February 1990             Issue 28

This month is usually remembered for among other things, the 14th, St. Valentines Day. St. Valentine's origins are a little clouded, but it seems to be the name of an early Italian saint (or possibly even two), a Roman priest martyred in C269 and a bishop of Terni martyred at Rome.

St. Valentine was regarded as the patron of lovers, a tradition which may be connected with the old belief that birds pair on the 14th of February, or more possibly with the pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia, where goats and a dog were sacrificed and the priest ran round the town beating people with a goatskin! We of course tend to be more civilised about it and remember our loved ones in a more pleasant way by a card or picture sent often anonymously to a person of the opposite sex.

These first appeared in the 18th Century and were cards with drawings and verses made by the sender. In the 19th Century shop made cards appeared and became more elaborate with lace and real flowers. Today the custom offers an opportunity for indulging in gentle or humorous sentimentality and for manufacturers of greetings cards to boost profits!

CHURCH NEWS Priest-in-charge: Rev. Robert Morgan, Lower Farm, Henley Road, Sandford-on-Thames. Tel: 748848

Home and Community.

But we are taught (and always need to learn afresh) to love our neighbours as ourselves. If we share our home with someone else, they are usually our first and most important "neighbour". A house divided against itself cannot stand. Divisions have to be worked on and if possible healed. Mutual forgiveness is a necessary part of the human enterprise. There's a lot of homebreaking as well as homemaking going on in our society. Like bad builders we sometimes skimp on the foundations by not taking marriage preparation seriously enough. Often we neglect relationships as we would never neglect the roof or the car, where the results of neglect are more immediately obvious. And yet friendships which can grow and deepen over the years are even more basic than anything.

Nobody is an island. Not even a couple in a home are an island. We need a wider circle of friends and colleagues and want a society that encourages stability in a changing world. Local community has a part to play here. Villages on the outskirts of large towns have changed a lot in the age of the car, and with TV more people spend their leisure time in their own home. It takes a shared interest or a shared concern to bind people together and with so many possibilities neighbourhoods become fragmented.

We need to find things that unite us while respecting our freedom and diversity. As a newcomer to Sandford I hope the village will turn out to be a place where very different people interact and share common values and goals. And I am grateful that the church in this village has for centuries provided a focus for a community gathered to recover its bearings and to discover what it means to be human.

Robert Morgan

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

If you have not yet been to the Sandford Bingo, please give it a try. There is a very friendly atmosphere and good prizes to be won, i.e Meat joints and Groceries etc. I am sure you would have a very good evening - why not try it and bring a friend along as well. Sandford Bingo is held every Thursday evening - Doors open at 7.15pm and calling starts at 8pm. Hazel and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing everyone a very happy New Year. Janet Shepherd

Womens World Day of Prayer with the theme from Czechoslovakia

It is particularly exciting and topical this time as the Service was produced by the women of Czechoslovakia 18 months ago, long before the amazing events of the last months were even dreamt about. So we shall join with women all over the world, beginning at dawn in the Islands of Tonga and ending at sunset in St. Lawrence Island beyond Alaska, in praying for the theme "A Better Tomorrow, Justice For All", chosen by a handful of Czechoslova kian women who remained steadfast in their faith through enormous difficulty. That prayer is beginning to be fulfilled in Eastern Europe with great joy and pain. So, Friday 2nd March will be a wonderful opportunity to join those women and others the world over to pray for a better tomorrow.

It is hoped that as many women as possible from Sandford will join with the parishes of Cowley and Littlemore, with Anglican, Roman Catholics, and Methodists at 2.30pm on Friday 2nd March at Blessed Dominic Barberi, Littlemore. Notices will be posted in the Church porch and the Village Hall and anyone interested can get in touch with Mrs. Harris (777900) or Mrs. Gladwell (776787).

The Link Magazine is published monthly by the Link Committee and is edited by Richard Jackson, xx Church Road. Whilst the Committee takes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the material contained, no responsibility can be held for any action arising from this publication.

SEVILLE ORANGE WINE

Peel 12 of the oranges, discarding the peel. Cut up the oranges and lemons into slices and put into an earthenware pan. Boil the water and pour on straightaway. Place in a moderately warm corner and when tepid add yeast, enzyme and wine yeast or a teaspoonful of granulated yeast. Stir each day for a fortnight.
Strain, then add sugar and stir until dissolved. Put into a two gallon jar, filling up to top. Put surplus in dark bottles (they must be dark or the wine will lose it's colour). Use this for filling up the large jar. Ferment to completion under air-lock, rack when it clears, and bottle two months later.

PRIZE CROSSWORD WIN £5.00

Answers to xx Church Road
by the 17th of February please.
If there is no winner the prize money will be carried forward.

SANDFORD ON THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT
Mrs J Rolston (Chairman)
Mrs J Shepherd (Vice-Chairman)
Mrs G Ashburner
Mrs H Hutton
Mr M Norton
Mr A Robinson

Apologies were received from Mr Leary.

Read and Approve Minutes
The Minutes of the previous Meeting were taken as read, having been previously circulated, and signed by the Chairman. 4 votes in favour. Proposed by Mrs Ashburner, Seconded by Mrs Hutton.

Maters Arising
None.

Correspondence
SODC - Control of Pollution Act 1974. Noted. Copy of letter sent to the Village Hall Management Committee for action.
OCC - Programmed Highway Works. Post entry. Noted.

Matters for Consideration

General

Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils

1. Affiliation fees 1990/91. FOR INFORMATION. It was agreed that the Council would continue with its membership.
2. Oxfordshire Roads in Winter 1989/90. FOR INFORMATION. Information to be posted on Notice boards.
3. Public Consultation on the Proposed Alterations to the Structure Plan. Document circularised. Deferred until January meeting.

Precept
Councilors were asked to make a note of any items they wish to be included in the Budget for l990/91 and hand them to the Clerk in order that a Budget could be prepared for the January meeting. Preliminary suggestions were:

Planning

Meeting with Magdalen College to discuss Innovation Centre. The date for the Meeting with Magdalen College to be Monday, 18th December at 6.30pm.
Meeting to take place at Magdalen College Bursary.

Proposed amendment to the County of Oxford (Various Roads. Marston. Littlemore. Sandford-on-Thames) Weight Restriction Order 1969
The letter and plan had been circulated to Councillors for comment prior to the meeting and their views sought. The Clerk had written to Oxfordshire County Council putting forward the Council's objection to the weight restriction being lifted.

Planning Applications

P89/W0667 B B Leys Residential development of 36 dwellings and access. No objection.
Proposed by Mr Norton, seconded by Mrs Shepherd, 6 votes in favour.

P89/W0854 B B Leys Residential development of 30 no. 1P 1B self-contained flats to be built in 3 blocks, of 3 storeys each. Access. No objection.
Proposed by Mrs Ashburner, seconded by Mrs Hutton, 6 votes in favour.

P89/W0801 Elmslea Amendment. Oriel window to staff flat omitted. Porch added over new door to kitchen. No objection.
Proposed by Mr Norton, seconded by Mrs Robinson, 6 votes in favour.
Mr Robinson commented that there were no fire exits, etc. shown on the plans.

Planning Appeal

P881W0799 7a Henley Road Planning Appeal. Appeal Dismissed. Noted.

Income & Expenditure

Income	£		Expenditure	£
Miss Green Mooring fees	48.00		Meadhams(battery)	71.50
			British Telecom	28.38

Proposed by Mrs Shepherd, seconded by Mrs Hutton, 5 votes in favour.

Any Other Business

Recreation Field - Inspection of Equipment
The Clerk reported that Mutual Municipal Insurance Limited had carried out an inspection of the recreation field equipment. All is in order except that the height of the cradle seats needs to be raised to comply with BS5696.

Community Policeman's Report.
PC Graeme Cairns attended the meeting but said that there was nothing to report at this stage. Mrs Ashburner said that she had been approached regarding a sandwich type board advertising the Catherine Wheel which had been placed on the pavement opposite the Catherine Wheel causing an obstruction of the path. A resident had fallen over this board. The Clerk said that she had spoken to the Manager and he had agreed to move the board. However, it appears that the board is now displayed on the pavement outside the Catherine Wheel. PC Cairns said that he would investigate the matter.

LINK - Items for Discussion
Mrs Ashburner reported that the Minutes including back issues, would be printed in the forthcoming issues of the Link.

Date of Next Meeting confirmed for Monday, 15th January 1990 at 7pm in the Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 8.45pm

SANDFORD ON THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

Best Kept Village Competition
The Judge's report is to remind you all that Spring will soon be here and that the Parish Council require volunteers to help keep the village tidy and carry out minor repairs maintenance, including regular cutting of the grass in the recreation field, Wharf and verges. Please contact Mick Leary on Oxford xxxxxx if you are able to help.

The churchyard was quite well tended in an informal country style in front but work is needed on the rear section which was rather overgrown, gravestones included. On the other hand, the two bus shelters were tidy and one contained notices in immaculate condition. The main noticeboard was also good.

All three public houses were trim with very tidy car parks. The Village Hall was fairly new and in good condition. The judges imagine the surrounding garden is gradually being developed.

Both in the older part of the village and in the modern development, houses were cared for and gardens tended. Fences, walls and ditches were in good condition. The footpaths were well kept and at least one new stile was noticed.

Verges were reasonably well kept. In the older part they had not been mown but were attractively natural with cow-parsley and buttercups in profusion.

RDF/BKV
July 1989

CHEMISTS' ROTA SERVICE

FEBRUARY
Closest to Sandford area only
The following Chemist will be open for dispensing from 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Mondays - Fridays and 12 noon - 1pm Sundays and Public Holidays.

Week commencing

February 4th	P L Jenner, 236/8 Cowley Road, Oxford.
February 11th	Kingswood Chemists, 103 Pound Way, Cowley Centre.
February 18th	Emerald Pharmacy, 34 Cowley Road, Littlemore.
February 25th	W H Green (Chemists) Ltd, 8 Rose Hill Parade.
March 4th	M J Proctor; 252 Cowley Road, Oxford.