News

Oxfordshire County Council has issued a media release warning about how scammers are taking advantage of the Covid vaccination programme. Read it on their website.

It’s a good read, with useful reminders of how to avoid becoming a victim of this and other scams.

Churchwarden Barbara Foster has received this note from Polly:

Dearest Barbara and all,

Oh my gosh, how do I begin to thank you all for all the lovely Christmas boxes that you so kindly delivered for the poor: you have truly amazed me and god. This is going to be such a special Christmas for my folk as they’re going to realise how much they’ve been thought of by you all, especially to what we’re all going through, you are all AMAZING. I pray you all have a peaceful Christmas. Let’s hope and pray for a better 2021.

Bundles of love to you all for being so wonderful.
Love, Polly and all
xxx

Bernadette Jones writes: Would it be possible to remind residents to be more mindful on how they park their cars in Sibford Ferris? The bus was unable to get through Main Street on Thursday evening (Christmas Eve), due to bad parking! The poor driver had to reverse back down village and leave via Burdrop. On the return journey from Banbury, I was informed that I wouldn’t be able to be dropped off in the Ferris, only Burdrop, which is a fair trek after a full days work as a supposed ‘key worker’. Thank You.

Churchwarden Barbara Foster writes: It is a sign of the times that we need to ask for reservations for church service. Sadly this is necessary to ensure that safe distancing is maintained. There are still places available, so feel free to book via church@thesibfords.uk for Christmas Eve.  Remember masks are compulsory in churches; should you forget your own, we have disposable ones available.

The PCC have revisited the situation regarding Christmas Services and have unanimously agreed that the Christmas Day service be cancelled.  This is because it would have been less than 72 hours after the Christmas Eve service, the acknowledged time period required to quarantine a building. The alternative would be to deep clean the church and as we are mainly in the elderly, vulnerable category we feel we should not be attempting this. It is with great sadness that we feel these actions are necessary, better safe than sorry.

There are Christmas morning services in other churches in the Benefice; details can be found on the Wykeham Benefice website and in the Wykeham Benefice News. There will be Zoom Holy Communion services at 5pm on 27th December and 10am on 3rd January. You can also attend Church at Home online.

Wishing you a blessed, peaceful and safe Christmas. If you are alone and would like to call for a friendly chat, please ring me on 788 541, or contact the Sibford Support Group.

What is the Priority Service?

You can’t always predict when an emergency situation may cause a disruption to your utility provision. If you register for the priority service register with your local supplier, they will do their utmost to prevent your supply from going off and, if it does, make sure that your service returns as a matter of urgency, providing additional support if necessary in the meantime.

Depending on your provider, extra assistance may include:

• Hot drinks and food
• Charging points
• Generators
• Delivery of bottled water to your home
• Temporary heating and cooking appliances.

Are You Eligible?

If you receive a state pension, are disabled or have a child under the age of 5, then you may benefit from joining the utility priority care registers.

If you rely on one or more of the following, you will also be eligible to join:

• Home dialysis machine
• Oxygen concentrator
• Artificial ventilator
• Stair lift
• Adjustable bed.

If you are eligible and would like to register for the priority service, contact your provider(s) using the following contact details (for Sibford residents):

Water provider: Thames Water
Phone: 0845 641 0068
Text phone: 0845 7200 899
Online: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/extra-care/priority-services

Electricity provider: Western Power Distribution
Phone: 0845 724 0240
Text phone: 0845 601 2318 (or use Text Relay)
Online: https://www.westernpower.co.uk/customers-and-community/priority-services

Information taken from a leaflet published by Oxfordshire County Council Emergency Planning Team.
01865 323 765
emergencyplanning@oxfordshire.gov.uk
https://oxfordshire.gov.uk/emergencyplanning

Tim Huckvale writes: If you attended (or Zoomed in on) my talk for the Sibfords History Society last month, you may be interested in what I found in a recent excursion down the rabbit hole of the British Newspaper Archive.

As I mentioned in the talk, the Reverend Edward Stevens was Headmaster of the Bristol Cathedral School for a few years before being ordained and becoming Vicar of Sibford. My research into the newspaper archive has now established that he was appointed Headmaster in January 1866, and left shortly before October 1870.

But I also had a surprise, in finding a newspaper article from 1867 which I have transcribed in its entirety below. Stevens’s own daughter Rosa was then aged 12 and his son Harry 8. It was less than a year later (while still Headmaster) that Stevens began his degree and religious studies at Worcester College, Oxford. Could the tragic event have influenced his change of career direction?

Daily Bristol Times and Mirror, 5 December 1867

THE FATAL ACCIDENT TO A SCHOOLBOY. — Yesterday morning the deputy-coroner, Mr. H. S. Wasbrough, held an inquest, at the cloisters of the Cathedral, into the circumstances attending the death of Francis Scott Gray. Mr. E. T. Stevens, the master of the Collegiate school, deposed that deceased was eleven years and nine months old. He was a boarder in the house, and a chorister of the Cathedral. His parents reside near Dublin. About eight o’clock on Saturday morning witness was alarmed by hearing a heavy thud, as of some one falling, and went from his room to the landing-place, and on looking over the banisters, saw his servant in the hall supporting the deceased. Knowing that sliding down the banisters was a boyish trick in schools, witness had strongly prohibited it. No one saw the deceased fall. Two of the boys were with him a few minutes previously, and cautioned him against trying the silly act. Every attention was paid to him, but he gradually sank, and died about five minutes to eight o’clock on Tuesday morning. W. S. Johnson, one of the pupils, stated that he was with deceased Saturday morning a few minutes before the accident occurred. He spoke of his intention to slide down the banisters, but witness persuaded him not do so. Mr. Stevens would be very angry, and would punish him if he did so. Witness returned to his room to fetch his collar, and in a moment heard the fall, and upon going to the staircase saw the deceased lying at the bottom, in the hall. E. Wait, another of the pupils, also gave evidence, and the deputy-coroner, in summing up, said, according to the evidence, he could only advise a verdict of accidental death, which the jury at once agreed to. The deceased fell a depth of between twenty and thirty feet.

Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

The Reverend Canon Neil Bowler, currently a priest in Sheffield Diocese, has been appointed as the next Rector of the Wykeham Benefice and will take up his new position in early January.

Carolyn White and Sue Bannister write: Sadly, owing to coronavirus, the gardens which usually open in June in aid of NGS were not able to do so this year. However we have managed to raise about the same amount as last year, approximately £2500, through plant sales and donations. We would like to thank everyone who has bought plants, propagated plants, supplied flower pots, helped us sell, passed the word around, made donations, for their support. We very much hope to be able to open next year and hope that you will continue to visit our gardens and to buy plants.

Oxfordshire County Council will, as usual, offer free electric blanket testing this year, but with a different method. They will collect blankets from homes, take them to be tested and return them the same day. The details are on the attached poster and also on the County Council website.