Spring 2010             Issue 117

A CELEBRATION OF THE PASSION

Joseph Haydn:

Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis De Deo (Little Organ Mass)

with choir and string trio

in St Andrew's Church on Palm Sunday March 28th at 6.30 p.m.

CHURCH NEWS
Ministry team: Robert Morgan (Lower Farm, 748848) priest-in-charge; Licensed lay ministers: Brian Andrews (777011);  Liz Shatford (772598). Church Wardens: Mrs Marjorie Harris (24 Henley Road) and Mick Hills (18 Rock Farm Lane). Director of Music: Christian Bradley. Organist: Geoff Cowan www.sandfordchurch.org.uk

Compline 15 minutes by candle-light and not much warmth, but 7.15 on Wednesdays in Lent (so 17th and 24th March remain) are a chance to join in centuries of monastic devotion - and learn some words which are a good standby throughout life: 'Guide us O Lord wile waking and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.' 'Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.'

Catching up with Lent: Saturday 20th March 9.30 - 12.30 in St Clement's church Deanery discipleship day with Bishop Stephen Cottrell. Details from the vicar.

Lewis Carroll Evensong Whitsunday: Sunday 23rd May 6.30 p.m. Alice preacher: Teresa Morgan

Sandford Passion Play: Good Friday (April 2nd ) in church. Children wishing to be characters please contact the vicar.

LENT, HOLY WEEK and EASTER SERVICES   Wednesdays in Lent (17th, 24th March) 7.15 p.m. Compline by candlelight   Thursday 18th March 7.30 in the Harris-Welsh Room Bible study   Palm Sunday 28th March: Distribution of Palm Crosses at 10 a.m. service.   6.30 p.m. A CELEBRATION OF THE PASSION   Joseph Haydn: Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis De Deo (Little Organ Mass) with choir and string trio   Maundy Thursday 1st April   Lord's Supper 7.30 p.m.   Good Friday 2nd April 10.0 a.m. Children's Passion Play (40 mins) 2.15 p.m. Service of devotions till 3.0 p.m. Silent meditation in church from 12.0 - 2.15 - opportunity to drop in.   EASTER SUNDAY 4th April 8.0 a.m. Holy Communion 10.0 a.m. Parish Communion 11.15 a.m. Children's Church 6.30 p.m. Evening prayer   Sunday 11th April:   Easter Vestry (AGM) 11.15 a.m.

N.B. The footbridge at the Lock will be closed from March 22 until June 15 (see Parish Council minutes, p.19).

Welcome to James and Abi West, Patrick and Maggie, to Church Road to Lucy and Jamie to Pheasant Walk to Kavita Sadhu to Pheasant Walk to Alison Gray and Helen Brown to Pheasant Walk to Brendan Cronin and Victoria Hickman to Henley Road

Welcome to the world: to Elsie, a daughter to Lucy and Jamie of Pheasant Walk, born on 27th January to Anabel, a first for Stanley Ng and Dr Eva Pilka to Shreya, born to Manoj and Pooja of Pheasant Walk, a sister for Manubriya

Congratulations
to Ed and Morag, until recently of Pheasant Walk, on their marriage near Lancaster on 26th September, coinciding with that of Gillian and Travis at St Andrew's
to BA for getting lots of Caffels to South Africa and back despite threatening to subvert Kelly's marriage to Tim on 29th December - it happened and was great. We wish them well for the Olympics.


Nigel Northcott
Nigel and Sue came to River View in 1990 and contributed hugely to local organization ranging from Nigel being in school governor at St Swithuns to Buddhist chaplain (hon) at Bullingdon Prison, and notably including Sandford Parish Council, which Nigel joined in 1990, became chair in 2001 and from which he has just retired. His nine years in office will be remembered for his brisk style and genuine concern for the well-being of the village, especially the roads where much was promised by the Highways Department and little delivered.
We hope the family will keep in touch with a place where they have lived such an important part oftheir lives and to which they have contributed unselfishly. A big thanks.

Vale House, the Botley Alzheimers Home is coming to Sandford

Hopefully it won't take too much longer to get the final Council planning agreement so that building can start on the new state of the art specialised home and hospice for the care of people with severe dementia. This will help residents who will be moving across from the small outgrown present home in Botley and also provide care and facilities for a number of people on the waiting list. Soon there will be a major effort to raise the money for this and the hope is, if all goes well, that the move might happen by the end of 2011.

Vale House is a charity and gets no government support, so the Fundraising Committee and the League of Friends do what they can for the residents and staff through tin-shakes, the annual bazaar, quiz nights, barn dances, antiques road shows, etc and many supporters provide funds through private means or by individual efforts like the marathon.
In Sandford a well attended Big Coffee morning was held on March 6th in the village hall in aid of Vale House at which Tricia O'Leary, the Head of Home, gave an update of the plans, and a very useful £154 was raised. Other events in Sandford and nearby will be held over the coming two years, we hope.



Quiz Night

The annual Sandford village QN took place on 6th February (Accession Day 58 - do we remember what we were doing when we heard the King was dead and the new Queen photographed in a tree - or was it the Tree Hotel - in Kenya?).
The village hall committee kindly donated tickets for the great theatrical event Peach Boy as prizes, in addition to the Norton cup. In fact the 12 teams were so evenly balanced it seemed churlish to pick a winner, but the judges judged that the Medici (all our favourite GPs and consultants - Matt's mates) shaved it by a whisker - and got the cup - over Ben's River Viewers - who got silver and so tickets too.
Special thanks to Andy Middleton for an excellent set of questions and to Jim Davis for seeing to the electronics and to the Parish Clerk for judging justly. Several neighbourhoods organized a 'local' table with excellent refreshments (a development we hope to encourage year - street parties style). And a good time was evidently had by all.
The local charity which benefitted from the sale of tickets says thank you too, and will be disbursing some of this to other needy local concerns at a time when the recession is hitting all charities and many people hard.

BINGO in the Village Hall every Thursday 7.0 for 8.0 in aid of Village Hall funds.	Reading Group has space for one or two new members. Please contact Pam (777011) for more information.
JUNIOR TAE KWON DO Every Monday 5.30 - 7.0 and Wednesday 5.30 - 7.0 in village hall: join a mixed and friendly group and learn integrity, courtesy, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit in a martial arts context. Ages 7 - 17 (but 5 yrs or over in the village welcome). Contact James 772883 or 07721 712734
	Toddlers Group Every Monday from 10-12. Open all year round, apart from Bank Holidays. 0-4 year olds. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers welcome, Craft activity every week. £1 per family, first session free! Cath 776320
	VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Bookings phone:  07759 - 890696 £5 per hour for Children's parties (under 12 and before 18:00) and £10 per hour for adult events. Friday and Saturday nights (from 18:00 to 23:30) are a fixed fee of £60 in all cases. [Village Hall - Info]
BLENHEIM SPRING WALK the annual NSPCC Spring Walk will take place in the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace on 24 April 2010 from 9.30 a.m. £2.50, free for children. please contact eastappeals@nspcc.org.uk or call 01908 328060
	Mobile Library every two weeks on THURSDAY 2:20 until 2:40 at Oxford Park Homes [more info]

Neighbourhood Watchdogs

The scheme called N'Watch has had a moderate success in helping to keep an eye on property and reduce crime. More important by far is keeping an eye on people - without being a busybody - and reducing unhappiness. Every decent neighbourhood has people in it who know their neighbours well enough to notice if help is needed, and willing to alert those who can do something if it is not something they can sort themselves.
As remarked in the Link article on VLCs (vibrant local communities) we all depend on such watchful people who are not intrusive but know their patch well enough to be alert and say when a visit or offer of help would be welcome. That is getting more necessary as the patterns of life in some local communities is more isolated and some feel cut off. Privacy is important and nobody wants to intrusive but what make a neighbourhood if not people being neighbourly?



Walk a dog?

Sandburgers will have enjoyed reading in the Mail (Oxford, not the national one which is less enjoyable) on 14th January about the dog on a scooter - with a photo of Chris Lewis of 23 Main Avenue and Tommy with riding goggles on.
He sadly died, and is sorely missed. His beautiful successor Tep'e was supposed to be a Jack Russell but turned out to be crossed with a border collie, so in need of more exercise than expected. If anyone would like to lend a hand occasionally walking him, do please contact Chris - he is great fun and good company.



Gourmet dining

The Link restaurant critic made an unscheduled inspection of the new Oriental Fine Dining, the Cockadoo, a mile away in the old Harcourt Arms, as you drive into Nuneham Courtenay on the right. It receives a 5-star report.
The Chinese selections were delicious and the English beef etc as tender as you'll find anywhere - and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The new décor is excellent and prices reasonable. A bonus was to see another Sandford couple there, enjoying themselves like 30-somethings at the Cockadoo that evening.

The Link would welcome other reports from its readers on good meals enjoyed locally.

Peach Boy

On one Saturday in February the village hall was transformed into a place of surprise, fun and magic. The first surprise came when we went in through those familiar doors to find a warm, intimate small theatre with subdued lighting and oriental music playing. All the chairs were laid out, tightly packed and occupied and there was an authentic waiting 'buzz' in the air.

Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company had brought their travelling stage construction complete with overhead lighting and staging for the two back rows and had erected it during the afternoon ready for the evening performance. There were three actors who between them took all the parts with the help of some intriguing looking puppets and much sound and light from the 'man with the machine' at the back of the hall.
The story was a reworking of an ancient Japanese legend and reminded some of us of the 'Monkey' saga perhaps with touches of the Wizard of Oz. It involved a heroic quest with comedy, danger and sentiment nicely combined. There were many children present mostly sitting together at the front while younger ones got absorbed in the play with the safety of parents or grandparents close by.

It is a pity that so few Sandford residents were there to enjoy the play - only about 25% of the 80+ audience had responded to the advertising, the rest were there either by direct invitation of parish council members or because they had seen the play advertised on the OTTC website and had heard how good the play in a village setting was.
However, financially as well as socially, the evening was a great success and made £104 for hall funds. Kevin, Diane and Michelle are to be thanked and congratulated for all their hard work. Also the team who made and served homemade cakes etc. during the interval.
We hope there will be more performances in future and a greater involvement from villagers.

the steppin' stones centre, a day centre in East Oxford for homeless and insecurely housed people, are looking for volunteers to help with the day to day running of the centre. 01865 728545

Gifts of food etc. for Steppin' Stones may be left in Sandford church porch, or taken to St Mary's Road, Cowley

VILLAGE FETE Saturday July 10th There will be a preliminary meeting for anyone interested in taking a part in planning the Fete or able to help on the day, in the Church Room, next to the church, at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday April 20th

Sandford websites: www.sandfordonthames.co.uk http://www.sandfordchurch.org.uk

Get your camera out for Spring The photography competition at the annual Fete has been much appreciated, and the standard impressive, so you will another chance at fame this year (July 10th). Prizes for adults and for children: categories probably the same as last year, and there will certainly be one for photographs of Sandford Details for entry in the next issue of the Link, at the end of June, on posters on the village noticeboards at the same time, or from 748848 nearer the time.

Thame Country Fair   3rd - 5th April at Thame Showground
Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3JL
Two action packed arenas with demonstrations, Food Glorious Food,
Craft Village, trade stands, static displays, childrens entertainment
and much much more. www.livingheritagecountryshows.co.uk



Spring Scenes 6th April Harcourt Arboretum
FREE with Arboretum entry (adults £3.50, children free)
Come along to the Harcourt Arboretum during the Easter holiday, join in our free
family friendly activities and create a spring scene on your own canvas to take
home with you. www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk

Rest in peace

Linda Hackett   born 28th January 1955, died 22nd January 2010, aged 54
Linda (and/or Andy), with one or two very shaggy Old English sheepdogs was one of the familiar Sandford sights these past few years, always friendly, popular with everyone. Her friends knew what a long and hard battle she had had and was having over sixteen years with cancer, and when the sarcoma appeared in April 2009 it looked bad, but nobody would have guessed. Her enthusiasm for life was loud and clear and infectious, right to the end.

Andy and Linda had moved into Henley Road in 1984. They had married on the Ides of March, 1984 (a doubly significant date). Their son Christopher was to become a professional footballer, a star of Oxford United and now Millwall. Along with the dogs a familiar sight of 'team Hackett' years ago was all of them kicking a ball around the recreation ground. Linda worked with the County Council in the schools service and finance dept as payroll manager and in other sections, and latterly also at St Michael's school in New Marston.

But football was central - she and Andy some years ago ran the Garsington boys FC for a time and were active in the school PTA. And played badminton. They also helped with the Youth Club in Sandford, including helping take them up Snowdon in the glorious Akrigg era of that club - which those who did it never forgot (and swore never to repeat...). Linda's popularity was evident from the crowd at St Andrew's on February 1st to say goodbye (Poppy came to the church door), including the muscular Millwall team who knew and loved their number one supporter.

Pews were removed to maximise standing-room only. Some saw the problem so decided to go to the summer memorial service at Marston instead. Sue Gundry paid tribute, as did the family, and Linda knew she would probably not live to see her first grandchild, due soon, but enjoyed its frequent visits inside Chris' partner The closeness of the whole family, from Linda's mother Jean down to the unborn baby, was something which impressed all those who saw it, including the wonderfully supportive staff at Sobell House.

We all send Andy and Chris, and mother Jean and daughter-in-law Zebine our deepest sympathies, and some of us know that here was someone we shall never forget. Sandford and beyond are enriched by her (too short) time with us.

Joan Barlow,   died 22nd December 2009, aged 84.
Bob and Joan came to Kiln Close in the 1990s, when the new homes were built. They were a quiet couple who suffered a hard blow a few years ago when their only daughter died. Bob has of late been unable to manage on his own so when Joan's illness got worse he had to go into care near Banbury. Joan suffered bravely and received the last rites. She was helped by having some very good neighbours who would blush to be named but their names are written in the book of good deeds. We offer our sympathies to Bob - also to a niece who was kind to them both.



Martin Reilly
Friends and neighbours have been saddened by the death of Martin Reilly, of Broadhurst Gardens at the young age of 23. The Roman Catholic funeral was family only. We add our sympathies to them all.



Hugh Wyn Evans   born 25th September 1941, died 22nd January 2010, aged 69
Wyn married Iris on May 28th 1993 and came to join her in the Crescent - he was already in Sandford at Kiln Close. He was brought up in South Wales and supported the rugby team and was rightly proud of it. He worked for Oxford Bus Company at Cowley and Pearce's buses. He was a kind and loving husband, friendly, willing to help. He enjoyed his garden and his fish - and with Iris helped Ernie next door as he became blind.
Wyn's curries often went next door to Ernie and are remembered with gratitude. His garden was his pride and joy. He was buried in Wolvercote cemetery where all Iris' family are. We offer her our sympathy and are glad she is so well supported by her two daughters and son (Mary, Linda and Mark) and huge family - originally nine siblings.

Jane Ford
St Andrew's choir and congregation marked the retirement of their longest-serving contralto with a token which combined her artistic and musical gifts. Well done and thank you, Jane - carry on from the back of the church.



And many congratulations
to T.J. Hall (the Sandford garage) for coming runner-up in the CAT awards for Garage of the Year 2010 - a huge achievement, and thanks to all Sandfordians who voted for them.



And to
frequent Sandford preacher Bishop Kenneth Cragg (the C of E chief expert on Islam) who as the Link went to press on 8th March celebrated his 97th birthday and 74th anniversary of ordination (on the first day he was canonically allowed to, at 23).



And to Sarah Gracie
(11.15 congregation, ex-River View) on being awarded the Scottish Academy's prize for the best first book of the year for her work on the experience of cancer, Eating Pomegranates, discussed in the Link 115, Autumn 2009. Those of us who read it thought it something special and are delighted to hear of this recognition.



More book news
Teresa Morgan's Seasons of the Spirit: One Community's journey through the Christian Year was published last month by BRF (ISBN 9781 84101 7105), enthusiastically endorsed by Ronald Blythe and John Pritchard. It contains an unusual 'take' on Littlemore, including bits on Sandford and reflections on life, traditions, people, seasons, celebrations etc.



And the Oxford Times on March 4th
celebrated 'Family Firm's 3 Decades in Catering' with a fine photo of Clive, Carole and Emma Tasker and an article on Lamb Catering, our Sandfordbased (Church Road) caterers - second to none. The article was mouthwatering and they have been awarded a five-star rating by environmental health.

Diary dates Fete planning meeting: Tuesday 20th April 6.30 p.m. Lewis Carroll Evensong: Sunday 23rd May 6.30 p.m. Sandford River Run Saturday 26th June 4.30 for 5.0 p.m. Flower Festival: Weekend 10th/11th July Village Fete: Saturday 10th July 2.0 p.m.

RELIABLE POLISH BUILDER can provide free quotes and excellent local references. Undertakes extensions, attic conversions, tiling, flooring, decorating, general maintenance and repair. Call Tomek on 07553253385

ARTWEEKS   8-31 MAY

CITY WEEK: 8-16 MAY     SOUTH WEEK: 15-23 MAY     NORTH WEEK: 22-31 MAY
Many readers will know that during May each year, Oxfordshire artists and crafts people open their homes and studios to the public to share their art. There are around 400 stunning exhibitions throughout the county, some in larger public spaces, and entry is free to all of them. This is a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to talk about their work, watch demonstrations and even try your hand and have a go yourself.
There's a wide variety of media including painting, photography, textiles, sculpture, ceramics, furniture, glass, mosaics, jewellery, and much more. Artweeks Guide available from most newsagents, or online at www.artweeks.org.uk

To believe (be alive) or not to be (leave it alone)

The main religious meaning of 'believe' is to 'live by' - to live by the reality of God or resurrection of Jesus, even when we can't grasp it rationally, or even feel it. It's a matter of choice, decision, commitment - like loving when you are no longer in love. Some call it wishful or wistful thinking - wanting the world to be a place where love and trust are the bottom line even when we don't see it.
Praying is like that - when we say the Our Father without feeling much we remind ourselves that we are God's children, God's people, and because the true and universal Son taught us to do it we can believe he is alongside us when we pray. And when we do these religious practices - good habits - together, his Jewish and Christian promise sometimes rings true: 'where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them'.
Living is better than leaving, loving better than losing, hoping and trusting better than despair or cynicism, and honesty and integrity be found in doing, not opting out.

Henley Road, Sandford on Thames, Oxford OX4 4GX Telephone: (01865) 334444 . Fax: (01865) 334400 WEB http://www.four-pillars.co.uk Email: enquiries@four-pillars.co.uk Set in 30 acres of glorious parkland on the banks of the Thames. Open to non residents for drinks, light meals and riverside dining. Carvery lunch on Sundays. Conferences, Weddings (including Ceremony) and private parties. Telephone 01865 334444.

Park Homes Residents:
Much action here but all sub judice at present. We hope to report in detail next time.



What Sandford people do:
Usually the Link committee gets individuals to write a paragraph for this series but sometimes their modesty prevails so the roving reporter writes instead. One of the loveliest presents we received (from a friend outside the village) this Christmas was a piece made by Jessica McHugh of River View.
We knew some of the artistic talents in Sandford, mainly literary and musical (our novelist on Main Avenue, our writer of the classics in the history of art (e.g. on Carracci) on Church Road, flautists Celia (Bratten Place) and Elwira (Pheasant Walk), the double bass of Jane on River View, Chris the oboe, Andy the gigs etc.) but the beautifully crafted pieces from the River View workshop needs to be added to the Sandford treasures which began in the Middle Ages (Sandford Cartulery, Assumption of BVM etc.) and are clearly thriving today.



Great Henley Road Baptisms
All Baptisms are great, and it was a joy on 17th January to welcome Jo Hutton and her partner Steve back to St Andrew's where some of those present remember her and Nikki as kids - as they brought Casey to baptism, sporting 2 Henley Road godmothers (Aline Smith and Amy Gibbons) and Krista Murray also of Henley Road to read a poem. Grandparents included Sam and Yvonne and great grandma St Hazel of Main Avenue.
Also those who remember Joan Moore and family formerly of 37 Henley Road have welcomed her great grandson (Yvonne and Bob Taylor's grandson), Chris and Lucy's children at the family service and 10 a.m. (where children are also welcome). On 25th October Axl-Zayvier Quarry Darnia Taylor (6.28 June 09) and Oakleigh Iyestn Alexander Jake Taylor-Coombs were baptised at St Andrew's.



Six Nations...
Progress report - or regress? One team keeps giving the opposition a 20 point start to make a game of it. Scotland still bottom of the pile despite being deserving at least a draw with Wales. England continue to cause dismay on Henley Road. France likely to grand slam despite being totally outplayed by - guess who. Ireland have downs and ups - watch this space. Reports on Oxford United to follow - and world cup (Spain?).

Unpopular Morality

A violent man who shall be nameless did something very bad, but refused to admit it and face the consequences. In conversation he argued that no-one would find out and he was innocent until proved guilty. Granted the legal position, but the man himself knew, and how he dealt with this would define the sort of person he was, and was becoming.
He said that he did not believe in God and therefore did not come to church. But many people worship together regularly not because they believe in God, but in order that we may believe in God and learn a moral vocabulary and let it be reinforced week by week in a context of praising God and loving one another - learning to live the life we are intended to live. That includes dealing with a fair bit of baggage.
If he one day changes his mind the church will still be there, inviting him to join in the worship of God and gradually learn the language that would shape his life. For him it might not be the all-embracing C of E teaching Christ's 'just and gentle rule' - maybe a more authoritarian or a more sectarian form of religion imposing a more rigorous social control as the social fabric continues to crumble.
Those of us brought up in a more liberal way are grateful to have been introduced without pressure to the truth, beauty and goodness revealed in Jesus who calls us to follow him. Whether this persuasive power of love will be enough to renew our society will depend on how pervasive it can be in a world that rightly celebrates diversity.
One step is for religions to be clear about all they agree on (a lot), and for every citizen to know how they stand in one tradition or another, and to cultivate their roots.

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A Tale of Sandford Past

Andy Middleton writes:
My job at Oxford Castle Unlocked brings me into contact with old archives and prison documents, and I came across the tale of Alfred Hooper, jailed at Oxford Prison on 23 November 1871 for six weeks after being found guilty of stealing a silver watch.
There is a mug shot on display at the Castle showing the accused, who was said to be sixteen years old, although in the picture he looks younger. Children as young as seven were jailed until 1877. The enclosed press report of the time gives details of the crime, and mentions two former village establishments, and the parish constable, with a well known Sandford name.
I do not know what finally happened to Alfred Hooper, but prison life in the nineteenth century was very harsh, with hard labour and basic food. This is a case of doing time for stealing time!

Alfred Hooper, late of Sandford-on-Thames, labourer, was charged with stealing a silver watch, value 6l., on the 20th of November, the property of John Watkins, a smith, of that place. The prosecutor, who had been lodging at the Fox Inn, Sandford, for two years, said he left the watch in his best waistcoat pocket at 5.30 on Monday morning, and missed it on Thursday.
The one then produced was his property. The prisoner worked as a rivetmaker at the paper mill, and had been lodging at the same inn a fortnight. He slept in an adjoining bedroom, with Frederick Smith and another lodger, but no dishonest imputation whatever was attached to their character.

By request, Ann, the wife of William Eaton, the landlord of the Fox, said after her husband told her of the loss, she searched the prisoner's bed-room and succeeded in discovering the watch concealed in a bag, wrapped up with a handkerchief and hidden in the boot produced. Witness charged the prisoner with the theft, and he expressed a hope that the prosecutor would forgive him, and he made a similar appeal to Mr George Naish, the parish constable, when apprehended. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six weeks' hard labour.

P. EVANS Local builder, carpenter. Extensions, doors, windows, flooring, decking etc. No job too small. Call for free quotation 01865 774592 Mobile 07502 390005

SANDFORD ON THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

Extracts from meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday Junuary 11

The Christmas party had been a great success though it had been hoped that more children from the village would have attended.
Matters for consideration:
Pheasant Walk wall, deferred until weather gets better.
Planning: P09/W1202 Vale House: this was welcomed and approved by parish council.
Matters raised: K Welch was continuing to attend NAG meetings and thought the networking side would possibly be useful although most of the interest centred on Wheatley and Chalgrove.
So far no tickets had been sold for 'Peach Boy' but he and M Robson would do a door to door targeted sale. N Northcott had seen the show last year and highly recommended it as being excellent entertainment for all ages.
S Paine commented on the poor state of Heyford Hill road surface due to present weather conditions and said that Robert Hall who ran the Sandford Service Station was now British Autocross Champion 2009 in his class. Congratulations were offered.



Extracts from meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday February 1

Matters arising: Not many tickets for Peach Boy had been sold yet, councillors would make a big effort to publicize the performance and several people had offered to make cakes for interval refreshments. Unfortunately the performance date coincided with half term and with St Valentine's Day when people were already going out.
County Councillor's report: The Viridor application for an energy from waste incinerator at Ardley was now going to appeal, to be decided by Secretary of State, following Council's refusal of permission. As one of the County Councillors who had refused permission, L Lindsay-Gale would be speaking at the inquiry. She would chase up P Ronald re Sandford traffic calming measures.
Matters for consideration:
Provision of grit bins: clerk would liaise with Highways for two no. grit bins, one for Broadhurst Gardens and the other for Church Rd junction. Planning permission may be needed.

Matters raised:
M Hills had been to look at Pheasant Walk broken wall and said that quite a few bricks had gone. Local builders could be encouraged to take the rest if they wanted hardcore.



Extracts from meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday March 1

Matters arising: Peach Boy had been an unqualified success and had made £104 profit. 80 people had attended but mostly through parish council contacts. The Oxfordshire Travelling Theatre Company and their website had accounted for 25 seats. Congratulations to K Welch for all the organization and to him and others for much hard work on the night.
Matters for consideration
Traffic calming: Peter Ronald reported that according to speeding surveys undertaken in 2006 and 2009 there was not a speeding problem along Henley Rd. The parish council had a remainder sum of £8,000 from traffic calming measures to date and he suggested a bid be put in for small measures such as white line removal which had been successful elsewhere and bollards along grass verges. This would be discussed at next pc meeting.
Lock footbridge closure - Thames Waterway team leader Helen Page attended the meeting and outlined the Environment Agency's intentions for renovating the bridge as detailed in the letter sent to households and posted on parish notice boards. The parish council protested vigorously the inconvenience to 100+ users of the bridge daily and explained that the proposed temporary footpath re routing was unusable, but to no avail. The bridge will be closed from March 22 until June 15. Clerk would email J Howell re pc's displeasure.
Matters raised:
there was to be a coffee morning in the village hall on Sat 6th March as a fund raiser for the new Vale House coming to Sandford.
Some tree work may be necessary in Broadhurst Gardens and Fox Furlong play areas. Clerk would ask BCB to attend.
Also write to community mental health team re procedure for putting out rubbish bins.
Clerk would bring costings for new notice boards to next meeting. Present ones were unsatisfactory since being vandalised.
N Northcott gave notice that next month would be his last meeting as he was resigning from the council.