NUMBER OCT/NOV 417 ! 2017 REMEMBERING BILL BUCKINGHAM Bill Buckingham came back from the Second World War to He was ‘Mr Rose Hill’, both loved and respected by all who build an Oxford fit for heroes. He lived in Rose Hill, worked at came into contact with him over his many years of working the car factory and served in local politics for many years. He tirelessly in the community. He will be greatly missed. died in June this year at the ripe old age of 96. Cllr Gill Sanders Born in 1921 in St Clements, he served in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, was a Like so many, I was saddened to learn that former Littlemore Parish Councillor and, in 1994, Lord Mayor Lord Mayor of Oxford and local Labour Party of Oxford. He married is wife Margaret (née Garner) Councillor William 'Bill' Buckingham passed-on in in 1943 and they had three children. June. If ever there was a 'living legend' in local politics and community, it was Bill who, out of respect Mr Buckingham served as a Labour Councillor for an was known as 'Mr Buckingham' by his much younger incredible 44 years as the local council boundaries City Council friends because he'd been involved for so changed around him. He was first elected to many years with local politics, and was one of the Bullingdon Rural District Council, then South area's longest-serving local Councillors. For some Oxfordshire, and finally Oxford City Council. time during the years when a large part of Rose Hill Bill was one of the generation who built the hundreds was in the Littlemore Parish Council area of benefit, of council houses providing homes for the post-War Bill served both as an Oxford City Councillor, and as a generation in Littlemore and Rose Hill. He helped Littlemore Parish Councillor. build the old Rose Hill Community Centre, and he opened the Even after he retired from front-line politics, he maintained new one last year. At one area planning meeting at the old strong family links with Littlemore through his sister Hilda - Rose Hill Community Centre the youth club broke into a chorus stalwart and champion of local causes. Bill also continued his of ‘There’s only one Bill Buckingham.’ He was a legend in work for Rose Hill where he lived until only a short time before Littlemore and Rose Hill, and an example to us all of what he died. There he helped to manage the Rose Hill Centre for democracy and public service should be. Cllr John Tanner years before the brand-new centre was built and opened in I served alongside Bill on the City Council for nine years before January 2016. The main function room was named in Bill's his retirement, and as the County Councillor for Rose Hill and honour the 'Bill Buckingham Ballroom’ so for decades to come Littlemore I continued to work with him even after he retired. I 'Our Bill' (as his late sister Hilda always called him) will be loved to spend an hour or two with him, talking over issues remembered by family, friends and the people of Oxford. both past and present and remembering things he had been He will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched involved with – and there were many. Even in the last months during a long, successful life, driven by a dedication and of his life he was still interested in what was happening in Rose passion to help people and their communities. Hill and telling me about things that needed to be done. Cllr Dorian Hancock, Vice-Chair Littlemore Parish Council. LITTLEMORE IN PIONEERING RESEARCH PROJECT CALLING HOME-SCHOOLERS AGED 7-11 YEARS A Littlemore resident who bought an electric car last year Caroline Lawrence the author best known for The Roman signed up for what is thought to be the first pilot Mysteries is to visit Emanuel Christian School on 12th October: study of on-street re-charging. It’s run by the University and described as having global scientific significance: they are testing 6 different charging technologies to find the best options for residents who have to park on Oxford’s narrow streets. They she’ll speak to the children from 1.30 to 3pm. Local home- include cable gullies; retrofitting lamp posts with schooled children aged 7-11 are invited, too. If you aren’t charging stations, and here in Littlemore, a Chago home schooled but would like to meet her, please let us know Pro charging bollard. You can find it at Vicarage and we will see if we can put on a book-signing from 3-4pm so Close. Oxford City Council chose the locations you can come after your school day. Please contact: after calling for Oxford residents who either owned [email protected]. Elizabeth Nesbitt (Head) or wanted to own an electric vehicle to come forward. These 20 volunteers will provide feedback THE OXFORD ACADEMY SUMMER EXAM SUCCESS on the chargers as part of the trial. Chargers that We received some amazing results. Our progress 8 score is suit our city best will then be installed in residential 0.34 above predicted grades, which shows how hard our streets across Oxford for anyone to use. The students work to improve and learn. We couldn’t be prouder: Littlemore bollard will go live at the start of October. • 65% of our students achieved grades 9-4 in IGCSE English, Not all the test sites can be used by other members of the • 60% of students achieved grades 9-4 in IGCE Maths and public, but the Littlemore one can be, using an RFID card or the • 51% of students achieved grades 9-4 in both English & Maths. New Motion app, for pay-as-you-go charging (see We would like to say a huge well done to everyone and good newmotion.com.) To find to more about the project go to luck to those studying for exams this year. *If you are over 19 http://www.goultralowoxford.org. and would like to study (free) for your IGCSE Maths or English, Tom Jennings, Senior Communications Officer, Oxford City Council please contact me Hannah Jamieson (my contact details are overleaf). EDITOR: JUDITH PUBLISHED BY LITTLEMORE PARISH COUNCIL: FIND THE ONLINE EDITION AT PRINTER: GODSLAND www.littlemoreparishcouncil.gov.uk FINEPRINT FUNDRAISING FESTIVE PAMPER and SHOP at TOA CHARGES FOR RECYCLING *24th November, 6-8:30pm, The Oxford Academy, Sandy Lane From 1st October there will be a small fixed fee for most non- West. Support our students (and local businesses). Entry is household or DIY items you take to the tip. Household and free. There’ll be handmade goods, local businesses, beauty garden waste will still be free, but there will be charges for treatments: it’s the perfect way to end a busy week! Money things like WC cisterns, hardcore & tyres. (Until now you could from beauty treatments and from donations will be invested deposit 3 such items before being charged.) Though this may into resources for our students. Hannah Jamieson be unpopular, the existing system has been in place for 15 years, and charging for small number of non-household & DIY TOA COMMUNITY EDIBLE GARDEN items will allow us to keep all our Household Waste Recycling After taking part in the Tesco Bags of Help campaign in stores Centres open. More information at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ around Oxfordshire we have been awarded a prize of £2,000! chargeablewaste. Thank you to everyone who voted for us. This means work can Lucy Bates Marketing and Campaigns Officer, Corporate Services start to create and build our Community Edible Garden. If you’re a local garden enthusiast (novice or expert) and you NEWS ABOUT WRAPPING FOOD WASTE would like to get involved, or to donate cuttings or old garden All of Oxford’s food recycling now goes to an anaerobic tools etc please get in touch with me: 01865 774 311 ext 2111, digestion plant in Cassington, where machinery is able to split or [email protected]. and remove bags & liners, so electricity and fertiliser can be Hannah Jamieson, TOA Community Strategy Development Officer created from leftovers. SO…plastic bags can now be used to line your food caddy! ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER? Are you confident your home will keep You can also continue to you warm and cosy? Funded by local use compostable liners or newspaper, or no liner at all. councils and the Health Service to reduce But black bags and cloth fuel poverty, the Affordable Warmth Network is an independent charity whose bags cannot be accepted. Plastic liners can be bought helpline offers free impartial advice on how to reduce your from Oxford City Council: energy bills, and help with such things as loft & cavity wall insulation. Call 0800 107 004, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday; or you can pick up 40 for email: [email protected], (see affordablewarmthnetwork.org.uk). £1.50 from Marsh Road Ben McFadden, Households & Communities Project Officer Depot, OX4 2HH, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. IS YOUR ELECTRIC BLANKET TESTED FOR SAFETY? If you’d like to see where Faults may cause fire, so free testing is offered by Oxfordshire your food waste or green County Council Trading Standards and Fire & Rescue Services: bin contents go, you can 21% of those tested last year failed the safety test, so do have sign up for a free tour: yours checked. Appointments are available in Oxford on [email protected]. Please note that all of the Mondays 2nd & 16th October.