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June 1996             Issue 62

CHURCH NEWS

Following last years's enormously successful playscheme, Sue Bowen is organising another one this year, from July 28th - 14th August, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays.

On Thursday of the first week there will be a day trip to Thorpe Park, and on Thursday of the second week to the West Midland Safari Park. A day is from 10.0 - 3.0, and will cost £2.50 per day, and £1.50 for a second child (concessions available and subsidised places). Includes ice-skating, swimming, bouncy castle, arts and crafts, etc.

Mothers and Toddlers group

There will a meeting of parents in the Village Hall on Monday 17th June at 7.30 p.m. (yes - after enrolling for Summer Playscheme - neat) for all mothers and potential mothers to decide

1. whether there is still a need
2. when it should meet - to avoid clashes with other such groups.
3. when it should restart
4. who is willing to form the committee
5. any other business.

Congratulations

Baptisms

The Cricket Match

The highlights of our innings were Jeff Timms' brisk 64, including a six which smashed wicket-keeper Maurice Earp's windscreen and caused trauma to the family inside the car. Donations to the M.E. Replacement fund gratefully received, e.g. at the Fox or church. The rest of our batting was low scoring, partly due to Andy Pike and Ian Bridge being absent. Jim Smith defended stoutly, ably assisted by the umpire's encouragement and both Scott and James Venables batted as promisingly as they had bowled, but Captain Courageous Stan Cotten and the old slogger Andy Middleton both turned in disappointing performances and finally Maurice Earp ran out of partners, boosting his average with 1 not

Youth Club

Memorial Service

Garden of Remembrance

Now is a time for successors please - people willing to give of their time and labours to keep Sandford beautiful for their neighbours and visitors, the kind of community service that is rewarding if not rewarded, appreciated by many of us who too rarely get the chance to express our appreciation; though several have done so by contributing to the fence or donating a tree in memory of a loved one.


and talking of trees...
on Good Friday 1800, to mark the new century, the yew tree was planted in Sandford churchyard. So how should we be marking the millennium in ways that might be still standing in 200 years? Read on...

A project for the village?

A grant has now been obtained from the Rural Development Commission and application is being made to other agencies, and the Parish Council remains in favour. But the question has been raised whether the Burgers of Sandford are really interested, and how many of us would put any effort into a humming-with-activity Village Hall.

The Link says: Ask the people. It wishes to stir up debate, and invites residents and other interested to say

1. Whether you would like it to happen
2. What extra uses for the enlarged hall (with extra room, kitchens, bar space) you could imagine, and
3. Whether you might yourself like to be more involved, perhaps by joining the management committee, or could suggest people who might be approached.

Meanwhile, for Village Hall BOOKINGS telephone Sharon or Bryan Fenn on 716597 (3 Henley Road)

Respect

SANDFORD RIVER RUN
Saturday 29th June

13th/14th JULY

The riverside location of the Kings Arms is blighted by what must be the most untidy, ill-kept and litter strewn public house in the county. The 'garden', if a patch of uncut and untended grass can be so called, has received no attention at all this year. It always contains litter and broken glass that are complemented by the appalling car-park. In April, sacks of rubbish appeared in the corner of the car-park that could all be refilled many times over by the rubbish in the hedge-rows of the garden. The broken fencing, weeds and uncut hedges create the impression that the pub closed down long ago (or is that just wishful thinking). Its out-houses, a target for vandals and ne'er-do-wells, long ago lost their rustic charm and should be dismantled before they fall down. The play equipment in the garden has suffered from vandalism and is in desperate need of a re-fit and the once attractive window boxes and tubs now look sadly neglected.

Let us all hope that either this year the judges repeat the strategy that enables them to miss this eye-sore, or better still the matter is attended to by the pub.

Sandford shapes up for summer!

New body is a low impact (no jumping or running) workout for those wanting to make a start towards getting fit. And also coming to Sandford is Summer Circuits, in which the class works its way round the room doing different exercises at various 'stations', with easy or advanced options so that individuals can choose the level to suit their ability.

Dress is casual (with comfortable supportive footwear such as trainers), mats are provided, bring a soft drink, new members register 5- 10 mins before the class starts - so just turn up. The cost is £3 per session or £25 for 10 classes, which can be used at any time. To find out more ring Dee Armstrong on 01491-******.

Old Sandford

The 1922 (pre-Blackbird Leys, except as farm) map is fascinating - complete with bathing sheds by Sandford pool, and the Great Western Railway. A small village then, but with 12 children in some houses (some still with us) a vibrant one. The Sandford pictures go more for the buildings than the people - but some will recognize (maybe) Mary Butler's mother and grandmother at the Glen. Whitmarsh's vicarage, later Clapperton's and then Burra's house, now Elmslea, is very fine with 'house servant Edith Beecham' clutching a baby - perhaps one we commemorate on Remembrance Sunday - and Rock Farm Lane comes out well. Mr Keene's cows are behaving friskily in the street.

Mr Barrett (Joyce's father) stands outside the Fox, with Mr Benwell. Both the old church (1821 drawing) and the rebuild (1890) are included. School photos from 1920 and 1930s show familiar names on young faces. H.M. Inspectors had said Sandford children were unteachable, but the formidable Mrs Bolt turned that round and made it among the best in the County. The football (Fred Druce i/c) and cricket (Tom Smith captain) teams contain familiar faces 40 years younger, including Les Gibbons and Joe Smith.

The Mill gets ample coverage, and the brickworks (with Mr Joe Middleton driving the traction engine) and the lock. It is all so interesting it is churlish to ask for more. But readers of Kingcup's articles in the Link will regret that more space was not devoted to his words and the people, and it is a pity the editors did not manage to find out the names of some villagers (like Bob 'Jock' Hutton) in the football team and elsewhere. From the Domesday Book and the Sandford Cartulary, there are 900 years of history which we hope will in due course receive a more ample commentary. But the present volume is fascinating, and well worth possessing.

Rest in peace

At his funeral in church on 25th April, attended by former vicars of Sandford, the present vicar paid lengthy tribute to his 39 years as churchwarden (a job which includes keeping elderly vicars afloat), stoking the old church boiler every day, caring for the churchyard, digging the graves (by hand). But above all for his good life and example of Christian faith, hope, and love. That shows us the meaning of Easter, as we celebrate a living Lord, in the words set for that week 'an example of Godly life', inspiring others to 'also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life'.

Charlie was buried with Easter resurrection hymns alongside his youngest son David. In lieu of flowers friends are invited to make a donation towards the memorial and graveyard - now extended to include the Garden of Remembrance for ashes. In gratitude for his life among us we share our sympathies with all the family - at his funeral the Sandford church congregation sang these words in the building he looked after for so long:

Sing praise, then, for all who here sought and here found him,
whose journey is ended, whose perils are past:
they believed in the light; and its glory is round them,
where the clouds of earth's sorrow are lifted at last.

Joe worked with his father in the mill, in clogs, moved to its Bevoid part, and back when that closed. As a boy he sang in the Sandford church choir and worked the organ (air pump) along with Mr Pitson and Mr Frank Welch, also recently departed, and like them he remained a life-long faithful church member and showed in his life what that can yield in character. We shan't forget him, and in offering sympathy to Peggy and Denise and Malcolm and Jim and Aline several of us realize not so much what we have lost as what we have been privileged to share, in knowing Joe over the years. He died four hours after the Bishop had blessed and dedicated the projects he had been working on, and after the funeral in church on 20th May and cremation his ashes inaugurated the new Garden on 29th May. Peggy and the family thank friends and neighbours for their kindness at this time.

Despite some illness she was always spritely, mentally totally alert and a joy to be with, another of those elderly Sandforders whose sheer goodness, generosity, faithfulness have been an inspiration to all who knew them. At the service of thanksgiving in church her favourite hymns were sung, including The King of Love my shepherd is, When I survey the wondrous cross, and Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us, and her grandson Andrew spoke about his memories of her for the family. Hester's husband Les read the lessons from her family Bible. Miss Kempson (100+) was there. We offer our sympathies to them all and feel grateful to have known her.



George Adams. 1911 - 1996
George died on the 22nd May aged 85. He lived for many years in Sandford before moving to Littlemore. During the war years he was a fireman in Oxford and Southampton, returning to Oxford to spend most of his working life at the Cowley car works for over 30 years, making many friends there.

He has always been a very popular and friendly face in the village. He spent many happy hours at The Fox, where he loved to help out behind the bar for Joyce and in later years for Nigel. Last year he flew for the first time to attend his grandson's wedding in Germany. He leaves a daughter, two sons, several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by all. He became the first person to be buried in the newly consecrated Burial Ground between the Church and the Fox, realize the importance of having got this ready in time.

Sandford on Thames Parish Council

The Door

Go and open the door,
    Maybe outside there's
    a tree, or a wood,
    a garden,
    or a magic city.

Go and open the door,
    Maybe a dog's rummaging.
    Maybe you'll see a face,
or an eye,
or the picture
        of a picture.

Go and open the door.
    If there's a fog
    it will clear.

Go and open the door.
    Even if there's only
    the darkness ticking,
    even if there's only
    the hollow wind,
    even if
           nothing
                  is there,
go and open the door.

At least
there'll be
a draught.