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March/April 1991             Issue 37

Welcome to the residents of Heyford Hill
which on April 1st 1991 becomes part of the
parish of Sand ford-on-Thames

CHURCH NEWS

Lent to Easter

Then the 10th is Mothering Sunday when before social mobility made it more complicated many went back to their mother church. We shall at least remember our own mothers, and some will give flowers. The following Sunday is St Patrick's Day - a special day for Ireland, but also Passion Sunday, which we celebrate with the service of anthems and readings at 6.30 p.m. This introduces the high intensity part of Lent - the last fortnight.

Holy Week itself begins with Palm Sunday on 24th, recalling Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Hosannah), and the most precious time of the year for Christians begins on Thursday evening, in the same night in which He was betrayed. For many it will be business as usual on Good Friday, but Christians will try to keep it special in whatever way they can, reading the gospel, keeping periods of silence, confronting the reality of God and their own lives, and entering the darkness of death in their own experience. So then to come through to the joy of Resurrection at Easter.
Alleluia.


Annual Parish Meeting
This will take place at 11.15 a.m. in Church on Sunday April 7th.


Bible Study Group
Meeting at Lower Farm, Wednesdays 7.30 p.m. Phone 748848 if you are needing a lift (or able to offer a lift).

R.I.P

Mr Stanley, who died on December 23rd, was the last Sandford survivor from the First War. He volunteered for the Oxford and Bucks Regiment (exaggerating his age to do so) and was fortunate enough to be seriously wounded at the Somme - and so miss the fate of most of his friends and contemporaries. Brought up in greater Sandford (Sandford Brake - a bit by Minchery Farm now ceded to Blackbird Leys parish) he was the third of six children. He married at Cowley St John. After his wife's death he lived alone for 2 years, but being in poor health came to live with his sister and her husband, Mr and Mrs Pitson, at 75 Henley Road for 20 years before moving to Orchard House for his last 2 years. He died peacefully in his sleep aged 93, having recently attended his sister's diamond wedding - appropriately enough since he gave the bride away in 1930.


MISS VIOLET LEACH (1899-1991)

Miss Violet Leach, last of her generation of an old Sandford family, died at Orchard House at the age of 91 and was buried in Sandford churchyard (where her parents are also laid) on 17th January. She worked many years at the mill, and latterly sat next to Mr Charles Stanley (above) and followed her friend out of this world.


MRS IRIS DRUCE (31.9.1921 - 20.1.1991)

Those who knew Mrs Druce will want to extend their sympathy to Mr Druce, Mrs Druce senior and the rest of the family.


MR ARTHUR LITTLE

In February another former resident of the village, Mr Arthur Little, died. As cowman at Rock Farm he was a familiar sight. driving his fresian bull through the middle of the village.


MR ANTHONY JEWELL

The ashes of Mr Anthony Jewell were interred in Sandford graveyard on February 17th. Sympathies are extended to Carl and Carol Jewell at Henley Road.

A Four Year Offer

The aim is to develop and evaluate a teaching programme for clinical medical students in ethics, communication skills and the law. The ultimate objective is to improve the practice skills of doctors in their everyday clinical work.

The core of the teaching will take place in case-based seminars embedded in the relevant clinical attachment across the full three years of the undergraduate medical curriculum. A variety of teaching methods will be developed and their impact evaluated. This evaluation will be used to improve the teaching program. Teaching materials (written, video, and computer software) we hope will be developed and available to help in the development of teaching of programmes in other medical schools.

A conference to be held in April will bring together about 120 experts. and delegates have been invited from Western, Central and Eastern Europe. They include experts from a number of disciplines, but all will be playing a leading part in the organisation of the training of doctors and other health care workers in 'practice skills'.

Practice skills are gradually being introduced in one form or another into undergraduate teaching in many medical schools in the UK, but so far there has been little attempt to assess the effectiveness of different approaches to teaching in this area. It is hoped that the Project will be carried on at the end of the four year period, but whatever happens, I do not regret my move from publishing to health care research, an innovative area of medicine which will hopefully greatly help patient care in the future.

Anne Yates

Evensong at Sandford

Some people have the words of Evensong in their bones from going to church regularly as children. To others they are quite foreign. But the same words will be repeated from the prayer book week by week during British Summer Time inviting the parish to 'assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul'. Some will accept that invitation - and would like to extend it further.

Designed by Tracy Scrivens Age 14

PRIZE CROSSWORD WIN £5

Sandford Youth Club

Gina Ashburner and Linda Waterfield were elected hon. vice presidents, whose expertise will continue to be valued even though they no longer have the time to be leaders. The former rules were re-enacted, and the doors opened for registration on Wednesday 9th January 7.0.-9.0. The membership remains at its 50 limit, and parents have signed up on a rota to assist (one per week). The local youth organizer Farouk Ahmed is offering a training programme for youth leaders (others interested phone 748848).

Carl Reynolds has handed over the generous balance of £335 from the old club, in addition to the equipment, and the Quiz night organized by Tim James raised £265. The first couple of months have gone well thanks to several adults being generous with their time. We hope the club will maintain the momentum achieved by P.C. Carl Reynolds and his team.

Pause for Thought

Quiz Night

An Old Salt

If you should chance to walk down the church path you may have noticed on the left hand side a low granite grave stone with the following inscription -

In the old sailing ship days the master was a much more important person than he is at the present day. When a vessel took several months to cross the ocean, there was time for all sorts of trouble if the master was not a man of exceptional character. He had to navigate his ship, rule his miscellaneous crew, and keep the peace among his crowd of

In 1872 Captain Rails took command of the 'City of Auckland' which had been especially built for the London- Auckland trade, and made her first voyage in 1869-70. On the second trip she took out a lad named William F. Massey, who subsequently became Prime Minister of New Zealand. The 'City of Auckland' was the last word in ship building in those days, being iron framed and sheathed with 5½" teak, and worthy of all the pride her skipper took in her.

Captain Rails made five successful voyages to New Zealand, and on the sixth, in 1878, he was wrecked on Otakie beach, his ship becoming a total loss, but the 240 passengers aboard were all safely got ashore. It was during this unfortunate wreck that Captain Rails shoved what manner of man he was. The ship went ashore at half past nine at night, and as there were signs of consternation among the passengers the Captain ordered the hatches to be battened down. The passengers became so restless that they burst open the hatches and rushed on deck. Captain Rails placed a guard over the ship's boats and took steps to restore order among the frightened people.

It was next morning before the ship's boats could be launched, and word was sent ashore to ask for help from the settlers. Women and children of course went first but there was quite a rush for the boat, and Captain Rails stood at the gangway with a loaded revolver, threatening to shoot the first man that disobeyed orders. Thanks to the manner in which the captain managed things not a life was lost, and the women and children were put ashore without even getting wet.

On one voyage the 'City of Auckland' fell in with the ship 'Timaru' off Cape Horn, which was bound from Dunedin to

Here it was then that this old mariner should retire, to live in a village about as far as you can get from the sea in each direction. During his time at Sandford House he carried on many of his nautical practices such as flying his flags on special occasions, having had a flagpole erected for the purpose. Captain Ralls is also remembered for his making small wooden toys which he gave to village children, a hobby which he no doubt practiced on board ship during long voyages when as they say it was 'plain sailing'. Neither did he forget his beloved ship, for during his time at 'Sandford House' he changed the house name to 'Aucklandt, and it only reverted to its old name after his death in 1927.

Kingcup

The writer is indebted to Mr Allen Beecham of Littlemore for an undated newspaper cutting from which the greater part of this article was obtained.

[Kingcup - more info]

Village Hall

SANDFORD-ON-THAMES PARISH Council

At the meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 7th January 1991, five members were present.

The budget for 1991/2 was discussed. Consideration was given to the fact that the Parish Council would, in future, be making funds available for the running of the village hall. In addition there would be costs involved when Heyford Hill became part of the parish in April 1991. After full consideration, the Parish Council agreed a figure of £11,595 for the 1991-2 precept.

VILLAGE HALL EXPENDITURE
Nu-Swift International Ltd	Fire equip maint	56.05
Nu-Swift International Ltd	1 No. extinguisher	242.30
		298.35

THREAT TO SMALL VILLAGE SCHOOLS: the Clerk to write to County Councillor saying that the Parish Council was in favour of keeping open small schools such as the one at the Baldons.

PLANNING PERMISSION granted to Oxford Science Park construction of peripheral road leg.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

Income		Expenditure	£
Nil		Nag. College rent	75.00
		SEB streetlighting	52.64
		SEB maint	40.44
		Record playground equip	506.00

LINK: as Heyford Hill would be part of Sandford parish on the 1st April 1991 it was suggested that the LINK should be delivered to the area in future and a newsletter included in the LINK from the Parish Council welcoming the residents into the parish. The Clerk to speak to the editor of the LINK.

SCIENCE PARK: Mrs Shepherd reported that there were still problems and it was suggested that a site meeting with Mr Wills, Mrs Shepherd and Mrs Hutton should be arranged to discuss temporary lighting on the new roundabout and footpath and other areas causing concern.

SCHOOLS: Mr Norton reported on the meeting of the Speedwell School Governors held on 14th November.

DOGS ON TEN ACRE: Mrs Shepherd confirmed that she had spoken to Mr Bowers at Didcot on this matter.

HIGHWAYS: it was reported that the footpath from the A423 over-pass to the corner of Henley Road was in bad condition - this appears to be nothing to do with the Science Park works. Similarly, the footpath along the whole of the Henley road from approx. no 41 to 105 requires attention. The Clerk to contact Highways.

CHEMISTS' ROTA SERVICE

March/April

Closest to Sandford area only

The following Chemist will be open for dispensing from 5.30 - 6.30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and 12 noon - 1.0 p.m. Sundays and Public Holidays, on the week commencing:

March 3rd	Emerald Pharmacy, 34 Cowley Road, Littlemore
March 10th	W.H. Green (Chemists) Ltd., 8 Rose Hill Parade
March 17th	M.J. Proctor, 252 Cowley Road, Oxford
March 24th	M.J. Proctor, 158 Oxford Road, Cowley
April 2nd	P.L. Jenner, 236/8 Cowley Road, Oxford
April 9th	Kingswood Chemists, 103/5 Pound Way, Cowley Centre
April 14th	Emerald Pharmacy,34 Cowley Road, Littlemore
April 21st	W.H. Green (Chemists) Ltd 8 Rose Hill Parade
April 28th	N.J. Proctor, 252 Cowley Road, Oxford
May 7th	N.J. Proctor, 158 Oxford Road, Cowley