May 1990             Issue 31

May...

A remnant of the May festival, as observed by the Druids, survives in the fires formally lit on this occasion. In England as Chaucer and Shakespeare tell us, it was customary to go out on the first May morning and collect flowers and bring them home. The fairest maid of the village was crowned with flowers as the "Queen of the May" and placed in a little bower or arbour, where she sat in state, receiving the homage and admiration of all around her. Other features included the Maypole, which was bedecked with flowers and danced around... another hark-back to fertility rites. So now you know

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

RELIGION AND THE POLL TAX

On the whole the clergy are very careful not to allow their party political prefer ences to be visible. The church contains supporters of different parties in a democracy, and the vicar must be equally available to all. Especially in sermons, which speak of God, and where there is not much sight of immediate reply, most of us try not to be controversial most of the time.

On the other hand it would not be real life if we all agreed with everything that is said. Even in religion, controversy is sometimes healthy, provided it is carried out without rancour or bitterness, and in a spirit of love and seeking for truth. The sermon in question was critical of violence, and most Christians would agree with that, though in some parts of the world even that would be controversial. Was the Christian Bonhoeffer wrong to be involved in the plot against Hitler?

The sermon did not reveal anything about the preacher's general political persuasion. This particular tax was criticized on the simple grounds that it was (he thought) unjust. If he is right about that and opinion might differ - then it is hard to say that he is wrong to be opposed to it, and wondering what (if anything) he can do to express opposition. I still think it is his task to tell the world that God is just and wants us to be just in our dealings with each other. No one who has studied the Bible will deny that. I also think that no loving or caring person who sees some of the bad effects of a new law can simply stay silent. But the clergy are not political demagogues. Their task is to teach the Christian faith - God's justice and love - in ways that will help all God's people to be better Christians - which includes wanting society to be more in tune with God's will. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

Robert Morgan.

PRIZE CROSSWORD WIN £5.00

Answers to xx Church Road
by the 10th May please.

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
MAY

HE HAS BROUGHT YOU TO LIFE WITH HIM, HE HAS FORGIVEN US ALL OUR SINS. LIE HAS OVERRIDDEN THE LAW, AND CANCELLED EVERY RECORD OF THE DEBT THAT WE HAD TO PAY; HE HAS DONE AWAY WITH IT BY NAILING IT TO THE CROSS.

Linda Parrott

Community Police Report

Hello, hopefully by now you should all be aware that you have a new Community Beat Officer for Sandford, PC. Graeme Cairns. I've been on the beat here since September and so far there have been no major problems, so let's keep it that way. If I'm unaware of a problem, I can't do anything about it so let me know either when I'm on the street, or by leaving a message at Cowley Police Station of any problem that occurs.

Well that's my introduction, so now onto what I've got to say, over the next few issues I propose to give you some useful crime prevention tips and what we can do about any problems that develop in our area.

For this edition, in my view this could be a lifesaver. I've noticed on my travels a number of you haven't got your house number clearly displayed, if at all. If you can imagine it's dark in the early hours of the morning and you call the emergency services for help, we all know where the streets are, but if we cannot find your house number because you haven't got one we could waste valuable minutes. Counting down from a house that does have a number to yours that hasn't. This time wasted finding your house could be vital, especially in a medical emergency. So please put your house number in a conspicuous place so that it can be seen clearly and easily.

Well, that's all for this edition, See you on the beat
PC. Graeme Cairns.

PC. Cairns can be contacted on Oxford xxxxx9 extn. xxxx at Cowley Police Station. Remember in an emergency dial 999 and one of the many Police Officers will do, I'll find out about it later.

MAY RECIPE

TABOULI, MEDITERRANEAN SALAD.

Serves 4

6oz Bulgar cracked wheat 4 spring on onions, chopped 2 tblsp. olive oil 1 tblsp. chopped, fresh mint

2 tblsp. chopped, fresh parsley 2 tblsp. lemon juice 1/2 cucumber, diced, skin and all (optional) Salt and freshly ground pepper.

Soak the Bulgar in cold water for 30 minutes, it will expand greatly. Drain it and wrap in a clean tea towel. Squeeze out the moisture and spread it out to dry for a further 30 minutes.

Mix the spring onions with the Bulgar wheat; use your hands and squeeze to get the onion juice to penetrate the Bulgar. Add oil, mint, parsley, lemon juice, and cucumber if you are using it. Mix well, season to taste and serve.

Will keep refrigerated for about four days.
One serving has 230 kilocalories and 8g. fat.

FOR SALE...

Matsui dual alarm clock radio, LED digital display, 2-band (AM/FM). battery back-up, wake to music or alarm, snooze/sleep feature. £8.

Two white desk lamps with flexible arms, 13" high. £3 each.

Telephone Jeffrey Zink, Ox. xxxxxx or call at xx Church Road.

Announcement...

We thought it would be nice to use the Link, in addition to our regular meetings, for information and news.

Our meetings will in future, be held in the evenings, I appreciate that it is difficult to suit everyone, so if you are unable to attend we will keep you all informed by letter. The AGM of the Association will be held in May, the date to be announced later. This meeting will be when you, the members, elect the Committee for the coming year, and we will also deal with the subscriptions, new nominations for the Committee will be welcome. With this in mind I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the other Committee members for their help and support on behalf of both myself and all the other residents.

Concerning other matters, a letter was sent to Mr Rees, Senior Environmental Officer, about complaints from residents on the park concerning the children's recreation area and tidying up of certain areas on the park that had become an eyesore, these have now been dealt with. The question of the flooding of roads and other areas has also been raised.

It is also felt that a few residents could also improve the overall impression of the park with a little work carried out on their own plots; if they arc unable to do so themselves I am sure the Committee would be more than willing to help.

The Committee agreed to donate some playground equipment to the children's play area, but sadly permission was refused.

The National Federation of Residents Associations, to which we belong, are working hard on our behalf by making a representation to the House of Commons for changes for Mobile Homeowners, and are also in the process of allocating field officers to cover 40 areas, which could be very helpful to us. We keep in contact with them and do receive information. The AGM was held in Cheltenham, and over 350 attended, this was fantastic!... we are not alone.

As some of you know a garden competition is held for all of us living in the village, and some of you won certificates and rosettes. We shall be holding another during late July/August again this year, flowers and vegetables, for the whole village. The actual date will be advertised nearer the time. With plenty of notice let's see what we can all do!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter.

Hazel Hutton - Chairperson.

ARTICLES FOR SUBMISSION

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.

CHEMIST'S ROTA SERVICE

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

Week commencing:

Mayday Bank Holiday
May 6th/7th only	P L Jenner 236/8 Cowley Road Oxford
	(Please note this is a change
	to the Rota printed in the April Link)
May 8th	Kingswood Chemist 103/5 Pound Way Cowley Centre
May 13th	Emerald Pharmacy 34 Cowley Road Littlemore
May 20th	W H Green (Chemists) Ltd 8 Rose Hill Parade
Spring Bank Holiday
May 27th/28th only	Kingswood Chemist 103/5 Pound Way Cowley Centre
May 29th	M J Proctor 252 Cowley Road Oxford
June 3rd	M J Proctor 158 Oxford Road Cowley