Festive Summer in Jericho
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No 50, June 2002 Published by the Jericho Community Association – www.jerichocentre.org.uk Festive summer in Jericho Major events will make for a lively For the 1977 Sil- summer, first the Golden Jubilee ver Jubilee we Street Party and then the annual had tables along Jericho Street Fair. the length of Car- digan Street. All he Jubilee party will be held on June the funds were 3 from 3.00 p.m in Hart Street and raised by the Ton the School field. Lots of events community. Since are planned. There will be a children’s tea the new school and adults can bring food to picnic on the had not been school field. The children will also have completed, the races and a talent contest. Adults too will children’s races have a fancy dress competition with a cham- were held on the pagne prize donated by the Globe. If you lawn that has fancy yourself as Elvis, or anyone else, since become the please call Carolyn Dutton on 552042. Church car park. Older residents will remember the Jeri- Mail Photo: Oxford cho Silver Jubilee Party in 1977 which at- This was also the first appearance of Nearer the day you’ll be able to see the most tracted over 300 people. Wendy Matthews Jericho’s entertainment group, the Jericho up-to-date information about the Street Fair of Walton Street who has taken the initia- Rejects, still going strong, who will have on our website at www.jerichocentre.org.uk. tive for this year’s party, has fond memo- their own party later in the month. Other events include the the Canal Festival ries of the last event. The following week, on Saturday June on June 23 and the school fête on June 29. “That party took in all the children and 15, from 10.00 a.m. we will then have the Some people have lived in Jericho all grandchildren of people living in Jericho. It annual Jericho Street Fair in Canal Street. their lives, others just a few months, but was the biggest party in Oxford and front- This promises to be bigger and better than these events offer an opportunity for every- page news in the Oxford Mail. We had a ever. As well as all the usual stalls, there one to get together. If you haven’t yet been Scots Piper to start the festivities and Wynn will be children’s entertainment, Morris able to join in community activities, now’s Bonney was the Queen for the day. Music dancing, lots of good food, and a special your chance. We really need more people was provided by a jazz band who only knew draw with prizes generously donated by lo- to help with the Jubilee party and with man- seven songs but still managed to play all cal businesses—along with street entertain- ning community stalls at the Street Fair— night. It took just five weeks to organize. ers, fairground attractions, and canalboat even the promise of an hour or two would Entertainment included the Vicar of St. rides. Again this year the Street Fair co- be a big help. If you could give a hand with Barnabas, Father Hunt, with his magic act.” incides with a weekend Beer Festival at the either please call Sue Pead on 557902. Old Bookbinders Arms in Canal Street which will offer live music through the day and well into the evening including THE such local bands as Veda Park and The Gs. Ali’s GLOBE Canalboat rides during the 2001 Street Fair Jericho Good Food Store Pool Table, Real Ale Groceries – Off-licence Thursday Quiz Night Newspaper deliveries Pleasant Atmosphere Open 6.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cranham Street, Jericho Monday to Friday Tel: 557759 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m on Sunday Photo: Jeremy Wynne Photo: Jeremy June 2002 – Jericho Echo – 1 Thanks Kelly Canalside awaits developments ellway Homes have yet to put in a of light along the canal corridor is that one planning application for the British of the key pieces of vacant land, fronting BWaterways-owned land behind the onto the canal in Jericho and surrounding Church. Preliminary indications, however, the striking and historic St Barnabas were worrying. Their development seemed Church, is actually owned by British Wa- to be reverting to the high-density housing terways. Here at least there still exists the familar elsewhere. True, they envisaged a opportunity to make an imaginative leap restaurant and a small square. But this and have a more comprehensive view of Janet and Tony Tratt with Kelly (right) seemed much less imaginative than earlier what constitutes value for a canalside com- Kelly Ahmed, who worked at the Walton visions for the site. And since the square munity—financial, cultural, and social. Street Post Office for 16 years, has now would be enclosed by the canal, the back of Here surely we would have the chance to left for a new job with the Alliance and the church and two blocks of housing, and pass on something remarkable to future Leicester in George Street. Kelly was unconnected with the new bridge, it was generations.” brought up in Jericho and started work in unlikely to offer a lively public space. The letter went on to ask for British Wa- the shop shortly after leaving school. She A more specific worry for the new Com- terways to reiterate their commitment to the then moved to the Post Office counter where munity Centre to be built on the site was site. They replied in very positive terms and she quickly picked up all those skills. Kelly’s that Bellway had not received from British on May 16 we had a very constructive meet- sunny personality and ready smile made buying stamps or collecting the pension one Waterways the brief that outlined the re- ing with them to discuss the alternatives. of the brightest parts of the day. But Kelly quirements for a viable Community Centre. They say they have an obligation to get felt she had to move on to develop her As a result, they allocated too small an ‘best value’ for the site but this does not career. Janet and Tony Tratt say: “We were area—and one that was some distance from necessarily mean the highest price. Repre- very upset to lose her, but if she had been the square and cut off from the canal. sentatives of the Association have also been our daughter we’d have encouraged her Expressing its concerns, the Community talking with Bellway, as well as with the to do the same thing.” Association wrote to the Chair of British City Council. The Council will have a key A warm welcome now to Bill Fearon. Waterways. “Over the past ten years, the role to play, both through the planning Bill has joined us from the St Aldates Post whole length of the canal in Oxford has process and by contributing adjacent land Office so should also be able to handle all been subject to dense infill development. to allow construction of the Centre. The those complicated queries. No shops, no entertainment, no community next stage should bring more of the parties or boating facilities, just block after block together around the table to see how to Community Centre AGM of unimaginative houses. The only glimpse make the best of a great opportunity. The Annual General Meeting of the Jericho Community Association was held on April Orthodox Church gave her a good send off. 8 and enjoyed videos from Jericho’s past. In Memoriam She would have been delighted with the sing- One, from the Peedell family, was of home ing. We shall all miss her. cine from the 1950s. The other, from Jim Geoffrey New—Geoffrey, who died aged Wright, was of the silver Jubilee party, — George Driver—George, who lived in full of familiar faces, and flared pants. Great Clarendon Street, died in January 69, lived in School Court. After the War, The meeting elected a new committee. aged 74, in the arms of his wife Anne after Geoffrey joined the army and saw service The members are: Chair, George Taylor, a long illness. George grew up in South in the UK. One of the most remarkable Gt. Clarendon Street; Vice-Chair, Charlotte Africa, then during the Second World War things about him was his achievement in Christie, Canal Street; Treasurer, Bill he was with the British Army in North Af- bringing up five children on his own for Wilson, Cardigan Street; Secretary, Teresa rica. After the war he came to Oxford and much of their lives. He devised many healthy Stuart, St. Barnabas Street. Committee worked at Pressed Steel for 39 years. He pleasures for them, not least long cycling members: Jenny Ashby, Wellington Street; and Anne started a family here and saw the trips. Our condolences to his family. Janet Davis, Albert Street; Clement Shaw, old Jericho change around them as the chil- Mabel Webster—A loved matriarch of her Castle Mill House; and Peter Stalker, dren grew up. The Drivers’ house has al- large family and a true friend to many, Cranham Street. The Honorary President Mabel died on April 9 aged 89. She lived is Jeanne Needle, Canal Street. ways been a friendly place to visit. One of the families that make Jericho special. with her husband Jack in Juxon Street for Tatiania Eglevsky—‘Tania’ died on De- 38 years before moving to Grantham House cember 31, aged 86 years. She was a much 15 years ago. Their home exuded love, loved and well-known figure in Walton laughter and hospitality.