What?

Copy date for the Issue Number 250 February issue: December 2019/January 2020 Wednesday 15th January email: [email protected]

Happy Christmas and New Year to all our readers

Don’t forget to vote on Thursday 12th December

Christmas Village Get-Together at the Institute - page 2 Monday 16th December at 6.30pm Carols Around the Tree, Wantage Silver Band Christmas Tree Re-cycling - 4th Jan see page 38

1 2 Clanfield W.I. Clanfield was plunged into darkness on our meeting night so the laughter session we were expecting was cancelled. We will reschedule the Laughter in Yoga for some time next year. Coming up at the next meeting on Tuesday 10th December at 7.30pm in the Carter Institute is Christmas Crafts when we will make a natural Christmas tree table arrangement. There is no formal meeting in January, but we will meet in the Tavern from 7.30pm onwards on Tuesday 14th January 2020. All are welcome. Our programme for next year is well underway with planned trips to a gin distillery (No. 1 choice!), Bletchley Park and Kew Gardens. Look out for more information. Liz Stevens - 01367 810255

Would You Believe It? The Clanfield What? is going to be 25 years old next Spring and one of the ways we intend to mark the event is to compile an on-line archive. We invite readers to submit any photograph or artwork which they feel represents Clanfield. Please email [email protected] AND Happy 5th Birthday to Blake’s and all who sail in her!

3 St. Stephen’s Church News We are about to enter the season of Advent when the church prepares for the Christmas festival. We don’t have flowers in the church which makes the arrangements at our Carol Service on Friday 20th December at 6pm look even more splendid. Once again, the walking nativity play will take place on Monday 16th December starting at the church at 5.30pm and ending down at the school in time of the village Carols by the Tree. This is an event performed by children who act out the nativity story interspersed by carols. Do come and support us. Our Christmas Midnight Mass service will take place at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve and church on Christmas Day will be in Bampton at 10.45am. On Monday 9th December we welcome the Bishop of Dorchester, the Right Reverend Colin Fletcher, to our church for a service at 7.30pm. The Reverend Dr.Tessa Kuin Lawton, who serves in our parish as well as being Worcester College Chaplain, has been asked to become the Area Dean. This will be her licensing service. All are welcome to attend. Christmas cards – beautiful packs of 10 cards available for £5 available at the back of the church, or contact Liz. For baptism, weddings and funerals, please contact our church administrator – Camilla Gordon-Finlayson on [email protected] or 07551 466730, or our vicar, the Reverend Janice Collier on 01993 851222. Liz Stevens- Church Warden – 01367 810255

4 Forthcoming Services at St. Stephen’s Sunday 1st December 10.30am Family Service Sunday 8th December 10.30am Holy Communion

Monday 9th December 7.30pm Licensing Service with the Bishop

Sunday 15th December 10.30am Songs of Praise

Monday 16th December 5.30pm Walking Nativity

Friday 20th December 6.00pm Carols by Candlelight

Tuesday 24th December 11.30pm Midnight Mass

Sunday 29th December 10.30am United Parish Service

Sunday 5th January 10.30am Family Service

Sunday 12th January 10.30am Holy Communion

Sunday 19th January 10.30am Songs of Praise

Sunday 26th January 10.30am Morning Worship

He Loved Clanfield My father, Geoffrey Saunders lived in Clanfield during the 2nd World War when his family relocated from Essex. Many years later when he was back in Essex he contacted your magazine as he had written his memoirs featuring several people from Clanfield. The editor at the time published his story in instalments and another local person made a You Tube video. Sadly my father passed away on Sunday 17th November and I just thought some of the older villagers might remember him and wish to know of his passing. Lesley Burgess Editor’s note: First instalment reprinted on page 15

Beastly Barons and Naughty Nuns Alan Smith has generously given permission for us to publish the transcript of his not- too-serious talk on the 800-year old history of St Stephen’s Church. Again we have a bumper issue so this will be postponed until the February issue but it will be worth the wait...

5 Parish Matters Updating you on Your Parish Council Our first topic this month was the weather. After what seems like a ceaseless fortnight of rain, there were some concerns about water levels in the Brook, and specifically on the Bampton Road by the Marsh Lane ‘Cut’. This last incident was caused by obstructed flow under a bridge over the ditch, and was dug out before any property was damaged, but it was a reminder that all the watercourses and ditches need to be clear and effective. We work hard, with WODC and others, to ensure that the riparian owners and the various bodies responsible for the clearance and maintenance of the drainage systems do what is needed to keep us as safe and dry as possible. Please let the PC know if you have any concerns, or if there is an issue that needs attention. There was then some discussion about artwork and designs for the new noticeboards, which are progressing, as is the volunteer network for the Defibrillator Buddy system (which is called ‘VETS’). We expect to announce the date of some defibrillator training for those who have put themselves forward, and will contact each of you when that is firmed up. It is very encouraging to have had such a positive response, and the PC is very grateful to those who have been able to help. There is always room for more… A large part of the meeting was spent discussing the status of the bridge over the Clanfield Brook at Holly Tree House, and the new bridge by Chestnut House. After a relatively lengthy discussion, where representations were made to the PC that the old bridge should be kept, we decided that the flood risk that had been highlighted by the Environment Agency in 2015 - when building work started on Chestnut House - should be reaffirmed, and the issue discussed again in January (the December PC meeting is the budget meeting only). We welcome your views on this topic, as on all issues that may have an impact on the village. The Car Park on the Lower Green will close for maintenance work during the school holidays, and when re-opened will carry some time restrictions on the length of stay, and a requirement that vehicles parked are taxed an insured. A notice at the car park will give details. Also on the Lower Green, the recycling bins question excited very little comment, so it seems likely that they will stay, although there is some discussion of moving them slightly to improve access and make parking easier. The PC has taken delivery of one Speed Indicator Device (SID) and another is on order. These are the signs that tell drivers how fast they are going in our 30mph zone, and experience in other villages indicates that they are an effective and friendly reminder to slow down. These are (relatively) mobile machines, so we will be able to change their locations to be sure we are as effective as possible in reducing speeding, and in having fewer upside down cars by the Brook. In other discussions, we heard of initial meetings on the subject of re-wilding in and around the village; of maintenance work on the potholes and hedges at the allotments, and repairs effected (and more needed) to the play area. The potential outdoor exercise trail and equipment is still under discussion, and we remain interested to hear from you on this.

6 WODC and OCC Councillors gave us updates on the wider area, touching especially on flooding and the related topic of Climate Change, and the County’s response to these. We talked about the Remembrance Day ceremony at our War Memorial, and how well attended and moving it was, and especial note was made to thank those who helped organize the day - from cleaning the Memorial and surrounds, to stopping traffic - and we commented on how well Matthew Hillier played the Last Post. This was a busy meeting, and touched on some issues of significance. We are keen that the Village understands what we are thinking and why, and I encourage you to let us have your opinions on these matters and any others that you think need discussion. Andrew Bernard

We live in Clanfield and are looking to upsize to a detached 4 bedroom Christmas Waste and Recycling house. If anyone is thinking of selling but have been unsure Normal collection Revised collection whether to do so please get in touch Friday 27th Dec Monday 30th Dec as we are keen buyers and would love to stay in the village. Friday 3rd Jan Monday 6th Jan [email protected] Friday 10th Jan Saturday 11th Jan 07970 264429

7 Life after Clanfield After 12 happy years in Clanfield, Dave and I felt, as we were looking towards retirement, that it was time to move while we were still fit and (relatively) healthy! We were really lucky to find a refurbished bungalow in the centre of Witney with parking. With the help of Craig and crew from Cotswold Contractors we were able to complete the outside of the property and were delighted with the result. The bus service in Witney is excellent so we use that frequently and also, we are able to walk into town so find we are not using our car as much. We still see several of our old friends from Clanfield, in fact, our ex neighbour Jan still looks after the bungalow when we are away! The new owner of our old cottage very kindly showed us round and we were so pleased to see what they have achieved. Our daughter now lives in Paris and we have a grandson there so we are frequent travellers to France. There are plenty of things to see/ do in Witney and if you haven’t tried the new Cambodian restaurant here, I can highly recommend it. The things I miss most about Clanfield are the people, walks to the pub via Marsh Lane and eating out at the Plough. Since we left, Blake’s has been established and I understand is very popular: I certainly enjoyed it when I visited recently. Jackie Gaulton - formerly of Laburnum Cottage

8 Dates for your 2020 diary Clanfield Festival is planning to hold their fete and family fun day on Sunday 17th May and the Country Fayre on Sunday 6th September. For information or to volunteer contact Karina Hooper by calling 07568 405100 or view the Festival website www.clanfieldfestival.co.uk

9 10 Poppy Appeal 2019 Thank you to everyone who made a donation to the Poppy Appeal this year. The village raised a total of £1076.53 (Gift Aid included) towards supporting the Armed Forces Community past and present. Special thanks to this year’s volunteer house- to-house collectors; Vanda White, Heather and Clive Clark, Bob Hunt and Pippa Freeman (Radcot). Thanks also to poppy tray and collection tin hosts, Blake’s Kitchen, Clanfield Post Office, The Plough and The Tavern, The Swan (Radcot) and the Carter Institute. Linda and Ian Johnston Poppy Appeal Organisers

Thank you to Bob Hunt and Bob Cross who continue to clean the memorial and surrounding area for the whole week leading up to the service that, we as a village, all so appreciate. And to Jackie and Dan at the Tavern for providing warming coffee and scrummy biscuits following Photo of this year’s Remembrance Service on 10th the service November courtesy of Becka Somerfield Otter in the Brook One of our IT guys, Gabriel, was walking along by the stream on Black Bourton Road on his way to work early one morning and saw an otter enter and swim in the brook opposite our gate (The Grange) on the bends. Sadly no time to get a camera phone out but it's such an exciting sighting! I put it on Facebook and immediately had a response from Kate Alder - “There was one under the bridge of Bakery Lane on Wednesday morning too! At school drop off time.” So be alert and let us know if you spy more evidence. They need to consume around 2.5kg of fish a day so they must be feasting on crayfish as the rare fish I have seen are very small. Watch your ponds if you have precious fish! Apparently an otter can roam up to 10km in one night so perhaps it was just visiting...

11 12 Anniversary Work-Out In 2019 Roger Bradley celebrated 20 years in business as a Fitness Trainer after a career in the RAF. (Luckily for us he chose Clanfield to open his studio in premises at Friars Court in 2003.) To mark the occasion he booked a trip for himself and his wife Jenni to Club La Santa in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. About a month beforehand he challenged his clients to attend a fitness session during their stay and in return he would buy them dinner. It appears that this was an offer which was hard to refuse as 50 of them rocked up to do an hour’s exercise! Roger was overwhelmed by their response and even admitted to feeling quite tearful at being so highly regarded. ‘Team Bradley’ donning their free shirts working out to earn their free meal!

This story was covered by Andrew Long in the Nov/Dec issue of Voices, the Aston newsletter and an account of Roger’s career success was featured in an article in Quest magazine. To find out more about Roger and read the Quest write-up visit www.rogerbradley.co.uk or simply give him a call on 07939 247556

13 Seven Years of my Life by Geoffrey Saunders Geoffrey Saunders was ‘evacuated’ to Clanfield during the war and has always had a place in his heart for it. Recently he sent a long e mail telling us of his memories. We intend to serialise his account and do hope readers will be interested in this fascinating account of Clanfield in days gone by. Please sit back and enjoy part one. It was November 1940, Guy Fawkes Day, when a well-scrubbed cattle lorry from Central Garage in Bampton arrived outside our house in Essex. Quite a bit later that day we arrived in the peaceful tranquillity that was Clanfield. We had left behind the fireworks of the nightly bombing raids that were the blitz. We lived in rural Essex but it was only sixteen miles from the centre of London - the ‘outer defence ring’ as they referred to it. We could see the glow in the night sky as the docks area burned. Things were so lively at night that we had to sleep in our air raid shelter for three months. My parents decided that it was time to find somewhere more peaceful to live. My father was a farm worker and so he studied the ads in the ‘Farmer’s Weekly’ and eventually obtained the post of Shepherd with Mr H V Wallis of Chestlion Farm. Clanfield was a different world - one had no idea that there was a war on. It was great to sleep in a real bed again and not have to hear the siren every few hours. We began to settle in. The first lad I met who was my age was Billy Hawkins or ‘Winkle’ as I later found out. He was riding a shiny new bicycle much to my envy. I asked him if his parents had bought it for him. He told me that school had provided it for him. I thought I must have arrived in ‘never-never land’, a school giving away bikes! This was, of course, Bampton School. I had not been to school for two months. I had just turned eleven and had been at my senior school for a week and a day when it was closed down for air raid shelters to be built. When my schooling was discussed it was not certain if I was to be regarded as a ‘local’ or an evacuee. There was a school for evacuees in the Carter Institute run by a headmaster, Mr Ward. My mother took me down to meet Mr Ward and after some debate it was decided I could choose. I immediately opted for Bampton – I wanted that free bike! Soon after the new bike was delivered and I found out that I was allowed to ride it anywhere and not just to school I started to explore the area. There were no signposts during the war so I had not a clue where I was going to finish up. My first trip took me to Radcot. I was immediately besotted with the place. I rode past The Swan, it had lovely, well-kept gardens with a big apple tree, a mulberry tree and a summerhouse made from reeds. Looking down from the top of the bridge there was a steam tug chuffing its way upstream. I later learned that it was delivering coal to the lock keeper's houses between Oxford and Lechlade. The Swan and Radcot were to take up quite a lot of my life during my stay in Clanfield. I have always had a soft spot for Clanfield and came back many times on fishing holidays and stayed at the Swan which thrived again under the stewardship of Mr Bowls. After I married in 1956 the visits stopped but I still kept in touch. My sister was very friendly with Mabel Barnet who married Philip Horne from Bampton. Pip passed away and Mabel moved to Carterton so our news of the village grew less and less until I discovered the Clanfield WHAT? thanks to Don Rouse of Lew. 14 This article first appeared in Issue number 143 in March 2009 Geoff Saunders or ‘Joe’ lived at York Cottages in Pound Lane from November 1940 until April 1947. His father was shepherd for Harry Wallis and Geoff worked at the Ram Jam garage for Jack Widdowson. He recalled that “Jack was a wonderful man who would repair anything from a leaking bucket to a set or threshing tackle.”

15 Pet Corner Tee Trueman sent us a pic of Ted and Bertie to share this issue. “Ted who is now almost two and a half years, escaped from our garden at around 8 months old, when he hadn’t been with us long. Luckily he was found by Paula Taylor of Wicks Close and he made quite an impression on the family before I collected him with much relief. This year Ted’s parents had another (unplanned) litter...his father is called Dodger after all (haha!). I let Paula know there was a litter of potential ‘Ted look-alikes’ and Paula and family happily chose one, ‘Bertie’. We now go on regular walks together where they scramble about and play fight as brothers will. It took the potential offer of a treat to get them to sit still for a few moments and Paula grabbed this shot during a lovely walk in Bampton. They are Border Terrier crossed with Norjack (Norfolk Jack Russell cross)”

16 17 Clanfield CE Primary School The term leading up to Christmas is always magical in school. Already, the children are starting to learn their words and catchy songs for their upcoming nativities and Christmas performances. We hear them singing as we walk the corridors of the school and it really is a joy to stop and listen. The term has been rather musical, with recent visits from iRock School of Music and Standing Ovation School of the Arts. These projects look to inspire children to learn to play musical instruments, to stand up and sing and to grow their self-esteem through the creative arts. We are proud to provide a curriculum which nurtures the talents of all of our children. We saw children who would often sit quietly in class, standing up and singing their hearts out! We were very proud to send our newly appointed Anti-Bullying Ambassadors to a training day at Charlbury during November. Grace, Gracie-May, Jenson, Abi and Harriet spent the day alongside other pupils from Oxfordshire schools learning about ways to support their peers who may experience bullying. They learned about the different types of behaviours to look for in others and some techniques for talking through difficult situations with other children. They are now leading an assembly once a term in school to keep us updated on what they are doing as a team. Our anti-bullying ambassadors, along with our School Council and Eco Warriors, are all finding their voices and raising important issues which they feel strongly about, all with the goal of making our school and our community the best it can be. This term we welcome Mrs Emma WIlliams to our team who is teaching in our Reception and year one class. She is a trained Early Years Specialist and we are very excited to have her on our team. Kim Rogers and Kate Smith

Please support our school on 7th December See page 27 for details of the Christmas Fayre

Welcome Prospective parents of children who will be starting school in September 2020 are invited to come and look around our lovely village school. We have organised an open afternoon for families from 1-2.30pm on Wednesday 4th December. The visit will include a tour of the school and give you an opportunity to speak to the staff. Nicola Graham - Business Manager - Clanfield CE Primary School Tel: 01367 810257 Email: [email protected]

18 19 Clanfield and Bampton Historical Society At our second meeting of the 2019/ 2020 season we welcomed our enthralling speaker, Stewart Linford, who, as a member of the Worshipful Company of Chairmakers, shared his wealth of knowledge about the Windsor chair. He related that George III, Farmer George, declared it to be ‘the most comfortable chair’ and went on to explain the origins of its name. Although constructed in the Chilterns in the environs of High Wycombe by a team of independent craftsmen who enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship and used a variety of local woods such as elm, beech, ash and yew, the finished articles were conveyed by boat from Windsor, to the city of London. The simplest thing for the traders to say was that the chairs came from Windsor. The team comprised a chair ‘bodger’ who worked in the beech woods making the legs and stretchers, the ‘benchman’ who would produce the shaped seat of elm and the sawn parts in his village workshop and finally the framer who put all the component parts together ... and thence to Windsor. The secret of the construction of this highly favoured and diverse piece of furniture, recognised in every tea shop in the country, lies in its shaped seat of solid elm that receives the chair-back and legs that are pushed into drilled holes forming a round tenon joint. Stewart Linford, who is a bespoke furniture maker based in High Wycombe who hand-crafts innovative designs with exceptional quality, brought an impressive selection of his work. Over the years he and his team have produced an array of limited edition Windsor chairs for special occasions. His ‘Churchill’ chair really was a show stopper. This beautiful piece, composed of materials from Blenheim, had a secret compartment in the ample carved seat - a humidor drawer to house Winston’s favourite brand of cigars and a hat shelf below for his Homburg. As if his entertaining delivery was not enough for one evening Stewart recited the very famous speech of Sir Winston Churchill from the chair bearing Winston’s name, complete with Homburg and puffing on a very convincing fake cigar! (see photographs opposite) These pieces were obviously his passion and Mr. Linford explained how the discarded wood of HMS Victory, which had languished for over a hundred years in Portsmouth’s historic dockyard, was about to be scrapped at the time of a restoration. Luckily someone pointed out the value of it before it was set alight, and the day was saved, the wood was sold on the open market and our speaker was fortunate to purchase some. Hence, the ‘Admiral's chair’, with its engraved backrest incorporates some material from the Victory. The presentation prompted many questions and discussion along the way but toward the end the speaker examined chairs which belonged to members of the audience and he delighted us with his in-depth knowledge by providing enlightening information about their origins. We meet next year on February 18th when the architect and craftsman Hugh Conway Morris will speak on the subject of his work for The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings or SPAB which was founded in 1877 by our local luminary William Morris.

20 Photos courtesy of Naomi Waghorn If you have any enquiries please telephone Charlotte on 01367 810768, or Sue on 01367 810788, and we will be pleased to help you. Sue Mattingley Local History Does anyone remember this historic moment in the 1950’s when a young Dorothy Wise visited an Ernest Pocock archaeological dig somewhere in Clanfield? Jo Shortland is in the middle. Photo - Dorothy Wise collection

21 The Clanfield Tavern news Tel : 01367 810117 Or 07738006015 Email : [email protected] Upcoming Live music at the Tavern : Friday 29th November - 1st year anniversary party - Live music from Al Jenkins. 8.30pm. Friday 13th December - Live music - White Ridge -9pm. Saturday 21st December - Live music - Young Rosie -9pm. New Year’s Eve party - Come and see in the New Year with us 8pm onwards. Free entry. Open mic nights every 1st and 2nd Sunday of the month. We would like to thank everyone that has shown us great support in our first year here at the tavern. We look forward to many more! Jackie and Dan

Clanfield Football Club Clanfield progressed to the next round of both the Oxfordshire Senior Cup and the Supplementary Cup, with comfortable wins against Freeland and Faringdon respectively, but they have not played a league game for over a month and have as a result dropped to 10th in the table. I had intended to go to the home match against Moreton Rangers which was scheduled for almost 46 years to the day when as a young teenager I visited Clanfield for the first time to see them play Moreton Town who played on the same ground that Moreton Rangers currently play at. However wet weather ended my hopes of attending this game. I will not now visit Clanfield again until after Christmas and I would like to wish all readers of this publication a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2020. Malcolm Clarke Happy Birthday to Us! As you may be aware the Clanfield What? is going to be 25 years old next Spring and we would like to produce a bumper issue so please put your thinking caps on over the festive break when you are relaxing (we hope!) and write to us by email [email protected] or snail mail Caroline Crisp, The Grange, Bourton Road, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PB or phone Caroline on 810452.

22 23 24 Supporting people living with dementia at Christmas Christmas can be tough for people living with dementia and their families. Finding the time and strength to prepare, while also wishing loved-ones were in better health, can really take its toll. Sometimes visiting relatives just feels too difficult and imagining that no one really wants to come to you either is not uncommon. A house with no calls or visitors throughout the period can feel even harder than usual. People living with dementia often sense this, which in turn can make them feel more vulnerable and anxious. Here are just a few suggestions that people living with dementia have said really do help to make their Christmases (and the people who are supporting them) easier:

 Keeping the same routines is useful (e.g. getting up and going to bed at the same time; familiar activities such as a daily walk etc.). Becoming disorientated is not only frightening but many people are too embarrassed to ask for help even if they need to feel reassured about where they are.

 Having a lot of people in the house is daunting. Names and faces become increasingly difficult to place and even the kindest of prompts like, “You remember so and so” can start to feel like a test from which, it’s often easier to withdraw.

 Linking people to their roles and relationships is helpful. For example, “It’s our neighbours, Bill and Jean, come to say Merry Christmas” or, “Ollie, come and say hello to Granddad”. This takes the pressure off the fear of getting it wrong.

 Having the things that are going on explained in a conversational way (without being patronising) can be beneficial. Perhaps something like “Everywhere feels so busy/shut down because it’s Christmas again.” This helps people to feel equal even if there are lapses in their memory or they can’t quite place what’s happening from time to time.

 Remember that the life history of a person being supported or hosted has not changed, and life long traditions can come to mind, or be felt, more often than we may imagine. Still being included in these lovely things (especially practical things that come automatically) like preparing the veg, mixing the pudding or passing the baubles for the tree, may still be possible and these are the types of activities that can help to restore a person’s sense of identity and really strengthen their feelings of wellbeing at this much celebrated, but often overwhelming, time of year.

Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia Helpline: 0300 222 11 22

25 26 Another 1950’s classic from Dorothy Wise’s collection of old photos. According to her notes on the back this is the British Legion Hall in Clanfield with Avery Stevens on the left holding the cigarette and Mr Hicks smoking a pipe on the right. January 1954

The Golden Olden Days They certainly knew how to party back then - not a female to be seen and not much in the way of food!

27 Clanfield Cares A damp, dank morning greeted us as we set up for our upcycling workshop in St Stephen’s last month. But even the weather and the added challenge of a power cut affecting most of the village, didn’t deter the very nice bloke who set us up with a generator for our festive lights or, the hardy bunch of up-cyclists that joined us for a morning of creative gift making and wrapping. Did anyone else pile up their haul of Christmas presents as a child? Well, some of us certainly relived that tradition when we got home! New planters made from recycled tins now show off perky primulas; sweets and homemade biscuits filled up personalised kilner jars as gifts for family bakers and there were clever ideas to glam up bottles for drinks parties. A simple scarf was turned into an alternative way to wrap up a box of shortbread and everyday jam jars were transformed into hanging tea lights for the garden. Pets and wildlife didn’t go amiss either. Peckish pots made from cast out herb pots, filled with the equivalent of a feather-tastic flapjack, are already feeding the birds. Glammed-up yogurt jars were turned into high end looking treat gifts for even the fussiest of four-legged friends. All the materials were freely available for people to experiment on the day but, thank you to everyone who made a donation for the things that they made to take away. We have put this towards St Stephen’s 800th Anniversary Fund.

Winter Walks The November walk was sunny, muddy and a whole lot of fun as you will see in the photos on the page opposite. Our first winter walk of 2020 will leave from Blake’s at 11:00am on Thursday 30th January. Linda and Debbie M: 07881370712

28 The A Team or Advance Party bathed in an autumn glow and a lot of mud...

The Dog Walkers or Rear Guard savouring a blue sky moment in our stunning countryside with their canine companions who are taking a breather. They certainly know how to enjoy themselves whatever the weather or terrain, covering ten times the distance!

All the walkers of the class of 2019 would like to thank Debbie and Linda for all the time and care they take researching the routes and guiding us through the many local highways and by-ways and introducing us to new and less familiar ones. This also applies to our varied walking companions. Looking forward to more surprises and delights in 2020.

29 Veg Plot Christmas Bean Feast Chris Hanks lives down the road near Carterton and is the daughter-in-law of Margery Robertson who built and lived in Setting Barn until her death in May 2015. It had been a tradition for some years for Chris Hanks to write a poem for the Robertson Christmas get-together. We invited her to share this witty and entertaining poem which Margery would certainly have relished.

Christmas Eve as the moon shone down, And so the party has begun, The Vegetables all gathered round. A Cornucopia of fun.

Excited chatter could be heard, Because of the Brexit tussles, It’s time to party was the word. We won’t be seeing the Brussels. The time had come for their Xmas do, And the Melon-Cauli Swiss Chard, Their fun and games I’ll share with you. Thinks the journey’s just too hard. Late summer and the wise Sage said, Guess who has a room at the Savoy? If our Christmas bash is going ahead, That’s French Bean, he’s such a playboy!

We must plan with some alacrity, Soon they were dancing to the Beet, If we’re to avoid mediOkraty. Basil and Rosemary light on their feet. And so he sent a Runner round, The Chervil and the Chive, To see what help was to be found. Well they liked to do a jive. We need a committee said Hyssop, And Cumin, cool as a Cucumber, If we’re planning a great piss-up. Asked lady Chamomile to Rumba.

They’ll need to know their Onions, As the dance floor’s quite a Squash, To be our party Champignons. Some go off to get some nosh. As fine words butter no Parsnip, A Mangetout buffet far from mean, He undertook the chairmanship. Agreed the well-stuffed Aubergine. It can’t be Rocket science, Thanks to generous Tarragon, To work out our requirements. Who’d ordered it all on Amazon.

We need aMaizements, games and fun, That Fungi Artichoke, Food and booze for everyone. Sure did like to play a joke. It was agreed they shouldn’t stint, Picked on Cress-fallen Mustard, Even if it cost a Mint. Who proSeeded to get flustered.

We’ll need to get a Christmas tree, Now don’t you cry and make a fuss, Chimed in excited Savory. Comforted kindly Asparagus.

There must be holly and mistletoe, Kohl Rabi said; come Lettuce pray, We’ll Leaf that to you Oregano. But everyone else just wanted to play. Stout Pumpkin is best qualified, Some joined in pass the Parsley, To play our Santa this Christmas-tide. Others charades or Pictionary.

Oh and we’ll need some music, Meanwhile Calabrese and Cabbage, Piped up excited Garlic. Played a quiet game of cribbage.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Black Eyed Peas, It’s time to party ho, ho, ho, Either one of those would please. Rejoiced the merry Potato. What about Wheatus or Prefab Sprout, She’d found her jacket did unhook, They’d Salsify our needs no doubt. Well there’s a Turnip for the book.

Now party night is Fennely here, Just look at that hot Tater, Oh listen to those Veggies cheer. Shakin’ her Moneymaker!

As they put up the decorations, Desiree looked Gourdgeous in red, For the festive Celerybrations. She’s Radishing her Sweet Heart said.

30 I don’t know where she gets her garb, The roly-poly Marrow, Mumbled the envious Rhubarb. Nodded off in the wheelbarrow. Oh come now don’t take umBorage, Celeriac he took a fall, Coaxed tender-hearted Lovage. Saying I don’t Carrot all. Said Pea I will not be obLeek, And as for Lemon Grass, I’m desperate to take a peek, He fell flat upon his arse.

Into that Santa’s grotto, This party’s Bean the best one yet, Will you help me please Tomato? Don’t let it end bemoaned Courgette. Well I’ve Herb there’s not Mushroom, Oh yes, twenty-four Carrot gold, But you are only a small Legume. A really Sweet Success all told. The saucy Coriander, Chicory, Spinach and Dill, Who did like to philander. All agreed it had been brill.

Was out to find a Broad, Now the party’s winding down, And would not be ignored. And the Veg are homeward bound. Oh that’s so imMorel, Endive run out of Thyme, Remarked the prudish Sorrel. I must end my little rhyme. Look at prim Miss Marjoram, So here’s my parting shot; Acting like the big I Yam. Merry Christmas, that’s Shallot!

Whilst in the corner laid back Swede, Confessed he’d had a little Weed. Chris Hanks December 2018 While the Broccoli and the Kale,

Imbibed a little too much ale.

31 Be vigilant… Did You Know? The Roman mile was 1000 paces (mille Just to warn everyone that it’s that passum) as measured by every other time of year when there are step; ie. the total distance of the left foot burglars about. Alan Smith at hitting the ground 1000 times. The Foundry House discovered that his consul Agrippa standardised the mile in garage door had been forced open 39BC by declaring that one ‘foot’ should and a chainsaw taken. On further be based on the exact investigation he found that both length of his own foot, stable doors had been jemmied and which was roughly a strimmer taken. He told us, “It 296mm or 0.97 feet must have happened after 5pm yesterday (Monday 18th Nov) as all was well when I got home and put my car away.”

Morris’s Golden Rule In response to the ‘Paws for Thought’ in the last issue Peter Farley emailed to say, “Seeing the saying about time put me in mind of the following. It has always helped to keep away some of the clutter one accumulates and of course he is a local lad too!” Peter and Raena have a framed copy of this quotation hanging on a wall in their house as a constant reminder. The quote was part of a lecture entitled ‘The Beauty of Life’ which was delivered by William Morris to the Birmingham Society of Arts and School of Design on 19th February 1880.

32 What do you know about the birds and bees? Birds and bees are great pollinators. And what is a pollinator? A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to assist in fertilisation. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes. We immediately think of bees but wasps, moths, butterflies, flies and beetles are most efficient as are birds and mammals. I was introduced to serious pollinator discussion in a beautiful garden in Appleton in July of this year. I listened to a most enlightening lecture explaining how pollinator habitat is disappearing as we manicure our immediate environment. So it has been suggested that we consider being a little less regimented and think about leaving little patches of garden and lawn to be rough, even in our very own surroundings. Just a tiny patch may provide an area for a wren to investigate, a hedgehog to rummage, and think of the pleasure that will bring. And then perhaps in and around our greens? And in our churchyard, a haven of peace for our wildlife to thrive. It does not have to be untidy. It does not have to get out of hand.

But we really need to know how you, the village, feel about this. And our happy gang of mowing gentlemen, and one lady: is this going to make life difficult? Please give this suggestion some serious thought. Do you think that you would be comfortable, as you walk about Clanfield, to see the occasional clump of long grass and perhaps a nettle or two that might be home to a few bugs? Or a little patch of wild flowers that attract the hover flies? It does not need to involve vast expense. Thinning out a few geraniums may provide interest if relocated to a suitable area anything is possible. We would love to hear your views. Please telephone 01367 810788 and let me know so that I may pass on your reaction to our small group of pollinator people.

Sue Mattingley

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National Finalist Sausage Voted Best Sausages in South Of Championships England as seen on National TV Bridge Street, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2HA Tel 01993 850350

34 Reading Between the Lines Dear Editor With reference to the last edition which referred to my 'Clanfield to Bampton Railway', I have been contacted by a number of people requesting further details. Sadly, Clanfield never had a railway station - one of the reasons for my fictional layout. Bampton was, however, served by a railway and had a station. The railway was known as the East Gloucestershire Railway and was originally conceived as a through line from Farringdon to Cheltenham with a branch line to Witney. It obtained an authority act in 1862 but GWR opposition frustrated the promoters' intention and a second Act was obtained on 29 July 1869. After further opposition from GWR the sponsors were reduced to building 19 miles (23 km) of line from Witney to Fairford, with a share capital of £300,000. The line was opened on 14 January 1873. Stations on the new line were Fairford, Lechlade, Kelmscott & Langford, Alvescot, Carterton (opened 1944), Bampton & Witney, South Leigh, Eynsham and Cassington Hall (opened 1936). Bampton had its station until the Beeching cuts. It was situated on the left, going to Brize Norton, before the old railway bridge and the Air Force runway traffic light control. There is a small industrial estate there now. In Witney there is Station Lane, between Sainsbury's and the traffic lights near B&Q. Parts of the old station buildings were still there until Sainsbury's was built. I believe there is a Station Road between Alvescot and Black Bourton and there is a coal yard by the old bridge, so there might have been a station there, or a halt. There are some excellent photos on the Bampton archive, with pictures of old railway buildings and steam engines. For those interested, my Clanfield to Bampton Railway layout is an 'N' gauge model, fully digital, controlling locomotives, points and sounds, using Lenz Expressnet digital equipment. Ref: Wikipedia and R. U. J. Butt’s "Directory of Railway Stations" I have attached some more pics of the model for your readers. Iain Main formerly of Hunter Court

35 36 Faringdon & District U3A October 2019 U3A – Thursday, 12th December - United Reform Church At 2.30pm Sally-Ann Spence, a lecturer at the Oxford Natural History Museum will talk about “Dung Beetles. Sally is an informed and engaging science educator who has spent many years enthusing people about the wonders of invertebrates. She is the founder of Minibeast Mayhem, a specialist teaching company; she takes great delight in delivering lively material on this often misunderstood and underrated section of Biology. Refreshments are available after the talk. All members are welcome to attend but visitors are required to pay £1.50. Advance notice Our New Year Celebration January Japes on Thursday 9th January with a talk afterwards on “My Walk to Freedom” by Al Sylvester. Booking details to follow in December. Alison Thomson

The Clanfield What? is published ten times a year and is delivered free to 300+ households within the village. It is also now published online. www.clanfieldwhat.com

The What? is produced by unpaid volunteers but the printing and delivery costs are financed solely by advertising... Seasons Greetings to all our advertisers and to those kind people who deliver your What?

37 We at Abbey Properties are experiencing a high demand for properties. If you’re thinking of selling, or looking for your new home, then don’t hesitate to pay us a visit or contact us via phone or email

Call us to discuss your free, no obligation, valuation.

Market Square Bampton, OX18 2JH 01993 851881 [email protected]

38 39

West Ox Arts West Ox Arts will have its Christmas Arts and Crafts for sale at the WOA Gallery in the centre of Bampton and at the Vesey Room in Church View from Saturday 16th November until Saturday 21st December. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11.30 till 16.30 and Sunday 14.00 to 16.00 Come and have a look and see what you can find! There will be a sale of all sorts of work in January, to be followed by a Members’ Exhibition in February.

Auld Lang Syne Many other countries have New Year traditions that might be less well-known - for instance, in Colombia, people run around the house with a suitcase to ensure that the upcoming year is filled with travel, and the Danes jump off chairs at the stroke of midnight to literally "leap" into a luck-filled new year. Other customs involve eating 12 grapes at or before midnight in Spain or jumping seven waves in Brazil!

40 Make a Difference in Your Community!

Volunteer Link Up (West Oxfordshire) is a Good Neighbour Scheme based in Witney. We have been serving our local communities for over 36 years by recruiting people with time to spare to help individuals of any age or ability.

We have three in-house projects: Transport – Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take residents to all sorts of appointments. Typically clients are elderly, frail or have a disability. Expenses are paid to the driver. Befriending – Volunteer befrienders visit people in their own homes for company and conversation, play card games or Scrabble, watch a film – whatever the client and volunteer would enjoy. Sometimes help with post/paperwork is required. Practical Tasks – Volunteers take people shopping, or do their shopping for them. They also do gardening or small DIY or decorating jobs for people who have difficulty doing this for themselves due to frailty or disability If you think that you could help a fellow resident contact us for more information on 01993 776277 / [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

41 WHAT?’s On in Clanfield

Adventure Plus Canoe Club Historical Society Wednesdays from 6.45pm at Windmill Monthly meetings between October and Farm (Main Street). Also monthly on May. Next date 15th October at 7.30pm Saturdays Please email for details and Info: Sue Mattingley 810788 or Charlotte confirmation Martins 810768 [email protected] Library Service at Carterton Rhyme Time every Thursday 10.30am – Total Adventure Club 11.00am. Coffee Mornings and Computer For children aged 8yrs & over. Tuesdays, help 10.00am till 12 noon every last school term-time only. Times 6.00pm - Monday of the month. 7.30pm. Try archery, fencing and circus 6 Alvescot Road, Carterton, OX18 3JH skills. First session free, thereafter £5/ Tel: 01993 841492 week. Adventure Plus, Windmill Farm, Main St. Women’s Institute

Tel: 01993 703308 Meetings are held every second Tuesday in the month at 7.30pm. in the Carter

Bell Ringing Institute. All are very welcome. For info contact Liz Stevens, Cavarige House, Practice night each Wednesday from 7.30 - 9.00pm at St. Stephen's Church. Bourton Road, Clanfield 01367 810255 New ringers always welcome. Contact Tower Captain: Aidy Hillier 01367 810474 Yoga ‘Gentle Flow’ class every Thursday or Deputy: Ian Kenworthy 01367 810577 9.30am to 10.30am with Amanda at the Carter Institute. £8 drop-in fee. Contact: Clanfield Pre-school [email protected] For children in the age range 2-5 years in the Foundation Building on the school Zumba® site. Open every Monday to Friday from Wednesday 7.30pm-8.30pm at the Carter 8.45am – 2.45pm during term-time. Call Institute. Other times/venues email to Lou Taylor on 01367 810365, e-mail [email protected] or visit [email protected] www.facebook.com/EugenieZumba

Clanfield Toddler Group For parents and carers of children under 5 years of age. Wednesday mornings REMEMBER — Adverts are free for 9.30am – 11.00am in the Carter Institute. non-profit organisations and Clanfield £2.00 per session per family. Email residents who have something to sell [email protected]

Family History Group Meets on the fourth Thursday of the www.clanfieldwhat.com month at 7.00pm upstairs at the Carter Thanks to Kennedy O’Donnell you can now view the Clanfield What? on-line Institute. Karina Hooper 01367 810397 and there will be an archive of back copies in due course

42 Carter Institute Advertising Rates For enquiries & bookings contact Mrs (as from October 2012) Kate O’Donnell on 01367 810440 Full page (128 x 190 mm) £24.00 Parish Council ½ page (128 x 85 mm) £16.00 Minutes of Parish Council Meetings are ¼ page (128 x 40 mm) OR (60 x 85 mm) £10.00 available on their website Eighth page (58 x 40 mm) ££6.00 www.clanfieldpc.com/meetings For any information or to add to the Adverts can be sent by email in either agenda contact: Lynda Scott MS Word, MS Publisher or as a JPEG. (Clerk to the Council) Email letters and articles to: 1 Farmers Court, Clanfield, 01367 810606 or 07789 653 308 [email protected] [email protected] Deliver Handwritten Articles to: Caroline Crisp, The Grange, Bourton Road, District Council Clanfield OX18 2PB Tel: 810452 If you would like to receive information (all handwritten articles must have a contact about local matters such as planning name and telephone number) applications in Clanfield, waste collection For general queries please contact: changes etc., please register at My Caroline Crisp 810452 Alerts at www.westoxon.gov.uk Liz Gaertner 810465 Chris Garland 810623 Report Dangerous Pot-Holes to The WHAT? would like to remind readers Oxfordshire County Council that it does not accept responsibility for the www.fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk content of any article printed. Views printed are solely those of the contributor. The WHAT? will publish all contributors’ names unless anonymity is specifically FLOOD ALERT requested. Anonymous articles and or letters PARISH COUNCIL will not be printed. The WHAT? reserves the right to edit any EMERGENCY NUMBER article, where appropriate, according to the 07585 366946 available space. PLEASE NOTE Relocation of As always, we will do our utmost to accommodate news of village events but would Defibrillator appreciate as much notice as possible. Last- minute entries may not make it into the final version that goes to print. The village defibrillator has been Clanfield has its own FaceBook page at relocated from the Carter Institute to www.facebook.com/groups/Clanfield/ the old telephone kiosk at the bottom of Bakery Lane.

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