THE SANDFORD LINK AUTUMN 2020 - ISSUE 159 - HUGOFOX
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The Sandford Link
Autumn 2020 - Issue 159
HARVEST
THANKSGIVING
followed by Brunch
10.0 a.m. on Sunday 4th
October
In these uncertain times, we are not quite sure what
form the Brunch will be able to take, but we are
optimistic that something delicious will be possible!
As usual, any non-perishable food gifts for the Porch, supporting
homeless and vulnerably housed people in East Oxford, can be
left in the church porch in the week before.
Our gifts are always much appreciated.
Editor: Hazel Douglas — Email: sandfordlink@gmail.com
www.sandfordonthames.org.uk
Page 1
Contents—Parish & Church News / Talking Shop / Village
Events / Festival / Classified ads / WI / Local News / Activism.
Sunday services:
10.0 a.m. Parish Communion
(on the last Sunday of the month, a more
informal Westward Communion)
6.30 p.m. Evening prayer
Bible study: Fridays fortnightly at 5.0 p.m. – temporarily
suspended. Individual study – consult vicar.
Page 2
Church and Parish News
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH
Ministry team:
Robert Morgan (Lower Farm, 748848) (priest-in-
charge);
Teresa Morgan (associate priest); Liz Shatford
(772598).
Church Wardens: Leslie Rhodes. Alison Nicol.
Director of Music Christian Bradley.
robert.morgan@theology.ox.ac.uk
www.sandfordchurch.org.uk facebook.com/sandfordchurch/
Welcome to the Parish / Welcome to the world /
Congratulations
The lockdown has made it hard to catch up on the news for these sections. If you email
any details to sandfordlink@gmail.com, we will put them online.
Back to church
We can be grateful for small mercies – including the resumption of church services since
4th July, complying with regulations more necessary in larger gatherings – nobody wants
to risk infecting anyone else, so we are strong on social distancing, handgel etc. while
allowing ourselves to hum, murmur or sing softly behind our masks as the music raises the
roof. Each week there is much to be thankful for and much to pray for together, and the
regular rhythms of Bible reading etc. cannot be dropped for long without our faith itself
being damaged. The institution has less personal problems, mainly financial, but locally
many donors have been generous in maintaining or increasing their charitable giving and
a brilliant bunch of volunteers have kept Talking Shop at the heart of the community’s
response to difficult times. The Snowdon trip has had to be postponed, but theological
walks and socially distanced classes and consultations have restarted – anyone interested
ring the vicar on 748848 between 9 and 3 or after 8.0 p.m.
Rest in peace
We have just had the sad news that Derek Price, of Yeftley Drive, died on the 25th August.
Derek Sherwood MBE born 19th June 1923, died 7th June 2020, aged 96
Derek was brought up in Southport, a resort on the Ribble estuary in Lancashire with lots
of sand and an excellent second-hand bookshop. After school he joined the RAF and
trained as a pilot in Arizona before being transferred from bomber command to gliders
after the Dieppe disaster – a more suitable job for a peace-loving Methodist. After the
Page 3
War he worked on a farm, joined the police, married Joan and had two daughters, Sue
and Heather. He became a chief Superintendent in the Thames Valley force, in charge of
traffic control.
After retiring he formed the Welfare division – hence his MBE – and enjoyed gardening
and more flying, built a mini-steam engine and drove it on a track around his garden and
at the Cutteslowe Park regular events.
Sadly Joan had to spend her last two years in Sharon’s Marston Court Nursing Home, and
having been a regular visitor to Sandford with his workshop with Sue and Michael Norton
when Joan died in 2014 Derek moved into their new independent bungalow on Henley
Road. His 90s were very active, including flying again, zipwiring, parachute jumping,
being welcomed back at RAF Benson or Brize Norton from the air, and maintaining dual
citizenship with Headington Methodists and St Andrew’s, Sandford. He was every day in
Talking Shop, sometimes playing chess with Malcolm Bourner and a familiar sight latterly
on his disability scooter. At the end he coped with ill-health bravely and was mentally as
sharp as ever.
Many of us miss him and we offer our condolences to Sue and Heather and the rest of the
family, including Tammy’s gift of a great grandchild for him. May he rest in peace and rise
in glory.
Michael Kelly born 30th May 1930, died 17th July 2020, aged 90
Michael was born in Ireland and was the eighth of nine children. He came to Oxford as a
young man in order to find employment and worked in the Cowley car plant for many
years. He met Paula, his future wife, at the church that he attended and they had two
children: Siobhan and Seamus. Michael and Paula came to live in Sandford in 1983 (in the
bungalow at the top of Church Road which was painted by Sandra in 1990 and is hung in
the Village Hall) and they enjoyed many years in the village before retiring to Ireland.
However, they both missed their family and Sandford so much that they returned in
2008, to Broadhurst Gardens. Michael had a keen interest in wild life and astronomy,
and, over the years, he enjoyed many trips to Boston, Massachusetts, to visit his son and
family. He was a very loving and proud grandfather; following the progress of his seven
grandchildren was of paramount importance to him even during the last few days of his
life. Many of us valued his friendship; and will miss him. He passed away in the Horton
General Hospital on 17th July after a short illness. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Anthony Langford (Tony) Green born 21st May 1938, died 26th June 2020, aged 82.
Tony was brought up with his sister Julie in Marston and apprenticed to a compositor
with the Oxford Mail. After National Service with the Royal Military Police in Northern
Ireland he returned to the Oxford Mail but soon began building businesses, starting first
with U-Drive hiring plant machinery, then expanding into vans and cars, and then taxis –
50 years MD of 001 Taxis and taking over Evans Taxi and Luxicars. He never stopped
working, even when his son Mark took over the day to day running of the business. They
started another in 2018.
In 1958 Tony married Maureen and they had two children, Mark and Tracy. Following his
divorce, Di became his life partner in 1975 and he became a fine step-father and
grandfather to Linda and Natalie in her family. They lived 40 years in Sandford, moving
Page 4
from Henley Road to Church Road to the beautiful bungalow he built on Heyford Hill
Lane, before moving 5 years ago to a penthouse overlooking the Thames in Abingdon.
Tony was a devoted supporter of Oxford United, rarely missing a home game, and he
enjoyed foreign holidays, especially in Spain. He was a good friend and great family
man – we offer our condolences to Di and to Mark and Tracy, and to 11 grandchildren
and 18 great grandchildren.
At the funeral there was a long cortege of taxis from the Broad, through the High
Street to the Crematorium, which was most impressive and showed the affection and
esteem in which Tony was held. May he rest in peace.
Professor Clare Robertson born 8th September 1956 died 20th June 2020, aged 63.
Clare was brought up in London with a Welsh mother (Sheila) and Scottish father
(Alan). Educated at St Anne’s College, Oxford, she was a junior research fellow at
Somerville and St Peter’s, had a lectureship at Leicester, and then 28 years in Reading
becoming Professor and Head of Department of History and Architecture. Among her
many publications were Il Gran Cardinale (on Alessandro Farnese), the international
prizewinning (Salimbeni Prize) on Carracci, and recently Rome 1600, also a wonderful
book. Also a book on Veronese.
Clare was one of Oxford’s luminaries. She and John Kenyon moved to Church Road in
1995 but when other duties allowed were to be found in Rome, where they also had a
precious circle of friends. She was a lovely lady and many of us will miss her. We offer
our sympathies to her mother Sheila and husband John. Her work and the memories
she left live on. May she rest in peace.
Welcome
to Francis, Rosie and 1-yr-old Dorothea (Dot) to Church Road
to Alex and Mihaera and David to Yeftley Drive
to Amy and Katy to Church Road (and bye-bye Tim and Lucy – we miss you!)
Welcome to the world
to a daughter born on 1st August to Daisy and Richard Allington, of Yeftley Drive
to Jack, born to Mark and Jesi Barrett (family on Heyford Hill Lane) on 26th May, a
brother for Max
to Florence Elizabeth Broadhurst, born on the 19 th March to Daniel Hayward and Annie
Broadhurst of Church Road, a sister to Rosie
to Peter, born on 3rd August, a first for Cristina and Paul of St George’s Manor (and
citizens of Sandford).
Thanks—The vicar and congregation thank Dick Rudman of Rock Fam Lane for
mending the church gate recently smashed and putting a new lock on the wall safe and
welding the lawnmower – all without accepting payment to help maintain a church in
this village. I often worried how we would manage when Dennis Harris, who had
maintained the building to a high standard for 65 years was no longer with us. He
always said our job was to hand the building on in good shape for the next generation
and then others would step up to the mark. His faith has been partly vindicated –
thanks, Dick (and Mick and others who do so much unobtrusively).
Page 5
Talking Shop Community Shop & Take-out Cafe
Mon to Fri 10am-2pm, Saturdays 9-12
Talking Shop is owned by, and run for, the local community. Different households
need different things from us: some people pop in for a newspaper, eggs and milk,
some for a takeaway coffee and food, some people do a bigger shop with us and
some order for delivery or collection. Some people pop in for a chat. Whatever you
need, we want to be a useful local shop for all the different households across our
community. So please come in, let us know how we can do that for you.
Over the past few months we’ve expanded our shop range and started ‘Walking
Shop’, Home Deliveries and Call & Collect.
Shopping in—You can come in to shop with us between 10am and 2pm, Monday to
Friday and 9am to midday on Saturdays. We have a bright, friendly space with lots of
fresh air. We have a toilet so everyone washes their hands before they shop. We’re
limiting customer numbers and we’ve got a separate entrance and exit, so everyone
has space.
* We have lots of produce from local suppliers:
* We get a wide range of fresh fruit & veg from Oxford’s Bonners delivered on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
* We get bread daily from Cornfields Bakery, and sourdough baked across the road in
the Sandford Bakery.
* We get weekly deliveries of eggs from Beechwood Farm, meat from Coopers
Oxford Pork and Waterperry Farm Shop, cheese from the Oxford Cheese Co,
Yoghurts from Tim’s Dairy.
* We also have a wide range of bigger brands – tins, dried goods, baking & cooking
ingredients, confectionary, snacks and frozen food. We have batteries, stamps,
newspapers, medicines, plasters, bathroom cabinet stuff as well as greetings cards,
wrapping paper and gifts.
PLUS we have a great line of refills from Oxford-based SESI. Bring your own bottles
(or get a starter bottle from us) and fill up.
Walking Shop – Pre-Order for delivery or collection: - You can now order anything
that we sell to be delivered, or for collection. We can also put in your special orders to
the bakers, meat suppliers and greengrocers – if they sell it, we can get it for you—
even if we don’t usually stock it in the shop. Here's how:
Our volunteer team works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and we need a two-
day lead. Either
Email: deliveries.talkingshop@gmail.com, or call: 07305 307421 by midday on Monday
to get your order on Wednesday, by midday on Wednesday for Friday or Saturday, by
midday on Friday for Monday.
Page 6
It's quite a treat to find your shopping lovingly picked and ready bagged up, all you
have to do is make up a list from the comfort of your home. Pre-orders also help us,
as it’s a way to make sure we have exactly what you need. Give it a try.
Taking Out—We’ve had to close our sit-n café for now but we’re doing takeaway
coffees and hot drinks, sausage rolls, samosas, cakes and pastries through the week,
and on Saturdays you can take-away our delicious bacon / egg baps too.
We’re working on a wider takeaway menu for every day, so watch this space.
Join our mailing list to keep up to date – orders.talkingshop@gmail.com
Thank you - Thanks to the incredible hard work and imagination of local volunteers
we stayed open throughout deepest lockdown and we adapted to ever-changing
needs. The team expanded our range so that people can now do a full shop with us.
Volunteers, new and old, organised systems to take orders and make home
deliveries to local people, so they didn’t need to go out. They adapted our physical
space so we could keep it safe for people to work and shop. So many people
stepped up to take care of their neighbours in so many different ways.
Those of us who’ve been in the space have really enjoyed welcoming new people as
customers and volunteers. Thank you to all of those people for your time and
custom. We’ve all also sorely missed those very many familiar faces, volunteers and
customers, who haven’t been able to come in. We’re working to find ways we can all
‘get together’ again in some form soon. Please keep in touch. We haven’t been able
to welcome people to sit and chat over lunch as we did before but we’re working
hard on how we can bring people together in some way over good food again. Our
groups have kept in touch with each other and it’s been brilliant in recent weeks to
see some able to come back. Knit & Stitch had been remotely meeting, then more
recently started bringing their needles and camping chairs to the recreation ground.
Our garden team leaders tirelessly cared for everything in solo shifts for months and
the wider group recently started to meet again to work together. Many others
continue to keep in touch and support each other.
Having to close the sit-in café has thrown up new financial challenges for Talking
Shop and we’re immensely grateful to have had the consistent support of the Parish
Council and the Village Hall as we create a new shape to ensure our long-term
sustainability.
Thank you to everyone who has given their time, kept in touch, shopped with us,
come up with ideas, made donations. We’ve seen first-hand how a local shop can be
truly vital for many in our community: it has been for some the only way to get basic
supplies or social contact. For some a local shop offers this even in more normal
times. Making sure to use your local shop, even when you can shop elsewhere, helps
ensure it will continue to be there for those who don’t have the choice. So, thank
you, and see you soon. Abi
Page 7
Developments in and around Sandford
A gravel site coming near you . . .
You may be pleased to hear that this idea has been shelved as there may not be
enough sand/gravel to make it economically viable.
Solar Farm
There is a plan to build a solar farm at the end on Nineveh Farm closest to
Sandford. Full details are available at: www.ensoeenergy.co.uk/proposed-
projects/southoxfordshire The closing date for the first round of consultation
was 28th May, but there will be further opportunities later.
Ways to Help Others in the Community
There are many ways to volunteer in Sandford—and your contribution can make
a real difference. You can help out on a regular basis or just now and again.
Talking Shop always has vacancies for people to prepare food, sell / deliver food
in the café, clear up, or help at the monthly or weekly lunch clubs (see p12-13).
You can help at a regular time each week or be on the ‘emergency rota’ to cover
when people are sick or away.
You could be involved in the Talking Neighbour scheme to help Sandford people
with practical tasks, lifts or companionship.
You can help CAST a couple of times a year with keeping the village spruce and
attractive.
Help keep our wild places lovely and wildlife-friendly.
There are many opportunities in this LINK - have a look...
For the Link Autumn 2020—Your Parish Council:
In common with much of the country, Parish Council business moved online with the
onset of the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to meet at the usual times
virtually using Zoom. However, anyone who would like to attend may do so by
emailing in advance to: sandfordparish@gmail.com. The meetings are on the first
Monday of each month at 6.30pm.
The full minutes of each meeting and the topics mentioned below may be viewed on
line at www.sandfordonthames.org.uk and the village website contains other
information about our village.
The main priority of the PC, apart from ongoing business, has been to support Talking
Shop which has remained open and organised volunteers to get shopping to those
unable to access the shop directly. In the process, it has developed a very useful “click
and collect” service. Anyone who has used the shop will be impressed and reassured at
Page 8
The Corn Exchange, Wallingford
The Corn Exchange theatre in Wallingford is hoping to reopen the cinema on Saturday
26th September, subject to the government guidelines in place at the time. On this night
we will be showing a free film as a welcome gesture to our loyal patrons. Please check
our website www.cornexchange.org.uk for further details, booking information and
safety guidelines in place.
We cannot contemplate opening for theatre and other live shows at the moment as this
is still not allowed but we will be working hard to ensure that this is done as soon as
possible. Thank you for your support. Contact: John Evans, Marketing Director, Corn
Exchange Wallingford, tel: 07785 367512
A mountain walk
The next Sandford Church Walk up Snowdon is scheduled for a Saturday in September
(tba) – i.e. before the pub at the summit closes for winter. Last time the Youth Club
went up from Rhyd Ddu, but to avoid any wind on the ridge and make it easier for the
over-70s we’ll walk from Llanberis this time. Those interested, please contact Bob to
discuss dates. 01865 748848.
the steps taken to ensure staff and customers were kept safe. However, it has inevitably
lost significant income while the café has not been able to operate as normal and the PC
agreed to offer financial support in the form of a grant of up to £5000 during this difficult
time. So far, £1892.36 has been paid which has helped buy new payment and scanning
equipment to increase customer and a fridge, plus a fridge freezer for the walking shop /
order and collect services as well as an additional grill for the cafe.
The Annual Parish meeting normally held each May (open to the public) has been
cancelled this year.
The main points from recent Parish Council:
The emerging Local Plan 2034 that includes plans for housing developments on
Oxfordshire’s Green Belt, including up to 3000 new homes south of Grenoble Road is still
being pushed through by central government requiring SODC to proceed with the
necessary steps which culminated in the Examination in Public (controversially held on
line, a previously untested method of allowing public questions about the government
Planning Inspector’s report), This has just been completed and SoT PC presented to raise
questions and points during this process. Further information is available at
www.sandfordonthames.org.uk under Developments/Grenoble Road.
Our local MP, John Howell has indicated in a letter to parishes that he believes the plans
for an Oxford to Cambridge Expressway have been shelved. This does not mean that the
stated aim (pre-pandemic) of central government for up to 300,000 new houses in
Oxfordshire (more than doubling the current number of houses in Oxfordshire) has been
shelved.
Page 9
CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA 2020
A big hello to everyone from the Sandford Festival committee and we
hope all are keeping well and safe during this prolonged ‘Covid’ period.
The good, sunny weather has helped enormously over the last few
months.
It is clear to all that the 2020 Annual Summer Festival, which was deferred
pending the Covid outbreak, will not be able to take place – even though
things are thankfully improving. So we have turned our thoughts to the
Christmas Extravaganza for December 2020 – and unfortunately at present
are still unable to consider going ahead. All the planning required needs to
be put in place early and it is still not possible to make these commitments.
So, at present, we do not expect to hold the Christmas Extravaganza this
year.
At the moment we do want to enjoy Christmas at the village hall and
would like to make sure the Christmas tree, hall lights and decorations are
up for all to enjoy. In addition if we can have something such as carol
singing and some hot food and drink on a chosen day (with Father
Christmas visiting perhaps?) we will look to see how this can work.
So not such good news today - but we will see if something can be done
around the first or second week in December.
So Summer Festival 2020 definitely cancelled and Christmas Extravaganza
on hold.
All best wishes for now from
The Festival Committee
PS Do get in touch if you have any ideas.
Warning—Sandford
We are still hearing of minor, opportunistic break-ins
and thefts in Sandford — do make sure your car, shed,
doors and windows are properly closed / locked.
Page 10Barn Owls successfully breed at Heyford Meadow to the delight of locals!
It is fantastic to report a pair of Barn Owls have nested in a bird box this year
on the Oxford Preservation Trust Heyford Meadow Nature Reserve and
successfully fledged four young.
The box was put on a willow tree in 2017 on Heyford Meadow which is reached
via Broadhurst Gardens and Yeftley Drive. The box remained unused until a
pair of owls discovered it at the beginning of this year. News quickly spread
amongst locals and for the next few months many people have enjoyed the
comings and goings of the two adults and more recently the antics of the
young.
The adults spent the majority of their time hunting across the river on
Kennington Meadows but could easily be watched from the boardwalk on
Heyford Meadow, returning to the nest box on a regular basis with a plentiful
supply of field and bank voles.
It has been great to see so many locals take such an interest in the birds and it
wasn’t unusual to see between 5 and 10 people on the meadow at the end of
the day with binoculars and cameras. A number of people have told me the
owls have proven to be a real tonic during the recent difficult months.
Photos of the Barn Owls (including the young) can be viewed at the following
website: https://www.keithphotography.co.uk/
Colin Williams, Broadhurst Gardens
Page 11Sandford-On-Thames Women's Institute—Autumn
2020
Sandford on Thames WI we are still looking to see if we can run
activities during the Covid-19 outbreak. If you need information,
please contact one of us.
Jill Love, President SOTWI
Tel: 01865 716557, - text only 07800907477 jpappslove@hotmail.com
For more information about the WI, see the supplement on the Sandford Link website:
http://www.sandfordonthames.org.uk/community/sandford-on-thames-13626/the-link/
Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale
Organise fuel bills, suppliers before winter - Citizens Advice tip
Did you know that Citizens Advice has advisers who can help you sign up with a new
fuel or electricity company, or switch to a better tariff?
There’s no charge for our time and you won’t be steered towards one particular sup-
plier because we're impartial, having no links with any of them. We offer one-on-one
sessions (by telephone at present) and we'll take a close look at your individual situa-
tion.
Now is the time to sort it out before winter closes in with cold autumn gales.
We can help you understand energy bills and various kinds of tariffs, supporting you if
you want to switch and calculating the savings you might make. If you've fallen behind
on bill payments, we can advise you on ways to reduce your debt by budgeting or try-
ing a new payment scheme, for example.
We can also tell you about energy efficiency measures around the house, like draught-
proofing windows and doors and installing LED light bulbs. Grants may be available to
pay for thermal insulation.
We can check your benefit entitlements and help you to claim them if you're eligible.
There are several helpful schemes like the Priority Services Register and the Warm
Home Discount.
And if you have any complaints against your current supplier, we can help you resolve
them.
You can find the relevant information on our website at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
energy or phone our Adviceline on 0300 330 9042.
Page 12HOME COMPUTER
HELP
For PC & Laptop fixes
and assistance
Call Jim on: 07854 107
337, or
email:
home.computer@btint
ernet.com
Will Cooper—Affordable Fencing and Tree Care
All types of fencing work \ Tree Felling \ Pruning \ Topping \ Stump
Grinding \ Hedge Cutting \ Garden Waste Removed
Free Quotations and advice
Check my reviews on Checkatrade.com . Tel: 07748 867025
Email: will.coope@yahoo.co.uk
Page 13Announcements, Notices and Classified Ads
For articles and ads, please contact Hazel on sandfordlink@gmail.com
or call 01865 682611 or 07989 97 5969
ANNUAL
PARISH
MEETING
Sunday 6th September
at 11.00,
following the 10.00
Parish Communion.
All welcome.
Page 14We are a local, family run garage based in the welcoming vil-
lage of Sandford-on-Thames – Established in 2006
MOT testing
Servicing All Makes & Models
General Repair
Cambelt Replacements
Air Con Regas / Servicing
Precise Diagnostics
Suspension Repair / Tracking
M: 07766 335493
T: 01865 777344
E: info@tjhallandson.co.uk
www.tjhallandson.co.uk
FIND US ON FACEBOOK!
@tjhallandson
Page 15The Sandford Link is published in December, March, June and September by the Link
Committee and edited by Hazel Douglas Tel: 07989 97 5969.
Articles and advertisements for inclusion should be MS Word documents or PDFs and
emailed to: sandfordlink@gmail.com (usually by 20th of the month before publication)
Printed by Oxford University Press.
Page 16You can also read
