January/February 1993             Issue 48

To all out readers, to our contributors, advertisers, printers, distributors
	and to Kingcup - HAPPY CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR

CHURCH NEWS

The three main Christmas services are communion services - Midnight Mass at 11.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Prayer Book Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and Parish Eucharist at 10.0 (and again 2 days later for all who overslept). Since these go to the heart of the Christian memory of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, they feel unfamiliar to many who have never read a Gospel in the Bible.

But in religion we do things before we understand them, so non-church people are welcome to come and sing and pray, and either to come to the altar for a blessing or sit tight in your place when those who are confirmed receive communion. Feel free to phone the vicar if you want it explained a bit. (The next confirmation, reaffirming baptism, will be in April - possible candidates should make contact).

Singing carols and praying for the homeless and sharing good things, giving presents to special people, sending cards to old friends and distant family - it all brings the year to a climax - and helps redeem what has been a rotten year for some people.

But what is Christmas? For some people Christmas is Hell. Some crazy philosopher said Hell is other people and Christmas is very largely other people, a time for family

Both the better and worse, the richer and poorer, the sickness and the health can be brought into focus in the presence of God this Christmas. The message is summed up in one word: Emmanuel - which is Hebrew for 'God with us', and the reality of that can be known by all who seek and knock. Someone will be knocking on your door - so listen, it may be a part of yourself.



Children's Carol Service
At 11.30 on Sunday 13th December there was a Childrens Service at Sandford, arranged by Carys Davies and conducted by Rev. Becky Hart. Lessons were read by Karen Stimpson, Georgie Gibbons and Brian Hart.


Speedwell Carol Service at Sandford
At 6.30 p.m. on Thursday 10th December the upper half of Speedwell School held their Carol Service at Sandford. The church was jam packed, and the children had learned their lines brilliantly, singing a mixture of traditional and modern carols and reading the lessons in several parts.

R.I.P.

R.I.P.

Mrs Jenner was a quiet person, well-liked and respected by her neighbours and much loved by her family for whom she would do anything, making her home available for them and their friends, and always there when needed: a real mother. She was also a keen gardener. The four daughters were with Mrs Jenner during her illness, and she was also wonderfully cared for by the staff of Sobell House, including Mrs Pat Pugh of Henley Road.

The village extends deep sympathy to the whole family, and among the 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren especially to Michaela and Cara Leary of River View. After the funeral service in St Andrew's Church and cremation, Mrs Jenner's ashes were placed in the churchyard, with those of her husband. She has left those who knew her a precious memory of what we mean by home.


ALISON MILLER 1967-1992
Friends and neighbours were shocked to hear of the death of Alison, a nurse at the JR (cardiology) who was knocked down crossing the road. She lived in the flats on Church Road. An only child, aged 25, she had trained as a nurse at St Thomas' in London. The funeral was at her parents' home village near Huntingdon. Our sympathies to them, and to her friends, especially her flatmate Claire Atterbury.

Our WPC

Kath - as she calls herself - walks to Sandford from Cowley police station; she says 'it is easier for people to talk to you if you are on foot. If you are on a bike they think you are going somewhere and they don't like to stop you.' If anyone sees her about, WPC Lowe is happy to talk and get to know people. WPC Lowe can be contacted through the Area Beat Department, Cowley police station, 749909.

What Sandford people do

Two Council-administered grants are available for warmth and insulation: Minor Works Grants Pare available to any owner occupier on a means-tested benefit to insulate and draughtproof their house,, and for the over-60s, to make small improvements. And Disabled Facilities Grants provides heating for those in medical need. Most housing until about twenty years ago was built with no central heating provision and minimal insulation. Many in Oxford were not even built with cavity walls, and while outside they look cosy, inside there is frequently damp and certainly howling draughts.

Stopping the draughts is the single most effective measure to improve comfort and save heat, but unfortunately this P often leads to condensation. The damp from this is an ideal growing medium for black mould spores which look unsightly and are a health hazard to the very young and those with less than perfect lungs. The remedy is to ventilate the house to get rid of this moisture and to warm the structure to get rid of cold spots and inhibit mould growth.

Warmth is one of the most precious, and expensive, necessities of life. Its generation is also a major cause of the 'greenhouse effect' and in this country much heat is wasted, pouring out through cracks and crevices and through uninsulated roofs and walls. Draught-proofing, insulation and a modern heating system with sensitive heating controls will improve comfort even in a traditionally heated home.

In my job I go into people's homes and make an assessment of their needs and those of the building, with recommen- dations on improvements. The person's resources are then tested and an offer of grant made. Estimates are obtained, and the work goes ahead. One of the rewards of the job is in seeing an immediate improvement in people's living conditions and knowing that their health should also improve without great extra cost. Hopefully the environment will also benefit a little.

Elizabeth Shatford, Church Road

The Sandford Pub Crawl

THE FOX on the Henley Road (old road to London) is a local and possibly a national institution, thanks a) to the family who have run it for generations and b) to the cheapest good beer in the County. Since Joyce passed away on 24th June this year her son Nigel Rolston has been landlord, assisted by his wife Clare. They are helped by Mr George Adams (very many years resident of Henley Road). Hours 12-2.30 and 7-11 (Sundays 12-3 and 7-10.30 - extensions on occasions). Morrells best bitter and mild, both £1.20 p.p. and lager 1.40. Wine 70p a glass. Shorts etc. as usual.

THE CATHERINE WHEEL (also Henley Road) is now under new and much improved management. Peter May is landlord, assisted by his wife Jan, daughter Tina and friend Joanne (also John in lunch hour). Meals will restart in the New Year. Open 11-2.30 and 5.30-11 (Sundays 12-3 and 7-10.30) - extensions on occasions. Entertainment on Sat nights (live music, Karaoke, disco). Normal prices £1.55 for Ruddles County, £1.25 Triple, £1.45 Carlsberg lager. But they do a Happy Hour 7-9 weekdays (not Bank holidays, Xmas Eve) when ordinary bitter and lager are £1 and there is 50p off double shorts. Rooms can be made available for meetings.

THE KING'S ARMS, down by the riverside, is especially popular with the Boat People. It also attracts a clientele from further afield who drive down Church Road like Jehu (enquire of the Village Quiz-Master for that reference). The Landlady Ms Piri Mallett is assisted by a hard-working team: Mrs Moira Nicol, Robert Nicol, Keighley Mallett,

The Fourth public house has been there longer - 900 years in fact. It too is a place to celebrate life and be together with your neighbours. You pay what you like when you like if you like, and the owner and LandLord (well known as a friend of publicans and called by some a glutton and wine-bibber) is invisible. People talk to him in this public house for all, including children, in a slightly funny language that has to be learned by practice, and different music from the other three. Apart from the main refreshment, which has a high spirit content, there is usually coffee and chat after talking to the LandLord. Some local people come only for hatching, matching or dispatching. Others come every week - or to similar houses run by the same firm in Littlemore, Oxford and elsewhere.

Christmas Customs

CHRISTMAS TREES
go back to the eighth century when an English missionary in Germany called Boniface met one December a group of people standing beneath an oak tree ready to sacrifice a child to please their god. St Boniface rescued the child and chopped the oak tree down. At its foot was a small fir tree, which he also cut down and gave to the people as a symbol of life. He called it the tree of the Christ-child.

CHRISTMAS CARDS
The first Christmas card was made in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole, founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. It was titled 'Brimming Cheer'. It pictured a family celebrating Christmas and giving gifts of food and clothing to the poor.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS
The carol, too, is largely a Victorian invention. True, the origin of some of our carols goes back hundreds of years. But what they meant by carole was a form of dance rather than a Christmas hymn. So where's the connection? Well, we dance when we celebrate, so alongside the more sophisticated Christmas music grew up a tradition of simple popular songs suitable for celebrating the birth of Jesus.

From the late middle ages until almost 200 years ago carols were somewhat neglected. But in the last century there was renewed interest in past traditions, so old Latin hymns were translated and long-forgotten books dusted and scoured for material. New carols were written, and music from many sources was pressed into service, though not always with the approval of the composer. Mendelssohn complained when one of his tunes was used for Hark, the Herald Angels Sing - originally part of a work to celebrate the 400th anniversary of printing - which he thought 'too soldier-like and buxom' to use as a carol.

SANDFORD-ON-THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

At the meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 19th October six people were present, including Mr David Judd, who was welcomed.

Village Hall: Gift of £1,000 to Village Hall Committee unanimously agreed.
Tarmac surface to car park: Village Hall Committee had prepared plan of areas to be tarmacked. Clerk to obtain quotations.

Recreation Ground: The PC considered the amount of rent to be excessive and authorised the Clerk to negotiate a more reasonable figure. The Clerk was also instructed to put in hand repairs to the fence and work to trees. Mr Rudman offered to remove the tree guards from two trees.

Parish Council Insurance: Clerk authorised to proceed with insurance cover through Alexander Stenhouse UK Ltd with Cornhill and Commercial Union Ins. Companies.

Tree Planting Grants: deferred.

Garden Competition: £30 donation agreed towards costs.

Planning 33 Henley Road: Alterations and extension. No objection.

Permission granted Old Concrete Works: Modification 7 Rock Farm Lane: two-storey extension at rear.

Permission refused Heyford Hill Lane: site for 12 detached houses and garages.

County Councillor's Report: County Councillor not present

District Councillor's Report: District Councillor not present.

Income and Expenditure

Income	£		Expenditure	£
RV Residents Ass.	75		Thames Water (VH)	78.52
Ms Green - mooring	48		Reimbursement for tea
SODC - precept	5797		urn etc.	501.44
			Bus tokens (SODC)	393.68
			SEB	106.46
			SODC - video	5.00

Any other business: It had been reported that a transporter connected to the car sales at the garage in Henley road had been parking on the tarmac pavement outside 69 Henley Rd. Clerk asked to write to the owner of the garage.
The parking of vehicles on the grass verge at Orchard Close had been noted by the Chairman, and the Clerk was instructed to write to all the residents of Orchard Close.
There appeared to be a problem with gravel from the drive of the new house in Church Road spilling on to the footpath and creating a potential danger to pedestrians. Clerk to write to new owners expressing concern.
The Chairman proposed that the Community Policeman and his Inspector be invited to attend the next meeting.
Mrs Shepherd reported that the fire inspection had taken place at the village hall, and will produce a copy for the PC files.
A proposal is to be put on the November agenda regarding the need for the employment of a maintenance man for the parish.

Completion of audit Noted.


Refuse Skip
There will be a refuse skip for use by anyone in the village at the Village Hall on the 22nd January, and at Kiln Park on 9th February and again on 5th March.