| Winter 1998 Issue 72 |
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Father Christmas has accepted an invitation to the Sandford Christmas Party Saturday 16th December at 7.0 p.m. |
See page 5
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| [New Issues] [Old Issues] [Subject Index] | |
| [Supplement 3] | [Supplement 4] |
| Winter 1998 Issue 72 |
|
Father Christmas has accepted an invitation to the Sandford Christmas Party Saturday 16th December at 7.0 p.m. |
|
See page 5
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| 8.00a.m. | (First Sunday of the month) | Holy Communion BCP |
| 10.00a.m. | (Weekly) | Parish Communion |
| 11.15a.m. | (Last Sunday of the month) | Family service |
| 6.30p.m. | (Weekly) | Evening prayer |
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Sunday December 20th 11.15 a.m. Children's Carol Service 6.30 p.m. Christmas Carol Service Christmas Eve Midnight Mass 11.30 p.m. Christmas Day 8.0 a.m. Holy Communion (BCP) 10.0 a.m. Family Communion Sunday December 27th 10.00 a.m. Family Communion 11.15 a.m. All-age service with baptisms |
So when God chose to come among us, it was at the lowest level of
human society. Through Jesus' life and work we are shown God's priority. It
is not an easy priority to understand today when we are encouraged from
birth to be individuals, to stand on our own two feet, to advance in the
world. The children born today and those yet to come, those people
subsisting in the poorest regions of the earth, they are our future. Through
Jesus, God has told us that unless we change, become as little children,
we will not enter his kingdom. The kingdom may be found anywhere on earth
where there is love, trust and a mutual dependence and care both for each
other and for the other parts of creation. This is not a sentimental message
about childlike innocence but a demand that we empathise and regard the
condition of the most helpless on earth as our business. That we respect
and nurture the earth on which we depend. This is not a message to be
scorned as unreal or feared as a restriction of pleasure but a joyful invitation
to experience the true fullness of life. So whether you have a full
engagement book this Christmas season or whether you do not, this is an
invitation not to be missed.
It has been a pleasure to welcome one and two-year-olds at the
11.15 monthly all-age service. Some find church-going tricky at
that age, but those too young to read or sing have enjoyed using
musical instruments to make their contribution. However one two-yr-old
(Lauren) said she didn't like the vicar's dress. She had a point - usually it's
brides that wear white. So Sandra took the November service in mufti.
At the next 11.15 (27th December - always the last Sunday of the
month) two of the smallest members of that congregation will be baptised
(Andy and Karen Pike's Josh, and Wendy, nee Akrigg, and Jim Homewood's
Jenna Lauren. The other toddlers will give their support along with the rest
of us. New members welcome too, and prospectives.
Consider this man in the field beneath,
Gaitered with mud, lost in his own breath...
A vague somnambulist, but hold your tears
For his name also is written in the Book of Life.
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Village CHRISTMAS PARTY DISCO AND BAR 
SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER 7.0 UNTIL 11.0 P.M. (SANTA CLAUS IS ARRIVING AT ABOUT 7.30 BRING A WRAPPED GIFT WITH THE NAME OF YOUR CHILD ON IT). EVERYBODY WELCOME VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH FOOD, DECORATIONS ETC. CONTACTS FOR BRINGING FOOD: EITHER SHARON FENN 716597, ALICE DAGLISH 748962, YVONNE HUTTON 778403, SUE RILEY 775697. RAFFLE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH CLUB. DONATIONS/PRIZES WELCOMED BY ONE OF THE ABOVE. |
As the traditional reading (Let us now praise ...) continued, 'But some
there be that have no memorial' I was prodded into an investigation of the
memorials business, and also into wondering (feeling my age) what I'd like to
see (or not see) for myself, if anything. Churchyards are for ever - or at least
have been for centuries. Nowadays the alternatives are more short term. At
the Crematorium we can dedicate a rose-tree to a person for ten years
(£255) or twenty years (£510) or eighty years (£680). Or we can have two
lines in the memorial book for £65. Or a headstone (for two people) at
£2,000+. That's the commercial angle. Churches have not (yet) become
commercialised, at least not the older churches. So the Sandford Garden of
remembrance continues to be run on a voluntary basis and we look for
helpers willing to assist with mowing the lawn. Any offers please contact
vicar or churchwardens.
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ST MATTHEW STUDY GROUP Tuesdays at 7.30 in Welch Room (by church). Last one 15th Dec |
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BINGO IN THE VILLAGE HALL EVERY THURSDAY, 7.0 FOR 8.0 IN AID OF THE VILLAGE HALL FUND |
| to | Ross and Fiona Hunter to Janaway Place (Heyford Hill Lane) |
| to | Graham Woodroofe also to Janaway Place |
| to | Tom, Tracy and Nigel Salt to Heyford Hill Lane (this is welcome back to Tracy who was brought up on Church Road she and Tom were married at Sandford church a few years ago). |
| to | Michael and Caroline Sanders to Church Road |
| to | Sarah Lipscomb and Bill Fitchford (Dr) to River View |
| to | James Bufford and Janet Craze (Dr) to River View |
| to | Michael and Tina Richardson to Henley Road (top) |
| to | Rob and Jenny Gates (top of Church Road) a bit late, sorry |
| to | Mr and Mrs Heaver to Fox Furlong. |
| to | Kelly Caffel on being selected to run for the country in Italy on 12th December watch TVs for interview |
| to | Rebecca and Joe Harkin (Church Road) on the birth of Gabriel Joseph on 13th October |
| to | Ross and Fiona Hunter (see above) on the birth of Sarah on 20th November |
| to | Bernhard and Elo Schunemann of Littlemore church on the birth of Peter Moses, a brother for Mark, on November 25th. |
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SingersThanks to the Sandford Singers and Director Martin for leading us in Advent Carols and readings on November 29th. We look forward to the events these help prepare us for. There is space for an extra voice or two, and plans for a Music workshop - anyone interested please contact the vicar. | |
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Travellers in the village
The November meeting of the Parish Council was able to welcome
the County Council's Gypsy Liaison Officer, Ms A.Burn, as well as District
Councillor John Stimson, to join our discussion of the problems posed in
the village by the presence of Traveller groups. Lines of communication
were established at all levels, which it is hoped will help speed up reaction
to any further incursions. The Council also praised the work being carried
out by the Science Park authorities to protect the landscaped area
adjacent to the Roundabout, which has been used as a base by groups in
the past.
Recreation grounds
The Council has authorised an additional piece of play equipment for the
younger children who use the Village Hall recreation ground, and
installation, together with safety matting, should be completed during
December. We hope that this development will give lots of pleasure in the
coming years.
Meanwhile there is cause for concern that some vandalism has
occurred in the Fox Furlong play area. The Parish Council would be
pleased to hear the views of families living in the Pheasant Walk area as
to how best to approach this problem. Please contact the Clerk on
772598; or local Parish Council Mike D'arcy on 748573 with your ideas.
Planning application
Members of the SODC Planning Committee (West) visited the site of 7A
Henley Road on 4th November, and subsequently approved the
application by Brandon Gate Homes to build two detached houses there.
Buses through Sandford
Bus route 105 has been taken over by Stagecoach to the same timetable
as operated previously by Reading Bus. Stagecoach has also promised to
give consideration in the New Year to requests for more advantageous
integration of the 105 and X39 services, and the provision of a daytime
service via Cowley Centre. Watch this space.
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SEASONAL GOOD WISHES The Council and Clerk hope you all have a Happy Festive Season, and send you good wishes for the New Year. 
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Henley Road, Sandford on Thames, Oxford OX4 4GX Telephone: (01865) 334114 . Fax: (01865) 334400 WEB http://www.four-pillars.co.uk Email: enquiries@four-pillars.co.uk Set in 30 acres of glorious parkland on the banks of the Thames. Open to non residents for drinks, light meals and riverside dining. Carvery lunch on Sundays. Conferences, Weddings (including Ceremony) and private parties. Telephone 01865 334444. |
Sandford Bridge Club Contact Sophie (748134) or Pam (777011)
YOU COULD BE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MORTGAGE RING MARK WILLIAMS INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE ADVISER 01865 749942 Pensions. Mortgages. Life Assurance. Investments YOUR HOME IS AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER LOAN SECURED ON IT written quotation of credit terms available on request A life policy may be required. Representative only of the Legal & General marketing group, members of which are regulated by the Personal Investment Authority and IMRO for the purposes of recommending. advising on and selling life assurance and investment products bearing Legal and General's |
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DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE OF THE LINK FEBRUARY 27th |
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Oxford Park Homes Residents Association SOCIAL EVENING on Saturday 9th January at 7.30 p.m. £3.50 to non-residents, members free. Buffet. Music. All welcome |
Today 43 companies are based at the Park,
many with strong University links, employing
together some 600 staff. Companies with
strong Oxford connections currently
flourishing there include Oxford Biomedica,
Powderject Pharmaceuticals, and Oxford
Molecular. Future expansion plans include
a new 20,000 sq ft building due for
completion in Spring 1999. It will be
located at the eastern end of the Park and
named after Sir John Eccles, who received
the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1963.
Village hall bookings
After the Festival members of the Sunday Club delivered the food
donated to the Porch and saw how it was enjoyed - and how there are
people who need it. They also saw that the Porch needs volunteers
who can make a sandwich and brew up - even if only once a month or so
- a couple of hours stint. Please ring Brian at 777011 for details.
[The Porch - more info]
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We gained a rectangular Pyrex plate from the Harvest lunch (I think it had grapes on it). Please reclaim it from Prue (748848). And we also gained a child's coat at the 11.15 November service. Please reclaim from Bob or Marjorie or at church. |
Sixteen ladies attended the meeting on Monday, 19th October, and
heard Jean Gardner and Ruth Webb from the Oxfordshire headquarters
of the W.I. give us talks on various aspects concerning the Institute.
Jean's talk was about the history of the W.I. how it was started in 1897
at Stoney Creek in Canada by a small group of women, and how it has
grown from then to the present day, with over 5,250 members in
Oxfordshire alone. Ruth spoke on the various activities enjoyed by
members at Demnan College in Marcham.
After a welcome cup of tea/coffee and biscuits, Liz Colyer from
Denman gave a most fascinating talk and demonstration on Parchment
Craft, which I am sure everyone enjoyed.
It was agreed by the majority of those present to meet on the
third Monday of each month from 7.30 to 9.30, and the next meeting
was arranged for 16th November.
On a rather chilly evening on 16th November, it was decided that a
Committee should be formed, and six of those present put their names
forward. A President was elected, and two other members volunteered
as Secretary and as Treasurer. The full Committee is:
The next meeting will be on Monday 14th December in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m., when we shall be having a Christmas Party, with members each bringing a plate of food to share.
The story begins in an age when 'the crusading fire swept like a flame over the Christian world'. In 1099, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem from the Muslim armies, and pilgrims from across Europe set out to journey to the Holy Land, anxious to see the holy places of the famous city. But many were robbed and murdered on their travels, and in 1118 a French knight, Hugues de Payens, formed a brotherhood to protect them. Settled on the site in Jerusalem where the Temple of Solomon once stood, this group became known as the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, later the Knights Templar.
The Order's English headquarters were already established in London's Temple when, in 1139, King Stephen's wife, Queen Maud, bestowed the knights with all the land she owned at Cowley (hence Temple Cowley).
One hundred years later, during the reign of Richard the Lionheart, Sir Thomas de Sandford, himself a Templar, gave his Manor of Sandford to the Cowley chapter. The military knights, who word white tunics emblazoned with a red cross to signify they were willing to shed their blood for Christ, and proclaiming them immune from all jurisdiction save that of the Pope, would have been a familiar sight in Sandford village for the next sixty years.
But after two centuries of gallantry in the Holy Land the Templars,
founded to perform works of mercy and compassion, had grown fabulously
wealthy and powerful. The French King Philip, jealous of their riches,
accused the Order of heresy and blasphemy and persuaded the Pope to
persecute the knights. In 1312 their Grand Master was burned at the stake
in France, and the head of the Sandford chapter, believed to hold high office
in the Templars' secretive inner councils, was imprisoned at Aldgate.
Torture and death was the fate of many knights, both in England and
By 1325 their property at Sandford, including the priory and the manor, was in the hands of another crusader group founded to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land - the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem. Their black mantles with white crosses, familiar to us today on the uniforms of the St John's Ambulance Brigade, must have made a sombre contrast in the village to the scarlet and white cloaks of their predecessors.
We can picture the manor of Sandford as it was nearly 500 years ago from a report written in 1512 by Sir Thomas Leland, sent to audit the Hospitallers' lands by their head Prior, Thomas Docwra. Two water-mills are mentioned, together with two fisheries, one from the main mill to the lasher weir, the other from the weir to Iffley. There were orchards and dovecotes round the brothers' house, and the land amounted to roughly 250 acres in total.
It is hard to discover exactly when the Hospitallers left their Priory in Sandford, but the Order was finally dissolved in 1541 when, with many others, their Prior refused to accept Henry VIII's claim of royal supremacy over the Pope and the Catholic Church.
By 1542, lands in the Oxford area that had belonged to the Hospitallers were being sold off. Sandford manor itself was purchased by Edmund Powell, who had come originally to Oxfordshire from Wales to serve as under-Steward in the Duke of Suffolk's household at Ewelme. With the
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Barry and Barbara welcome you to the Catherine Wheel FREEHOUSE 38 Henley Road Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford OX4 4YP Tel: 01865-778340 Hot and Cold Bar Food Traditional Sunday Roast Lunches. Real Ales Large Garden. Ample Car Park Parties and Outside Functions catered for |
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The In Word Come off it, be politically correct. These days even our politicians find that too difficult Be politically correct come off it... Roger Phipps |
Don't think for yourself The times they are a changing. In my day they used to say Just there dig a trench all along the kerb edge and we did. But now, no thinking for yourself, all along the pavement marking exactly where the trench should go a line of spray paint sometimes yellow sometimes white sometimes blue. All along the kerb edge, yes the times they are a changing. |
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