work as Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrews Church. He is keen to call upon and get to know as many people as possible, and he wants to try to be of help to anyone in need of a talk or advice. He lives at 18a Leopold Street, Oxford OX4 1PS, and his telephone number is 724309. He was a schoolmaster before he was called to the Ministry. During the war, he was an Army Chaplain and served in France and in Burma among other places. After the war, he was a Headmaster in Australia, the Head of a Bush Brotherhood, and an Archdeacon in Queensland. In l974, he returned to this country to be Chaplain to All Saints (Church of England) Sisters, at All Saints Convent, Oxford. For three years, he has been writing the history of this Sisterhood. Previously, he has written Justice in Industry and Unemployment under the Judgement of God both published during the 1980s.

THE HARRY BLACKER ADMIRATION SOCIETY
PRESENTS

A COMEDY IN 3 ACTS BY

MARY CHASE

21 FEBRUARY '87

VILLAGE HALL
SANDFORD ON THAMES

8:00 PM

TICKETS:
Adults £2.00

I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported the Sandford Bingo in the year 1986. I run the bingo to try to raise money for the Village Hall funds and thanks to your support a profit of £859 - 32 was handed over to the Village Hall Committee
I would like also to say thank you to Hazel Hutton and Ann Swanton for all the help they have given me in running the bingo throughout the year.

Anyone who has not been to the Sandford Bingo please come along and give it a try, am sure you will have a very enjoyable evening. It is held every Thursday And starts at 8.p.m. There are very good prizes to be won, e.g. joints of meat, grocery items etc.
Hopefully, with everyones support, we can make even a better profit in the year 1987.

I am arranging a trip to Calais on 25th April. If anyone is interested and would like further details about the bingo or this trip, you can contact me at 20 Kiln Close Telephone Oxford 717936.



OPEN EVENING

The Open Evening held on 9th December was very enjoyable, about 50 people attended. During the evening the draw was made both for the Christmas Raffle and the 200 Club Winners below -

Xmas Hamper		Mr Jack Tutty
Port & Stilton Hamper		Mr C Jones
Turkey		Mr Judd
Box of Fruit		Mrs Hobbs

There is still one unclaimed prize for Jean of Botley, does anyone know who this is, prize waiting at the Village Shop.

200 Club Winners

Special Xmas Prize	£50	No 27	B Hobbs
November Prizes	£50	No 119	V Greenwood
	£20	No 43	J Greenwood
	£10	No 86	S Cotten
December Prizes	£50	No 126	R Waterfield
	£20	No 109	B Turner
	£10	No 194	R Butler

During the Christmas period, Templars Court Country Club generously donated an Xmas Food Hamper - the names of the Senior Citizens of the village were put in a hat and the lucky winner was Mrs A Walker of Henley Road.


Dear Villagers,
       First, A very happy and healthy new year to you all. Owing to the weather and flu I am just getting back to normal and will be round with the usual meat draw. Hoping your support will be as great as last year.

       I shall be organising another 50-50 Auction, maybe two this year if we have enough items, so start sorting out now. Everything sells, old or new. Phone me, Hazel Hutton on 779767 or 777850. Thank you all again.



THE HARRY BLACKLER SOCIETY        'HARVEY'

A Comedy in 3 Acts by Mary Chase will be performed in the Village Hall on Saturday, February 21st at 6.p.rn. This will be a good family show. Tickets available from all Committee members and the Village Shop. £2 each including refreshments.

Any inclusions for the next Sandford Link should be sent to the Editor by February 20th and can I thank all who are contributory please keep it up. To all the Clubs, Businesses and Pubs, please use the Link to let people know what you are doing. We charge very little for advertising and it does help the Link to keep going.

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Editor: Mr. Lawrence Boyd. 18 Main Avenue, Sandford on Thames, Oxford.
Tel. (Daytime) Oxford xxxxxx (Evenings) Oxford xxxxxx.