SANDFORD ON THAMES VILLAGE MAGAZINE ON LINE
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Summer 2004             Issue 94

Sandford     River Run Saturday June 26th (see page 3)

(see page 12 & 13)

CHURCH NEWS
Ministry team: Robert Morgan (Lower Farm, 748848) priest-in-charge; Lydia Cook (833242) associate priest. Licensed lay ministers: Brian Andrews (777011);  Liz Shatford (772598). Church Wardens: Mrs Marjorie Harris (24 Henley Road) and Ray Lee (93 Henley Road). Director of Music: Christian Bradley.

Environmental Summer School at Hinksey Heights Nature Park. Run by the Northmoor Trust
	Summer Playscheme Mondays and Tuesdays between July 26th and August 17th £8 per child, 8-13 year olds only. 10am to 3.30pm. Please bring a packed lunch.
Family Days Wednesdays between July 28th and August 18th. £5 per child, any age - all children must be accompanied by an adult. Max 3 children per adult. 10am to 3.30pm. Please bring a packed lunch.
Activities will include: team building games, pond dipping, making birdboxes, bug hunting, environmental games, nature walks and environmental art.
Please call Naomi on (07941) 312654. Book early to avoid disappointment. N.B. Please be aware of the weather. Your child may need waterproofs, sun cream, sun hat, hayfever pills, midge repellent, and sturdy (old) shoes.

TODDLERS GROUP Mondays 10 - 12 in the Village Hall Run by Michelle (748257) and Jackie (776598) Mums and Dads very welcome	in the Village Hall every Thursday 7.0 for 8.0 in aid of Village Hall funds
VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Private functions: £10 per hour Bookings phone: 07759-890696 [Village Hall - Info]	Community Refuse Vehicles for use by villagers: for dates and times, please see Parish Council noticeboards.

Fuchsias Nature does sing, different coloured bells ring. all in a swirl, this jewel, this pearl. The queen of flowers bloom to brighten gloom with colour they glow, sliding down a rainbow. Fragile but strong, seen all summer long. Nature spirits prancing this ballerina dancing. Roger Phipps

The appraisal group has been beavering away, over the last few weeks, looking over the results, and the vast number of comments and suggestions received, from the village appraisal survey.

There are strong feelings about speeding cars and the state of the roads in the village. Also if we had a village shop there would be some support, and many suggestions for more activities at the village hall. There are encouraging responses to local information provided via The Link, notice boards and web pages and an interest in the neighbourhood watch scheme. Generally people thought the village is an excellent place to live, with support for a 'green' approach to the village, which is good to know!

Our topic groups
With such a large database to work on, we have split up the main results into several smaller topic areas. The eight topic groups have investigated each area in more detail, and their reports are now being assembled into the Draft Action Plan. This analysis has been quite time consuming, with limited people available to thoroughly cover all the issues raised, but shows considerable consensus and clear areas of concern. Steady progress has been made, and after a lot of hard work, the resultant Draft Action Plan is now almost ready.

But what is a Draft Action Plan?
This is one of the interesting stages in the appraisal process. The plan shows what collectively everyone in the village considers important, and gives a suggested course of action to improve things. The Draft Action Plan should be available in time for it to be delivered to every household in the village shortly before the village fete to give you time to think about it!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Deb and Franz of Riverview

Village Fete
The Village Appraisal Group will have a stall at the village fete on Sat 10 July, so this will be your chance to come along and discuss the findings with us. You can talk to the group and find out more about the appraisal progress and the Draft Action Plan. It will also be the best time to drop off your feedback forms, so we hope we will see you there!

Prize draw
Your responses to the findings are important and in order to encourage your support we have - a prize draw. All feedback forms returned to us will be entered into a prize draw, generously donated by the Four Pillars Hotel, for a meal for two in their splendid river room restaurant.

Next steps...
The Draft Action Plan will be revised, to reflect the feedback, and will be formed into the final 'Parish Plan'. The intention is that it will then be adopted by the Parish Council as a basis for the future of our village of Sandford-on-Thames.

Want more information?
The appraisal group is being co-ordinated by Steve Daniels tel. ****** and administered by Mick Hills (tel. ******) along with a great, but small, team of volunteers. Further information can also be found in the appraisal section of the web site: www.SandfordonThames.co.uk

a couple of issues have been explored over recent months by the Parish Council that I would like to promote within the village.

Broadhurst gardens:
the parish council has embarked on a costly scheme to tidy up the recreation area off Broadhurst gardens. We have engaged a gardening company to cut back the over growth of tress and shrubs and to remove fly tipping on the site and a den, built in the trees. This work is paid for from our council tax and I would urge the residents who see this piece of land as a suitable place to dump their grass cuttings and garden waste to think again. You could be prosecuted for fly tipping and you/we have to pay to have it removed.

Rubbish bags:
a small number of villagers leave rubbish sacks on the highway over the weekend. This is illegal and could result in a fine! Bags should be put out after dusk on Sunday to be collected on Monday. The refuse vehicle comes at around 0730. And please remember the more paper, tins, cans and plastic that you put out for recycling - the less council tax.

Motor-cycles:
a small number of youths are causing misery to a large number of villagers by riding around public and private land in the village. This is particularly bad behind the university halls of residence in Heyford Hill Lane. The parish council are working with the Thames Valley Police to address this matter. This is a dangerous and criminal act and the local beat officer advised that residents rang 999 to report a crime in action - please do so, before someone is hurt and land and lives are made a misery.

Parking:
Please do not park on the pavement. Parking on the road is an excellent speed deterrent and many of our roads have grass verges that are being damaged by thoughtless drivers. Repairing this damage will again affect us all in increased council tax.

Youths:
a small group of youths regularly wander the streets of Sandford and Littlemore after dark, raising concern about their intentions and their well being. This might be you or your child, who may be at risk. What can the Parish Council do to help provide constructive outlets for these members of our community? Please let the Parish Council have your thoughts.

Nigel Northcott, Chairman, Parish Council

SANDFORD FESTIVAL WEEK END 10th and 11th July
	in St Andrews church: open Saturday 10.0 - 6.0 and Sunday 11.0 - 6.0 with Coral Evensong at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday
PLEASE COULD YOU HELP WITH THE PETE? By donating books or bric a brac By making a cake or biscuits, marmalade or jam,, for the cake stall By giving a prize for the Raffle or tombola By helping on a stall on the day By helping on the recreation ground at 10.30 in the morning, putting up gazebos, tables, bringing out chairs etc. By coming along, bringing your friends, and enjoying yourself! By potting up some plants from your garden - maybe you have some unusual ones, or could make up a hanging basket? Plants and cakes on the day please; other donations to Liz Shatford, The Old school (772598) or Marjorie Harris, 24 Henley Road (777900) either on the day or beforehand.

2.0 p.m. on Saturday 10th July
	GUN DOG DISPLAY			DANCE RHYTHMS WITH THE SPARKLING SANDFORD STARS
TEA TENT
GRAND RAFFLE
TUG OF WAR				PLANTS
TAE KWON DO DISPLAY				ICES
LOTS OF STALLS				SILVER BAND
BRIC A BRAC				TOMBOLA
GLADIATOR JOUSTING				FUN AND GAMES
BOUNCY CASTLE				COCONUTS
BOOKS				BARBEQUE

This year's jolly evening at the Village Hall was a bit late, but happened on 27th March - courtesy of a new Quiz Master, Terry and his team, notably June, Janet, and scorer Lynda and Kerry and Rosie and Chris, with Claire and Maurice i/c bar, and sloe gin made and auctioned by Maurice. Raffle prizes were won by nearly everyone, so thanks to generous donations of bottles etc. Donations were made to local charities and services, especially the Church, Youth Club, Toddlers, Disabled lunch, Village Hall.

The results speak for themselves if you know the codes. All honour to Will's Camp X Ray and everyone else who knocked the once all-conquering Squad into tenth place. There is an explanation which we will call honest competitiveness, not skullduggery. But for the record the Squad's star performer was drugged, seduced, persuaded, bribed, into joining the main rival team in the bar shortly before kick-off. We welcome a healthy transfer market, but want him back next time. Runners-up were a medical team and the NHS was well represented in the Dark Blues bronze. We'll see how many of these heroes can repeat their performance at the River Run in June.

Results:   1. Camp X Ray, 90;   2. Online, 85;   3. Dark Blues, 76.5;   4. Cheating Seven, 76;   5. Ambivalents, 73.5;   6. The Todies, 73;   7. Harvy Headbangers, 72.5;   8. Fifty Fifty, 67;   9. Freewheelers, 61.5;   10. Squad, 60.5;   11. Armless, 56.5;   12. 1901, 47.

If you have access to the internet, do visit the Sandford website [web site no longer active] which has loads of really interesting information about Sandford. For back issues of the link why not have a look at the 'Sandford On Thames village magazine on line' which can be found at www.Sandford0nThames.co.uk Which also has parish council and village appraisal information.

June 26th Sandford River Run 5.0   (4.30 registration) July 10th Parish and Village Fete July 10th/11th Flower Festival July 11th Green sermon on the Environment 6.30 September 11th Historic Churches Cycle Ride September 26th Harvest Festival: 10.0, 11.15 and Lunch October 31st All Souls - Memorial service 6.30 December 19th Children's Carol Service 11.15 Christmas Carol Service 6.30

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.

One of the favourite songs at the 11.15 all-age service at the end of each month is 'If! were a butterfly, I'd thank you, Lord, for giving me wings. And if I were a robin in a tree, I'd thank you, Lord, that I could sing' etc. Each verse ends with 'I just thank you, Father, for making me me'. That's something to be able to be thankful for. In fact being able to be thankful at all is something. And to be able to focus it in words and music with other people in a hilarious song is good practice, learning to live.

A video was recently shown in Sandford of the parish project in South West Tanzania to explain what we'd been supporting there - mainly some building projects. But it was all full of singing and dancing. People with very few possessions living at subsistence level, but able to join together and let their worship be a reflection of and inspiration for their whole life.

Not much seemed to have changed for these peasant farmers living the hard lives of their parents and grandparents, bringing up their children, growing old and dying - dancing through life, praising God, thankful for being who they are, thankful for being at all, and being given the chance to work with each other, relate to each other, eat, drink, sleep with those most precious to them. Praise God - and not forget the need and the suffering in Africa.


An older generation (The vicar writes...)

On Thursday evening, 10th June, I visited a housebound man of 90 who some years ago now had a small shop in Cowley. Filling a gap in the conversation I asked him if he'd voted in today's European elections. Of course he had, he replied. By post, some days ago. He would never miss voting - it was a privilege. I felt humbled - and full of admiration. Here was someone who had fought through the war and realized what (at best) they were fighting for. Utterly straightforward and unsentimental he knew what it meant to be a citizen in a free country. And was glad.

The D-day commemoration fell on a Sunday, giving a chance for the sort of reflection usually kept for Remembrance Sunday. Not in the sermon this time (another festival took precedence - it was Trinity Sunday) but thinking of one elderly member of our congregation who was 18 when he landed in Normandy (and survived, as ten of thousands didn't), another (recently departed) who commanded a boat taking people over, and others - it would be good to have more information on the two war graves in the churchyard and the familiar Sandford names on the plaque, read out each November.

They did not ask for war, and knew the evil of it better than their more fortunate children and grandchildren, but they did what they had to. We will remember them - not least by taking our own civic responsibilities more seriously next time.

Mrs Jenny Greenaway died 19th March 2004
Jenny was born in South Wales, but made herself at home in Sandford and became with Monty a much loved regular over 38 years visiting the Fox, at the domino board (Penny a Spot). She and Monty used to come over regularly from Blackbird Leys, and finally retired to Kiln Close. At the canteens where she worked (Press Steel and Johnsons) everyone knew her and she enjoyed their company. She was happy in her family, and at the funeral Gary referred to her endlessly knitting jumpers etc. for all of them. In her last illness she was as quietly serene as ever, never complaining and more concerned for her husband than for herself.
Our deepest sympathies went to Monty, and to Jenny's elder sisters, and her sons Eddie, Gamy, and John and their wives and the grandchildren and the larger circle. At the funeral a packed chapel sang the Old Rugged Cross - 'then he'll call me some day, to my home far away, when his glory for ever I'll share' - and All things bright and beautiful - 'Each little bird that sings - he made their tiny wings'. There was something of the angel in Jenny, and several of us outside the family circle will miss her too and be grateful for having known her a little.


Mr Monty Greenaway died 23rd May 2004, aged 75
Barely two months after Jenny, a large congregation (unable all to get in) again gathered to say their farewells to Monty and express the huge affection in which they were both held, and to share our sympathies with a local family that has suffered much bereavement in recent months. The photos and obituaries in the Mail and Times recalled Monty's expertise at Aunt Sally, as champion for many years. Gary spoke of his garden ('if you can't eat it don't grow it!') and we thought of the up-beat way he coped with illness, his pride in his three sons, and the good friends and neighbours he had at Park Homes. Their loss leaves a gap at the heart of the village and makes those still here feel a little older, but also richer for the privilege of having known Monty and Jenny. In their life together they were lovely to each other, and in their death they were not divided.


Mr John Fitzpatrick 7th December 1918 - 19th March 2004
Although coming from Northern Ireland and joining the RAP at Liverpool at the start of the war John Fitzpatrick made Sandford home, living on Willow Bank when it was still Temple Farm, then moving to Blackbird Leys, and finally following the loss of his wife to Orchard House, conveniently around the corner from his daughter Anne at Keene Close. In the RAF he was a firefighter with he Dakota Squadron in Burma, helping in the evacuation of the 14th Army,

I was very pleased to be elected your county councillor in February and look forward to working with you to serve the interests of all in Sandford. Since the election I have been most involved with some of the major regional planning issues which have or will affect the village.

The Grenoble Road proposal
Although we have been successful in removing the Grenoble Road proposal for 3,000+ houses from the county Structure Plan, we will need to defend that decision at the public examination on the issue which will take place in October. To help with this, I have placed a "how to fill in the forms" guide on the SODC web-site in respect of the consultation document many will have been sent by the County Council about the changes made to the Structure Plan. It is important you respond, even if it is only to say how much you support the Grenoble Road scheme having been taken out.

The South East Plan
This will be the last Structure Plan produced by the County Council. That task now passes to the South East England Regional Assembly - an unelected body based in Guildford. They are already producing a plan for the South East (which includes Oxfordshire) which could see new house-builds rise from the current 25,000 a year to 48,000 a year. To help villages in my area make a considered response to these proposals I organised a workshop for all my parish councils (including representatives from Sandford) so that they could share information and approaches.
Responding to consultations in this way is going to be increasingly important in the future and will mean channelling more views through parish councils.

I am very happy to hear from anyone in Sandford who has a problem I can take up with the County Council. The County Council's responsibilities include, for example, roads and social services. I am happy to hold 'surgeries' in Sandford if there is the demand but am also happy for people to use my email address (drjohnhowell @ hotmail.com) for virtual 'surgeries' to deal with problems as well.

Counmy Councilor Dr John Howell OBE   Telephone contact 07889 646845

CONGRATULATIONS to the police on their outstandingly fast response to a recent burglary at 3.0 a.m. and for the quality of care and reassurance over the phone, remaining on-line until help arrived.

Minutes of meeting held May 12 2003 were approved. There were no matters arising.

Chairman's report 2003- 2004 (summary)
Kassam Stadium and traffic The problems had improved a little due to yellow lines and poor performance of the football team. Still no relief from speeding traffic
Village hall is in good shape and disturbances now minimised.
Ditch is now working well.
Police liaison Still no police locally in spite of reassurances last year. No officer has attended a meeting of parish council and people were uncertain where our local officer was to be located.
Recreation/play areas new styles are in position, and gates locked to keep out motor bikes.
Broadhursi Gardens work now complete
Appraisal this has been led by Steve Daniels and Mick Hill with a team of volunteers
Green belt still a need for vigilance even though Draft Structure Plan has now omitted 1,000 homes proposal at Grenoble Rd
Motor cycles using various sites have caused much annoyance and pressure to fence land has been put on landowners.
Roads most surfaces in reasonably good repair
Park Homes there had been much frustration this year
Appreciation was extended to council and thanks to attending villagers. Pat Tuson had resigned due to moving away and she was thanked for her work.

District Councillor's report This was covered by D Buckle's question and answer session. D. Buckle went over the history of the ongoing troubles with the Park Homes site. The owner had either 5 or 10 years from 2001 to comply with different sections of the agreed Model Standards. Some progress had been made but not enough so a task group had been set up. This was having administrative teething problems which J Stimson considered needed solving

County Coundilor's report - Since his election, J Howell reported that his main issues of concern had been to do with the Structure Plan and regional planning issues. He had organised a response form for his parishes to send to the Regional Planning Guidance Secretariat for changes to minerals policy. In regard to the Draft Structure Plan which had changed Policy HI (1,000 houses), He advised that everyone who had received a response form from the OCC (people who had responded before) should check on the SODC website for guidance as to how to fill it in and reply. This was not immediately obvious from the document itself because it was now necessary to agree with the change. Guidance can be obtained from the SODC website www.southoxon.gov.uk (follow the links to Hands off South Oxfordshire) Cllr Howell was holding a workshop for parish councils to help to make a response to SEERA SE Plan.

Statement of accounts 2002- 2003 was presented to the meeting Before presenting the accounts, the clerk expressed the thanks of the parish council to Mr N. Mackisack who so generously acted as the parish hon. internal auditor. The accounts were presented by the Clerk and adopted by the meeting.

Appraisal Group report
This was presented by M Hills who said that in spite of much hard work from the appraisal team, due to a much higher response from the parish than anticipated and to some falling away in support from volunteer helpers, the full report was not yet ready. The draft version would be circulated round the village before the fete in July at which it was hoped to have a stall for general consultation and feed back.

Rock Farm Lane - an agreement was being drawn up by Mrs Agulnik. It was hoped that this would be ready for the next parish council meeting and then ideas for what to do with the land could be discussed.

Minutes: Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Matters arising: in relation to traffic calming, a letter had been received from the residents of 22 and 24 Henley Rd expressing their disappointment that nothing had yet been realized regarding the provision of a 'resident's only' parking bay outside their houses following the installation of double yellow lines. Clerk would send a copy of this plus a letter from the parish council to Richard Dix with copy to J Howell. Richard Dix had not replied to a letter written to him in April asking him to attend our annual meeting.
More and larger 'No Dogs' notices were needed for all the recreation grounds in the village.
Broadhurst Gardens tidying work was proceeding.

County Coundilor's report: J Howell expressed his thanks to those who had attended his recent workshop on the SEERA 'consultation.' He had felt it necessary because of the poor procedures for consultation in place. He was thanked for his efforts in this respect. He reminded those present to return their reply forms supporting the Draft Structure Plan, the deadline is June 11th~ With regard to the recent report in the press about a proposed flood channel there had been no public consultation, he would invite the Environment Agency to inform the parish council what it was about.

Matters for consideration
* Risk assessment - the annual insurance for the parish had been paid and playground inspection set for July.
* Audit return 2003/2004 - this was accepted and the statement of assurance signed.
* Village Hall - there were problems in getting sufficient volunteers to manage the hall so it was proposed and unanimously agreed that until there was a strong committee no more bookings for private hire would be taken.
N Northcott said that there was also a vacancy for a parish councillor, no one had volunteered following the annual meeting and advertising on the parish boards, so an appeal would be put in the forthcoming edition of the Link.

Planning: No planning applications but an application had been received from 'Produced with OOMF' via SODC Environmental Health regarding a proposed event to take place in the grounds of the Four Pillars Hotel on Friday June 25th~ Clerk would return the form saying it was difficult to make observations as there appeared to be uncertainty about the details.

M Inston complained of the state of green spaces within the village. Clerk would obtain a quotation for the cost of extra work to remedy this and write to Magdalen requesting that they remove overhanging vegetation alongside Church Rd path by Four Pillars.

M Hills said that the iron cage around a small Oak tree in the Church Rd rec. was loose and needed securing. N Northcott would ask Geoff Surman to attend to it.

Date of next meeting: Monday July 5th at 7.00pm in the Village Hall

Don't Miss Out on Council Tax or Housing Benefit Did you know? * More than 1.4 million pensioners are losing out on Council Tax Benefit * Up to 860,000 households are failing to claim £960 million in Housing Benefit. * Up to 2 million households are failing to claim £860 million in Council Tax Benefit. For further information please contact Benefits on 01491 823579 or e-mail benefitssodcuk @  liberata.com Alternatively write to: South Oxfordshire District Council, Benefits Service Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8NX www.southoxon.gov.uk