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August 1994             Issue 55

Also during the weekend of September 3rd/4th:
FLOWER FESTIVAL
in the Parish Church, 10-6 Saturday, 11-6 Sunday

CHURCH NEWS

Churchyard Policy

The great increase in break-ins over the last year has made people think about the moral basis of community and the threat of its breakdown. Some have no stake in the society and no motive to be honest citizens. We may be coming to feel that the social fabric was eroded in the '80s. No society can show contempt for the values nurtured over centuries and survive undamaged. We may look for political solutions and see that these need religious or philosophical interpretations of some kind to reinforce them, because religions and their substitutes are about the meaning of our lives, the way we live (our values) and where we are going (our goals).

There are many religions represented in Sandford - some more visibly than others. And within the largest there are many patterns of thought and action. Religions recognize powerful forces at work in the world - for good and for evil - and enlist people to work with the grain of creation to make this a better world. We train our children in a clear moral framework and help them to want to live within it.

We see the wrongness of large numbers being excluded from the good things of human life and look for a fairer society. We reject the greed that was foolishly celebrated as good for the economy, and name it as the evil it always was. And we recognize that many problems begin in our own hearts - with selfishness and self-centredness. But we can be changed - and can work to change our society.

One small step is to recover the value of our local community, and do a few things together. Running, drinking, praying, singing, bingo, quiz nights, eating, are all things we can join together for. Some of us are so pressed at work and with other commitments, or are so depressed about lack of opportunities and work, that we find it hard to get to know our neighbours. The village is then reduced to a collection of separate dwellings, boxes to escape to rather than parts of a larger organism.

The community workers in Sandford are looking for reinforcements. Contact the editor if you have something to offer or if you want to discover that you have an undreamed of contribution to make.

Can you help a child to read?

Volunteers are men and women from 18 to 80 years old - no formal qualifications needed, just four spare hours a week during term-time, a love of books, an interest in children and infinite patience.

Contact Elizabeth Ballard, Oxford City Branch Organiser, on 744284, or if you would like to talk first to a local volunteer, Pam Andrews, 777011, would be happy to tell you more.

VANDALISM - official!

Peter Addyman saw what was going to happen the previous evening, alerted those he could, and a deputation assembled. The road contractor involved was sympathetic and courteous and arranged a stay of execution until those responsible from the Highways Department could confront the local people, and the S.O.D.C. forestation officer and Fox FM. The situation was explained, and as a sop to local opinion a few trees that would have gone were saved. Then the saw cut.

When planning permission to move the road was given in 1988 the plans seen gave no indication that it would involve this vandalism. If it had, alternative road plans would have been requested, instead of a stupid scheme that will cause traffic to go even faster through the village. It made many of us ask what local participatory democracy means in practice, and to feel further alienated from rotten structures and abuse of power. Others it just made very sad. To continue (and mutilate) the quotation from our Oxford poet, on Binsey in 1879:

O if we but knew what we do When we delve or hew - Hack and rack the growing green! Since country is so tender To touch, her being so slender... After-corners cannot guess the beauty been... Sweet especial rural scene.

Let's get on our bikes

Last year about ten people took off from Sandford's St Andrew's Church on a route worked out by Martin Pitson to take in as many interesting churches in our area as possible. They will be leaving the church at 10.0 a.m. on the 10th September, and anyone is very welcome to join them.

Alternatively you may prefer to follow your own programme, or take it a bit more easily by sponsoring one of the riders. Sponsorship forms are available from the vicar (748848) - half the money raised will go to our own church building fund, and the other half to help other churches in need of repair.

Youth Club

Rest in peace

Oxford Park Home Owners

I attended and spoke on behalf of all our residents on our park, saying that there should be a special Band for us in Park Homes. Mr Roy Waite has also been dealing with this and other aspects in the House of Lords. From this came an invitation from Radio Oxford, to be on the Bill Hine programme, for Roy Waite, Sir Gerald Vaughn, and myself, with a representative from South Oxfordshire Council.

SODC declined. The support and response from this programme was excellent. Thank you to those who enjoyed the programme, and also saying that it came over really well. The tape is available if you wish to hear for yourself, and you will be able to voice your own opinion at our next open meeting. Date later. Thank you all again for being members of our Residents' Association, and we look forward to meeting new Park Home owners.

Country and Western
The Country and Western group were so good we will be booking them again - look out for notices giving the date. We all had a good evening - thanks to Nigel for doing the bar.

A lost identity

The new road that we see today was cut through a pleasant tree lined field to byepass the old London road which we see running in front of the Fox Inn today. Cut in 1931, it must have been equally distressing to the villagers of the time, as major felling of mature elm trees took place, upward of twenty or more trees being removed, destroying the beauty of this upper part of the village.

The soil from the cutting was removed by manual labour, using horse drawn top-carts, for the men were paid ten pence per hour (old money). No one wanted the work as it was all yellow 'cloggey' clay. The spoils were deposited alongside the brook, and has been the cause of persistent flooding ever since.

And what did we get in return for this devastation? Three acacia trees, about five hawthorn bushes, and faster cars and lorries. Now I ask myself, what shall we get this time? Undoubtedly we shall get some form of so-called landscaping - perhaps three bushes and a tree again!

Now is the time to beautify the village. Let us shout a bit more. Surely there are some enlightened councillors on S.O.D.C. Who are these anonymous people whose job is to put up cheap and nasty roadsigns, after removing a fine cast iron one of the 1930s, and why don't we have a road sign with the legend Sandford-on- Thames Lock and River? Don't they know we have been Sandford-on- Thames since 1860! Our paper mill has gone, but where is there anything to show that we once had a mill?

Let us have our history back and rename houses and estate roads with something relative to our village, and finally who is it who sends minions twice a year to cut down the roadside wild flowers when they are in full bloom?

Winston Churchill once said that 'a country that has lost its history has lost its identity'.
This applies to villages also.

Kingcup

[Kingcup - more info]

The River Run

The teenage 3-mile was won by Christopher Hackett in 23.45, matched only by the Sandford Olympic hope Georgie Gibbons, aged 10, doing the 5 miles in a remarkable 36 mins. Steve Brookings also completed the 5 miles, but less fast than his father Alan, who at 46 mins gets faster every year. The 7-10 year old's 3 miles was closely contested, Daniel Welch winning gold in 24.48, followed by Aline Smith with silver in 25.30 and Amy Gibbons, bronze and again the youngest competitor, 32 mins. Jo Hutton and Laura Rolston followed together at 37. Also in the teenagers' race Nathan Sherwood took silver and Jim Smith bronze.

The geriatrics division was more competitive than usual, so the vicar (44 mins) was knocked off his perch by Melvyn Turner (ex-Henley Road) (43 mins) and Mike Dixon (43.45). Also impressive in the adults' division were bronze Vince Boyle (34.24), zinc Darren Drinkwater (34.40), copper Chris Wheatley (35.12), iron Les Gibbons (36.05), steel Sam Hutton (37.36), mercury Ian Bridge (38), willow Stan Cotten (39.54). Claire Williams was second fastest lady in Sandford at 45.39. New runners with great futures

Thanks to those runners whose legs attracted massive sponsorship, especially Mike Dixon, Chris Wheatley, Sam Hutton, Lee Jackson, Pete East, and to their sponsors, from the Village Hall, Youth Club and Church porch which benefited from your efforts. It was worth it. Also thanks to Nigel and Claire for hosting a party afterwards, to the Red Cross on the towpath - Julia Bridge and Brian Andrews - and at the Radley boathouse Jane Ford, Jan Clegg, Jill Dixon, Margaret Gardiner, and to all who shouted encouragement en route and clapped the clapped out runners home. And to all who loved their neighbours enough to buy them a drink afterwards ...

[More information on the River Run]

Sympathies to Dr Peter Agulnik on his bereavement - those of us who had the privilege of meeting his mother realise what a very remarkable lady she was.

Bosnia report

SANDFORD-ON-THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 9th May at 8 pm in the Magdalen College School Sports Pavilion, at which seven members were present.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman
Mr M. Leary proposed for Chairman, six votes in favour.
Mrs J. Shepherd proposed for Vice-Chairman, six votes in favour.

Matters for consideration:
1. Playground equipment The Clerk produced photographs of play equipment which are to be circulated to Councillors.
2. Survey of Rural Services 1994: Clerk to complete.
3. Subscriptions 1994/94 - Oxfordshire Association of Local councils: 7 votes in favour.
4. Village Name Signs: Clerk instructed to obtain estimate for three signs.
5. Oxford Special Conservation Awards 1994. Noted.
6. Village Hall Extension: The Parish Council discussed the revised plan produced by the Clerk. It was agreed that the plan should go forward with the following amendments:
General

1. The overall size of the extension has been increased in order to enlarge the Committee room. 2. The Parish Council would not wish the external door to the extension to be set back as in your revised plan. 3. Why is the extension to be inset by 4"? Extension should be flush with existing building.

Hall between existing kitchen and proposed kitchen

1. Outer door of fire escape should open outwards. 2. Remove inner door of fire escape.

Proposed kitchen

1. Remove partition wall between bin store and kitchen to increase size of kitchen. Infill existing opening to bin store with brickwork to match existing. (New bin store can be provided away from main building by others, if required.) 2. Provide door to hall of new extension. 3. Increase size of serving hatch.

Disabled persons' toilet

1. Reposition toilet as shown. Provide window.

Planning
P94/W0024 Rock Farm Lane Erection of 24 detached houses and garages and construction of associated roads and sewers. Amendment. No objection.
P94/WO223 Rock Farm Lane Conversion of existing timber barns into two dwellings. Accesses.
We note that the developer intends to use the north-eastern leg of Rock Farm Lane to gain access to two garages. At a meeting between residents and the developer the developer agreed that they would look favourably on reducing the number of garages/parking spaces on barn 1 by providing a garage and parking on Barn 2 for that property. The Parish Council would ask the Planning Authority to consider this amendment.
P93/WO711 26 Henley Road Single storey extension to create a study and store room plus small single storey extension to create a utility room. Amendment. No objection.
P94/WO244/LB 5 River View French windows to replace existing casement windows. No objection to this proposal provided that it does not contravene the conditions imposed by the original Listed Building Consent for Nos. 3-8 River View.