BLETCHINGTON VILLAGE NEWS KEEPING YOU INFORMED OF EVENTS AND ORGANISATIONS IN YOUR VILLAGE
ISSUE 250 Feb – Mar 2021
Bletch Bakers celebrate success
Reports from village organisations An historic landmark - 250 editions of Village News Bletch Bakes for the NHS - A success story History Corner: Akeman Street Bletch Advent Calendar
BLETCH ADVENT CALENDAR
A group of Bletchfolk got together to create a real-world advent calendar for the village. Each day a new ‘door’ was revealed on Facebook and in the Co-op leading to the location of the advent window to visit.
Many thanks to everyone who got involved and created the lovely displays around the village, a selection of which are shown below. We hope you all enjoyed following the Advent Trail.
Happy New Year
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B L E T C H I N G T O N
EDITORIAL
Welcome to the 250th edition of Village News. To mark this milestone, Ian Gedling, who has been involved with the publication for many years, has written a history of our village magazine, which can be found on page 8. I would like to echo Ian’s thanks to Liz Saunders and long-time editor Greta Bickley who stepped down in 2019 after 40 years for their massive contributions to Village News over many years, and also add thanks to Ian himself for all his hard work over the years. Thanks also to everyone else who has been involved with the magazine over the past 42 years.
I hope you all had as enjoyable a Christmas as possible under the current circumstances and I wish everyone in Bletchington a very happy New Year. I’m sure most of us will agree that 2020 wasn’t the best of years and unfortunately we begin the new year in lockdown once again. The good thing this time around is that there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel by way of the nationwide vaccination programme now being rolled out. Hopefully better times are just around the corner.
Congratulations to Bletch Bakers for the tremendous success of their ‘Bletch Bakes for the NHS’ cookbook which raised £2,688 to be shared between the Bletchington Charity and Oxford Hospitals. It is so heartwarming to hear of a great success story for Bletchington and of the fantastic work that residents of our village have been doing at this most difficult of times to support our NHS. Well done to everyone concerned!
Please keep your news stories and articles coming. This is your Village News and we really need your help to fill up these pages, particularly whilst many of our village organisations are either not operating or are doing so in a reduced capacity. If you haven’t contributed an article or photograph to the Village News before, why not give it a go – we would particularly love to hear from any new contributors. Please e-mail your contributions to [email protected]. The deadline for articles is always the 20th of the month prior to publication – so articles for inclusion in the April/May magazine must be with us by 20th March, 2021. [email protected] Pete Baker
School leadership changes We are pleased to report that Mrs. Caroline Walker has been appointed head teacher for Bletchingdon Primary School, replacing Mr. Huw Morgan, who returns to being head teacher solely at Dr. South’s School in Islip. We wish Mrs. Walker success in her new role and thank Mr. Morgan for all his hard work whilst at Bletchington.
Co-op home deliveries The Co-op continues to offer its home delivery service to vulnerable or shielding villagers. Delivery days are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. If you wish to use this service, please place your order by midday on one of these days and the store will deliver same day. Please telephone the store directly on 01869 351534 or drop them an e- mail to [email protected]. Alternatively you can contact the Midcounties Co-op central call line on 0800 435902 (Mon-Sat 8:30am to 5:30pm).
Many thanks to Mike Seaton and his team at the Co-op for offering this valuable service to vulnerable villagers.
Advent calendar – see our picture gallery opposite The idea started on a walk in Bletch! Other villages synchronize Christmas lights and the idea of a festive distraction for Bletch seemed fitting. A WhatsApp group was set up to judge appetite for the idea - soon all 24 'window' slots bar two were filled! These last two went to the Church to coincide with Carol singing and to the Co-op. The stage was set - all corners of the village involved! The resulting windows were better than anyone could have imagined; large, small, religious, humorous, literary and even with real animals (Mike, the Co-op manager, must have had an interesting call with head office - ... 'so we want to have a donkey, a goat or two and some shepherds outside the shop, is that ok?').
The best thing was how positive feedback flooded in from those who viewed them as well as fellow 'window' makers. All images went online too, so those not able to get out and about could join in too. Bletch even had its moment of fame on BBC Radio and online with its very own BBC video of the windows. We might have inadvertently started a new tradition in Bletch, and even if we haven't, what a special thing to share together.
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ST. GILES’ CHURCH NEWS AND SERVICES
We are part of the AKEMAN BENEFICE (Bletchington, Kirtlington, Weston-on-the-Green, Chesterton, Middleton Stoney, Wendlebury and Hampton Gay). The benefice is named after Akeman Street, the Roman road which runs through it.
Ministry Team
Rector: The Rev’d Gareth Miller 01869 350224 [email protected] Associate Priest: The Rev’d Nick Ktorides 01869 324191 [email protected] Assistant Priest: The Very Rev’d Robert Wilkes 01869 350159 [email protected] Licensed Lay Minister: Paul Clifford 01869 351652 [email protected] Children and Families’ Co-Ordinator: Joanna Clifford 01869 351652 [email protected] Safeguarding Officer: Nicky Donne 01869 351748 [email protected] Benefice Website www.akemanbenefice.org.uk
Churchwarden: Judith Ledger Treasurer: Ian Gedling Assistant Churchwarden: Fiona Teddy Member of the PCC: Natasha Pitts Secretary: Patricia Hampson
If you or anyone you know would like to talk to a member of the ministry team please do not hesitate to phone or email.
At present there are no “live” services in the benefice because the rate of Covid infection is so high in this area. However, the church remains open for private prayer and reflection and everyone is welcome to use it as a quiet space. We are very grateful to the members of the “church doors” WhatsApp group for keeping the church open. If you walk past the church regularly you may like to join. There is no rota or commitment. As soon as we are able to resume services in church we shall post notices on the gate and on the benefice website.
In place of live services there is a weekly service on zoom. Many people who do not attend church regularly have found this service helpful. If you would like to take part please email the rector at [email protected]
Despite there being no church services Sally Cross and Sue Macready ring the church bell each Sunday morning to remind us of the zoom service and as a sign of hope.
A small prayer group is meeting remotely each Wednesday morning. If you would like to join in or if you have a request for prayer please phone 351542.
A free Church of England phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers is available to everyone on 0800 804 8044
In addition to our local zoom service the Diocese of Oxford Church at Home services are available to dial into—find out more at: Oxford.anglican.org/livestream
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The Benefice Bugle
The benefice Bugle is an online newsletter giving information about all seven of our benefice churches and also containing a range of interesting articles. The last edition contained fascinating contributions about Epiphany customs—mostly cake-related. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please contact: [email protected]
Christmas Services
We were fortunate to be able to hold Christmas services before the imposition of more severe restrictions.
The open-air carol service was very well attended and reminded us of how much we miss village events. Many thanks to Mik and Sheldon Barwick for accompanying the carols and to Richard and Kate Ehrman for providing the firebowl.
The zoomed carol service enabled us to celebrate with our linked parish in Sweden. The standard of musical contributions was very high and Martha McNaught read beautifully on behalf of Bletchingdon
We are very grateful to the Reverend David Wippell from Islip for leaving home to take our Christmas Morning service even as the river Ray was creeping in through his back door!
From the Registers
15th January Funeral service and burial of Judith Upton. We send our condolences to Richard and to Judith’s wider family.
In recent years this church contribution to the village news has been edited by Kathy Gedling but Kathy now feels it is time to step back. We are all very grateful for her conscientious work over such a long period. Thank you, Kathy. During February and March and April the churchyard will be full of wild flowers--- snowdrops, daffodils, primroses and bluebells, do include a stroll around the church in your walks.
Judith Upton née Kenny.
Judith was born and brought up in Bletchington, the daughter of Olive and Edward Kenny and the sister of Malcolm and Michelle.
She attended Bletchingdon Primary and The Marlborough School. Judith joined the Bletchington Silver Band as a teenager and played with the band for 20 years. She was also a member of the Marsh Gibbon Silver band and it was in Marsh Gibbon that the met her husband, Richard. Judith and Richard were married at St Giles, Bletchingdon and made their home in Bicester. Judith spent 34 years, most of her working life, as an administrator for the Thames Valley Police and a police colleague provided a guard of honour at her funeral.
The present restrictions meant that many friends who would have liked to have attended Judith’s funeral were unable to do so but the cortege drove around the village on the way to the church so that neighbours and old friends were able to pay their respects to her.
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From The Rector
Dear friends
This will be a little longer than usual, but I hope you will bear with me and make it through to the end!
The word ‘unprecedented’ has been over-used, but it is fair to say that only those still alive who lived through WW2 will have known such anxiety and disruption to everyday life as we have experienced over the past twelve months.
Of course, in the past epidemics were quite common, and the remedies far fewer. If you look in some of our old church burial registers, you will see that about half of all burials were of quite young people, many of them children, sometimes only a few days, weeks or months old.
We have come a long way since the 19th century, and especially since the foundation of the NHS in 1948. We have cause to be immensely grateful to live in a country where access to good medical care is so widely available, and we thank all our local doctors, nurses, and other health professionals for the amazing work they do.
We have also become more aware than before of the large number of first-class scientists and academics who work on our behalf, often behind the scenes. If you live locally, we salute you!
Events such as the pandemic have a habit of highlighting both the best and the worst in human nature. Mercifully, the good has far outweighed the bad, but there have been many examples of selfish and uncouth behaviour. As Jonathan Swift once said, “I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them unashamed.”
Interestingly, it is reported that enquiries about prayer and belief have increased significantly during this period. This is borne out locally. Though it has been sad that we have had to close our churches, we have had new people joining us on Zoom, and one day in January I had two people (separately) come up to me in the street to ask about matters of faith.
There has been a lot of talk about the ‘new normal’, and we are all having to learn new ways of doing things. People often say that they like the fact that the church is there, at the heart of the village, even if they don’t go to it. It reminds them of something reliable and solid, a sign of God and a sign of hope in this disconcerting world. When George Herbert, parish priest at Bemerton in the early 17th century, tolled the bell for morning and evening prayer, the farmers in the fields used to doff their caps in recognition that prayer was being offered on their behalf, even if they only attended at Harvest Festival!
Archbishop William Temple famously said that the church is the only organisation that exists primarily for those who are not its members. And I realise that only a very small percentage of local people will ever become regular church attendees. But I know that many of you are people who care very deeply about spiritual things, are concerned about the way the world is, and live good and generous lives. It was interesting to hear vox-pops from people who visited cathedrals to get their vaccines. Some of them had lived in their respective cities all their lives, but had never been in the cathedral before. Many were deeply moved by the building.
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We hope that you will find your local church to be a place where you can find meaning and significance. In normal times we try to keep them open in daylight hours. Do pop in and enjoy the stillness. We hope that, when the pandemic is over, our churches might become places where people can meet to chat, for coffee, perhaps to find a quiet place to work, perhaps to meet with a priest for conversation or prayer, perhaps where parents with toddlers can gather. We are also hoping to get wifi installed in at least some of our churches. Don’t expect all these things to happen at once – but do let us have any ideas you may have!
Following on from that we hope to provide regular forums for people who would like to talk about faith and other issues. Please look out for information about our Lent courses elsewhere in this magazine. If anyone would like to be confirmed or have an informal chat do please let us know.
Above all, we would like to invite you to connect with your local church community. It’s very easy for clergy to talk about what the church can do for you – but we’d love to hear YOUR thoughts. So don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have ideas about how we can be more relevant and connected to you in the days and years ahead.
Finally, it has been a year when we have all had to think very carefully about the way we treat each other. Can I share with you the Bishop of Oxford’s take on life on-line? It applies just as well to life off-line!
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commends eight beautiful qualities. But what do the Beatitudes mean for those of us who use social media?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I will remember that my identity comes from being made and loved by God, not from my online profile.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. This world is full of grief and suffering. I will tread softly and post with gentleness and compassion.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. I will not boast or brag online, nor will I pull others down.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. There are many wrongs to be righted. I will not be afraid to name them and look for justice in the world.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. I will not judge others but be generous online. I will be conscious of my own failings.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. I will be truthful and honest, and I will not pretend to be what I am not.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. I will seek to reconcile those of different views with imagination and good humour.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I will not add to the store of hate in the world, but I will try to be courageous in standing up for what is right and true.
Gareth
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BLETCHINGDON CE(A) PRIMARY SCHOOL Whitemarsh Way, Bletchingdon, OX5 3FD (01869) 350393 [email protected]
Shine like stars and become light in our world
This year marks a new phase for our school and I am proud to take the role of Headteacher. While the current Covid-19 situation presents many challenges, I am aware of our children’s and our community’s strength to pull together towards better times. It has been a privilege, since 2013, to be part of children’s entire journey through primary school and beyond. Through years I have also seen the development of the school, its move to the new building and its growing role in the heart of our community. We are fortunate at Bletchingdon School to have an excellent team with strong staff, supportive governors and an outstanding PTA committed to providing to best possible school experience for our children. This year saw a sudden move to lockdown, which meant our usual welcome back into school was limited to children of critical workers. For children that must remain at home, we keep in contact though online lessons but look forward to the time when we all can be together again. I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff, parents and others who continue to do their utmost to support children through these difficult times.
A wave to everyone at home!
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AN HISTORIC LANDMARK
Well, we made it to our 250th edition – and even the local bus service is celebrating the occasion.
It was back in January 1979 that the first Village News appeared. It was originally a church initiative to provide a joint magazine for everyone in Bletchington, Kirtlington and Weston, because the three churches were about to become one Benefice. However, very soon the villages decided to produce separate magazines. At that time, Arthur Eeley was the Chairman of our Parish Council, Robin Bennett was our Rector and Greta Bickley became Editor of our Village News. It was very hard work in those days because the copies were typed as stencils and rolled off manually on an old duplicator in the village hall and then had to be collated and stapled by volunteers. It was decided from the outset that it was important that ours should be free to each house in the village and there is still no charge even after 42 years. Originally, we asked for donations from the village organisations to cover the costs for duplicator ink and paper, but as the number of organisations declined and costs increased, around 1987 we started to include advertisements. Eventually computers and ink-jet printers made production much easier. By 2000 the hard copies were run off elsewhere at around £100 per issue for the 300+ copies, which we then had to collect. Income from advertising and the few donations was then around £600. Fast forward 20 years to 2020, we are now producing around 360 copies. Income from advertisers is now around £1250 and we are most grateful to the Parish Council for an annual donation of £150. Expenditure is over £250 each time. However we are lucky to have found a printing firm (in Northamptonshire!) who will deliver the hard copies to me in just a few days.
Special thanks should be given to Greta Bickley who was editor for 40 years - she has done an amazing job and thoroughly deserves her 'retirement'. We are most grateful that Pete Baker has taken on this daunting task. A special mention and thanks should go to Liz Saunders who took over the production of the hard copy and receiving all the news in 1997. She copes with the demands of all the emails, last-minute submissions and sorting out the lay-out for each page, always remembering that the number of pages have to be a multiple of 4 each time, before sending it off to the printers. She also sends the magazine online to all our advertisers and to very many other people who don't live in the village- so clearly does the vast majority of the work! I have been the Treasurer since 1990, and also deal with the advertisements, so in fact, there are only the 3 of us who oversee the production each time. However, we are fortunate to have a band of volunteers who distribute the magazine to particular streets - they always seem so happy when I arrive on their doorstep with their pile of magazines! Thank you to them all.
We hope that the recent introduction of colour to the cover has made the magazine more appealing. The magazine is a vital part of Bletchington life and we hope that it will continue for many years to come - but as our editor mentioned in his editorial in the last issue, it is your Village News and we do need your help in filling up the pages with photos, articles etc concerning Bletchington. Lastly, I have all the previous 249 issues and surely they will be worth a fortune on 'Antiques Roadshow' in a few hundred years time!
Ian Gedling
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BLETCHINGTON SILVER BAND We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As expected, due to the pandemic, the band had a much quieter festive period than previous years as all our annual carolling gigs and our Christmas concert was cancelled. However, not all was lost as brass music was heard for the first time in 9 months in the village. Hallelujah! A small group of players were able to play carols outside the village hall. Thank you to Sheldon, Mik, Tony, Liz, Lynz and Della for providing some brass band festive cheer in the village after all this time.
“Trivial Pursuit- Christmas Edition” was the theme of the band’s final virtual quiz of 2020. As always, it was a great evening and being able to be together as a band. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer until we are able to meet in person and start rehearsals.
It is that time of year again for the bands AGM which we hope to hold via Zoom on 12th February. Please visit our Facebook page for more details of this.
We were sad to hear of the recent passing of Sheila Alonso who was a great supporter of the band, honorary member and former minutes’ secretary. We send our condolences to her daughter Cath and all of Sheila’s family.
Visiting loved ones in care homes during COVID-19
Do you have a relative living in a care home in Oxfordshire? If so, Healthwatch Oxfordshire would like to hear about you and your loved one’s experiences during COVID-19.
The county’s independent health and social care watchdog would particularly like to know what contact you’ve been able to have with your relative since the first lockdown in March, and what impact this has had on you and them.
You can share your experiences by completing a short anonymous survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/carehomefamilies/
Healthwatch Oxfordshire will report what it hears to social care decision-makers, so this is your chance to have your voice heard.
If you would like a paper copy or a translation of the survey you can contact Healthwatch Oxfordshire on 01865 520520 or at [email protected]
To find out more about the work of Healthwatch Oxfordshire see www.healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk
Answers to Christmas Quiz, in the Dec/Jan edition: 1. Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade; 2. Merry Xmas (War is over) – John Lennon; 3. Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes; 4. I Believe in Father Christmas – Greg Lake; 5. Step Into Christmas – Elton John; 6. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues with Kirsty McColl; 7. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses; 8. Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys; 9. I Wish it could be Christmas Every Day - Wizzard; 10. Winter Wonderland – Darlene Love (Some of these songs may have been covered by several artists – we have just listed the artist for the most well-known version)
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THURSDAY CLUB
Sadly due to lockdown we are unable to hold our meetings. We hope all members are keeping safe and well. We are sorry to hear of the death of one of our members Val Chambers who fought a brave battle with cancer. Our condolences go to her family and friends.
Village Memories by Brian Wing
I remember the Beehive cottage on the corner very well. I was born in the cottage now known as Holly Cottage on Weston Road in the 1940s, it was Casa Rosa then. As a child, I used to play in the park and the gardens of Beehive cottage with the children who lived there. We used to have a really good time playing there. The family were the Taylors and their daughter was Pauline. They were the last family to live there before it was demolished. From there, the Taylor family moved to a cottage in Oxford Road near the allotments.
Brownie memories I am working on my Trefoil Voyage Award and compiling my guiding History - one of my earliest Brownie memories was Pack Holiday in 1988 and being tucked in so tight by Mrs Goodwin that I couldn't move in the bed! Lorraine
WESTON ON THE GREEN WI Although the WI is still unable to meet in the Village Hall because of Covid restrictions we still remain active. Nationally the WI is very keen to support The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. The existing law needs strengthening and the UK has to maintain its strong reputation. All members are encouraged by OFWI to contact their MP to support the CEE bill. The WI in Oxford had a Christmas stall in December at St. Giles church and sold a range of jams, marmalade, chutneys, cakes and mince pies etc. Our members were invited to help out. The Denman on line courses are still proving to be very popular and during the festive season the baking and cake decorating demonstrations were the most viewed. Our committee kept us busy over the Christmas period with on line quizzes and Zoom meetings and all members were given a gift of an Amaryllis plant and a bottle of wine. These were very much appreciated. In January we were lucky enough to be invited by the Weston Society to their Zoom meeting. This meeting was a presentation by Liz Woolley, an Oxford historian, on the subject of “Beer, sausages and marmalade”. This talk is explained in the Weston Society column. It was a very interesting and informative talk and hopefully the WI will also be invited to the guided walking tour in Oxford to sites mentioned in this talk. At the beginning of January we said a sad farewell to Molly Strafford. Molly had been a stalwart member of the WI for many years and will be remembered for her amazing knowledge, sense of humour and warm friendliness. Molly was well established in the village community and was the first editor of the Weston Village News. She was involved in some of the pantomimes held in the village and wrote the script for one review “Beyond the Green”, which was a humorous look at Weston’s history from the Romans to the 20th century. During the war Molly lived and worked in Oxford and had a great love of John Betjemin poems and had actually met him during the war. She was an excellent flower arranger and worked at both the Ashmolean and Waddesdon as a guide, the WI benefitting by being given personal tours. She also directed a fashion show called “Look At Costume Through The Ages”, gamely taking to the catwalk along with other WI members. A couple of the models wore haute couture outfits donated by members of Molly’s family. Molly’s talks to the WI covered many different topics ie. silver collections and needlework. She served on the committee for many years and was at one point our president. She will be well remembered and sadly missed by us all at the WI. I would like to thank both Paula and Margaret for their fond memories of Molly. SAS
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1st Bletchington Brownies – Girlguiding in Bletchington
Welcome to 2021! We are excited to be carrying on our adventures at Rainbows, Brownies and Guides on zoom for now. Last year we danced, crafted, cooked, built dens, exercised, gained badges and told lots of jokes during our meetings.
Congratulations to Fran and Emilia for gaining their Brownie Bronze awards. We have presented lots of interest badges last term too. Well done to everyone for all your hard work on these. We're looking forward to more badge presentations soon.
We are planning to celebrate World Thinking Day in February with a virtual sleepover, travelling around the world, visiting an alpaca farm, cooking and meeting friends in Australia. Time Travelling is coming to us soon with a special challenge.
We have zoom spaces now for girls in each unit. Please email us for more [email protected]
Rainbows girls age 5-7 Brownies girls age 7-10 Guides girls age 10-14
Woodstock Trefoil Can you remember what you got up to as a Brownie or Guide? Did you miss out on being one? Our Trefoil group is celebrating it's first birthday in Feb. Trefoil? Yes... It's Grown up Guides! For anyone age 18+. We'll be meeting by zoom for now and have fun with quizzes, talks, challenges, cooking and yes like the others, telling jokes! Email Lorraine to find out how to join us [email protected]
Kirtlington and Bletchingdon Historical Society The November meeting was a truly international affair with visitors from Luxembourg and Italy linking up to listen to our very own Man in Havana, Mike Shackleton, talk about the history of Cuba. Mike argued persuasively that the key to understanding modern Cuba lies in the decisions that followed immediately after the Spanish-American war of 1898, won by the USA. Instead of making the island into a protectorate or dependency, as happened with Puerto Rico or Hawaii, both captured at about the same time, the Americans chose to leave Cuba independent but to hamstring its political freedoms with a series of restrictive measures designed to hobble Cuban administrations (though the Americans did acquire the now notorious Guantanamo Bay). All this bred anti-US resentment amongst Cubans, intensified by the association of American support with the corrupt 25-year Batista regime, finally overthrown in the 1959 revolution. At this point Cuba replaced one kind of political and economic dependency (American) with another (Soviet). Based on the number of streets and buildings named after him, the most important figure in Cuban history is not Fidel Castro or even Che Guevara, but Jose Marti, a 19th-century writer and journalist who helped forge a sense of Cuban national identity and wrote the poem, Guantanamera.
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THE RIVER CHERWELL – NORTH OXFORDSHIRE’S RIVER
The River Cherwell forms the western boundary of the Parish of Bletchington – beyond the river are the parishes of Tackley and Shipton-on-Cherwell & Thrupp. The river also gives its name to our local district council. 40 miles long and rising near the tiny village of Hellidon, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, it is the Thames’ northernmost tributary. Following a north-south orientation it flows through the northern half of Oxfordshire down to the City of Oxford where it joins the Thames. The Oxford Canal and the Oxford to Banbury railway both roughly follow the course of the river, taking advantage of the natural contours in the landscape.
As the Cherwell enters Oxfordshire, one of the first villages it passes through is Cropredy, best known these days for its annual music festival. In 1644, Cropredy Bridge on the Cherwell was the site of a major battle in the Civil War. There was no clear victor in this battle and whilst the Parliamentarian Army led by Sir William Waller suffered heavy losses, they successfully prevented the King’s forces from crossing the bridge. The river itself was used as a hiding place for valuable artefacts from the local church during the conflict.
South of here, the Cherwell passes through the centre of Banbury, the largest town in North Oxfordshire. There was once a castle at Banbury, built in 1135 to command the river and its valley. This became a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, but was surrendered in 1646 and demolished two years later. South of Banbury, the river forms a boundary with neighbouring Northamptonshire, crossed by the canal near Aynho, before taking a course solely through Oxfordshire for the remainder of its length.
Meandering around the villages of Somerton, the Heyfords and Tackley, the Cherwell eventually reaches the hamlet of Enslow, within the Parish of Bletchington and lying just over a mile to the west of the main village. A water mill at Enslow was recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086.
Here the river is crossed by the old main London to Worcester road, now part of the A4095/B4027, by the Rock of Gibraltar public house (currently closed), built primarily to serve trade from the Oxford Canal which runs next to the river through Enslow. A bridge over the Cherwell at Enslow is
Enslow Bridge known to date back at least to 1543 and John Ogilby’s Britannia Atlas of 1675 refers to a timber bridge here called ‘Emley Bridg’.
South of Enslow, the Cherwell passes between Hampton Gay and Shipton-on-Cherwell before heading towards Oxford where it skirts University Parks, fragmenting into separate streams with a series of islands. Magdalen Bridge, spanning the river just east of the city centre, is central to Oxford’s May Morning celebrations at which the Hymnus Eucharisticus is sung at 6:00am by Magdalen College Choir from the top of the adjacent Magdalen Tower. Some years the bridge has been closed off to prevent alcohol fuelled students jumping into the river. The river passes alongside Christ Church Meadow on the final short leg of its journey to join the Thames.
Peaceful waters at Enslow, Summer 2020 Floods, Enslow, Christmas Eve 2020
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The Bletchingdon Community Foundation
Village Hall Once again we have had to close the Village Hall in compliance with the Government’s latest lockdown restrictions, with no date known as to when we will be able to open again. We will, of course, be following the Government’s directives regarding reopening and, as always, will refund any deposits taken for bookings which are unable to take place due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Christmas tree
A big thank you to our friends at Bunkers Hill Plant Nursey for gifting us the lovely Christmas tree which graced the Plaza to the front of the Village Hall for several weeks over the Christmas period. This certainly went a small way towards brightening everyone’s spirits during an otherwise difficult time.
Thanks also to the PTA for their role in facilitating the siting of the tree at the Village Hall.
Please use the Plaza safely – and keep it tidy! It’s great to see villagers enjoying using the Plaza at the front of the Village Hall, but if using the seating, please ensure Covid distancing rules are observed. Also could we please request that you keep this area tidy. We appreciate that most villagers do this anyway, but a small minority have been depositing litter on the floor. You will notice that two litter bins have now been placed in the Plaza area, so please ensure that you use them.
Co-op vouchers scheme In lockdown once again, so the Co-op vouchers scheme is continuing to offer shopping vouchers for anyone in the village who is suffering hardship as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions. If you are affected or you know someone who is need of financial assistance please complete an application form and e-mail it to [email protected] or deliver it to the Charity secretary at 14 Lenthal. Copies of the form were distributed to all homes in Bletchington at the beginning of the pandemic and further copies can be obtained from the village website: www.bletchingdon- pc.org.uk.
The scheme continues until further notice, with no limit to the number of applications for vouchers that an individual can make, so you can make further applications if your circumstances of hardship are ongoing.
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The Bletchington Charity
The Bletchington Charity continues to support individuals, families and organisations within the parish of Bletchingdon. The current pandemic has highlighted that so many people could benefit from a little help and this is exactly why this fund exists. Though times have changed since the charity was formed and challenges that we face are different, the need is still there.
Over recent months we have continued to make grants for school travel, sixth form and University grants. We have also made grants for the cost of television licenses for the over 75s. No grant is means tested, anyone can apply. So if you are studying in sixth form, college or university, then you can apply every year. This year we are making grants to support transport to secondary school, so whether your child uses the bus or you drive them, then apply. And if you are over 75 and paying for a television licence, we want to hear from you. The weather has turned and days are chilly, so please let us know if you need help with fuel payments. Look out for your neighbours, with their permission, you can apply on their behalf. We want to reach as many people as possible.
We have made grants to a variety of village organisations and sports teams as these are vital to our community. We have provided help to individuals including help with decorating costs, computer equipment, specialist medical equipment, household appliances and educational courses.
Forms are available on the village website or I can drop one off for you. We can also offer help with filling in the form.
Comments from people who have received support in recent months:
Thank you so much to the charity, this really is fantastic news for us and is such a lovely boost when times are tricky.
I just wanted to say how grateful I am for the very generous grant the charity has given me, it will be an enormous help in covering my livings costs for my degree. Please could you pass on my gratitude to the committee.
That’s amazing, thank you ever so much, I really appreciate!
On behalf of myself and the Committee can you please thank your Committee for this very generous grant
First of all thank you so much for helping me in this very difficult time.
Thank you for your support without which I would be destitute. I now know that there are good people in this world.
I would like to express my gratitude for your kind help during this crisis.
Thank you so much, we really do appreciate it.
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BLETCHINGTON SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB
Please be assured that we will reopen the bar as soon as we feel it’s safe and manageable for our volunteer bar staff and customers. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Quiz League: The quiz team is still competing online. In the end of season competitions before Christmas in the national Online Quiz League, we managed one win. We have just started the new season, winning the preseason friendly, and also our opening league fixture in Division 3. In the Oxfordshire quiz league we continue to play friendly competitions every Thursday. We are very much looking forward to the day we can compete in person at the Club. Football: All games have been suspended due to the current lockdown. If you use the Sportsground, we would be grateful if you could refrain from playing ball games against the Clubhouse as we have experienced some damage to the building. Could you also refrain from playing in the goalmouths as this wears the grass out prematurely. PLEASE DO NOT EXERCISE YOUR DOG IN THE SPORTS GROUND
History Corner
Akeman Street
Our own Parish Church of St. Giles, together with several other churches in neighbouring parishes, form the Akeman Benefice. This takes its name from Akeman Street, an important Roman road connecting two other key Roman roads, Fosse Way and Watling Street. It is about 75 miles long. There is also another Roman Road called Akeman Street of similar length and running through Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
Britain came under Roman rule between the years of AD 43 and 410 during which time they built a network of roads across the country, constructed to very high standard for the time, far superior to the simple tracks that existed here previously. Evidence suggests the route of Akeman Street, at least in part, followed that of an earlier track which the Romans built on, using their high standards of road construction. Romans were noted for building their roads as straight as possible – the shortest distance between two points and therefore the most efficient route to take. If you have ever driven on the A41 between Bicester and Aylesbury you may have noticed how straight the road is, and this indeed follows part of the route of Akeman Street. The Romans built their roads primarily for military purposes, for the movement of troops and military supplies across the country, but subsequently they also became increasingly used for trading purposes.
The western end of Akeman Street is Corinium Dobunnorum, modern day Cirencester, a key Roman settlement and a meeting point of several roads, including the Fosse Way which ran from Exeter to Lincoln. Heading east, the section between Stonesfield and Tackley now forms part of the Oxfordshire Way, a long distance footpath, before passing through Kirtlington, its closest point to Bletchington. Beyond here the road passes through Alchester, a Roman town and one of the earliest known Roman legionary fortresses, built soon after the invasion in AD 43. This is located to the south of Bicester, near the village of Wendlebury.
Beyond Bicester, Akeman Street follows the modern day A41 through Aylesbury, Tring, Berkhamstead and Hemel Hampstead, then off to its Eastern terminus, Verulamium, a major Roman settlement near modern day St. Albans. Here the road connected with Watling Street which linked London and the South Coast port of Dover (Dubris) with another important Roman settlement, Viriconium, located where the present day village of Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, stands.
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Bletch Bakes for the NHS
A success story for Bletchington!
Thank you! The Bletch Bakes cookbook has sold out (no more copies available, sorry!). We’re pleased to say that £3,025 has been raised from book sales and donations, which is amazing. After deducting printing costs and postage we ended up with £2,688, to be split equally between the Oxford Hospitals Charity and the Bletchington Charity (details on this to follow). We can still take donations if people are keen to give!
We're delighted to hear the book was given as Christmas presents to many of the staff we have been baking for at the John Radcliffe Hospital. We know copies have also been sent to families abroad from New Zealand and Australia to America. We heard from someone else who had never baked before that the book inspired them to start out with the chocolate crinkle cakes and carrot cake.
Here's a reaction to the book from Dr. Annabel Nickol, sleep and ventilation at the John Radcliffe Hospital: "Oh my goodness your book is BEAUTIFUL!!! I have just laid in bed and read all the personal quotes of bakers cover to cover. It brings back lots of the emotion of the Dunkirk spirit we all felt with everyone ‘doing their bit’ whether bin man, supermarket worker, teacher, carer ... or baker. I look forward to the day when we can have one of those epic Bletch knees ups with band and beers in the sun. But until that day please simply accept my remote hug and heartfelt thanks, and forward this to your
amazing crew."
The Bletch Bakers are slowly starting to bake again for our wonderful NHS staff who are facing monumental challenges. It's been awesome to see so many of the goodies being sent to wards inspired by the recipes in the book.
A big THANK YOU goes out to all those involved in setting up the whole baking event over the summer lockdown and to those who have put so much effort into producing this amazing book.
A few errors were noted in the ‘Bletch Bakes for the NHS’ cookbook. If you bought a copy, please apply the following corrections: Page 23 – add 440g of plain flour to the main ingredients Page 27 – amend flour quantity from 25g to 125g Page 35 – delete the rogue line 50g flour
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Bletchingdon PARISH COUNCIL
Councillors: Mr A K Saunders (Chairman) 14, Coghill Tel: 350705 Mr C E Lane (Vice-Chairman) Village Farm Tel: 350257 Mr M E Taylor Stoneacre, Oxford Road Tel: 350609 Mr D M Ledger 3, Islip Road Tel: 351542 Mr A Jordan The Malt House, Weston Road Tel: 226500 Ms R Pirie 12 Valentia Close Tel: 350856 Mr M Whitehead Rogers Cottage, Station Road Tel: 350991
Clerk: Fiona Mason Email: [email protected] Tel: 351967
The Clerk works on a flexible basis from the Village Hall. If you have any concerns, ideas or would just like a chat please email or leave an answerphone message and she will get back to you. District Councillors: Simon Holland ([email protected]) David Hughes ([email protected]) Tim Hallchurch ([email protected]) County Councillor: Carmen Griffiths ([email protected])
Meetings: Normally held on the last Thursday of the Month, except December when no meeting is held, and in January we meet earlier in the month in order to discuss the precept request. Notice of meetings are always displayed on the Parish Council Notice Board, which is on the Bus Shelter wall facing the Green. Members of the Public are welcome at Meetings, but must seek prior permission if they wish to join in the discussion of any matter.
Agendas and minutes of meetings can be viewed on the Parish Council website once they have been approved.
The next meetings will take place on the 25th February 2021 followed by the 25th March 2021. All meetings will be via Virtual Zoom meeting until the Lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Lockdown As you are aware, we are again in a National Lockdown until further notice.
Here is a reminder of the resources available to you. There is a WhatsApp group called BletchNet that is open to any Villager to join, to offer help or request it. Help offers might be for shopping, a weekly phone call or collection of prescriptions for those distancing themselves. It is also a place to request help too.
If you’d like to join please send a text to 07970 618260 and you’ll be added.
Planning Matters
Notice of Applications withdrawn in November & December 2020: 20/01343/CLUE & 20/01344/CLUE – Greenhill Leisure Park, Greenhill Farm, Station Road, Bletchingdon OX5 3BQ – Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing User for Use of Land as a Caravan and Camping Site and as Recreation Land Ancillary to a Caravan Site.
The following applications were put before Bletchingdon Parish Council in November & December 2020: 20/02870/F – Duchy of Cornwall – Land South of Springwell Close Adj to Station Road, Bletchingdon – Application for the erection of a two-storey dwelling with associated works and access.
20/03159/TCA – Mr Julian Howe – Barley Cottage, Weston Road, Bletchingdon OX5 3DH – T1 x Silver Birch in rear garden, approx. 15.00m tall – Reduce height by approximately one third, remove wind damaged branches. Remove any deadwood (exempt).
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Litter & Fly tipping
Recently, there has been a significant increase in litter being dropped outside the Village Hall, around the car park area and other locations around the Village. Please know that we are aware of this and we are doing what we can to keep our Village tidy. The Councillors are collecting and removing rubbish regularly and we are in the process of purchasing additional bins to place in around the Village Hall to encourage people to use them. We are also purchasing our own Litter Pick equipment so that we can arrange regular litter pick events, once restrictions have been lifted.
There has also been a repeated case of fly tipping reported along New Road and Tollbrook Corner. The first case was cleared by a group of Bletchingdon residents and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work.
Sadly, the fly tippers have returned. The advice from Cherwell District Council is to report all cases of fly tipping to them because this will create an official record, allow them to come and collect the waste and investigate who is responsible.
If you see any further cases, please let us know or you can report it directly to Cherwell District Council yourself via their website.
Thank you.
*********************************************************************************************** Adverts N.B. If you contact any of our advertisers would you please mention that you saw their advert in Bletchington Village News
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We deliver daily newspapers and magazines to the village.
Any combination of Your advert could be days per week catered for.
here for only
Ring us on 01295 268499 £15.00 or e-mail [email protected] Per Year (6 issues per year)
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DEREK BICKLEY GENERAL BUILDER
Extension, Alterations, Paving etc
All types of building work considered
Telephone: 01869 351532 Mobile no: 07817496502
Web page: yell.com
Email: [email protected]
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