Sibford Scene Archive

MONDAY 4TH OCTOBER

The last of this year’s series of quiet retreat days at Handywater will take place at Handywater on Monday 4th October. It will be led by John Edmonds-Seal from Beckley near Oxford, who has been recommended to us by Bishop Anthony Russell. The Rev Edmonds-Seal will base the day’s reflections on “Praying with Scripture”, involving two prayer experiences using scripture in silent prayer and meditation.

Do come as usual at any time from 9 – 9.30am ready for a 10am start, and if you are staying for the whole day until 4.30pm, don’t forget to bring yourself something for lunch. With luck the weather may still be kind so that you can spend the time in the garden, but in case it is cooler it would be wise to bring a rug with you. Don’t let inclement weather put you off. The fires are easily lit, and chairs can be put by the windows so that you can look out at the view even if you don’t want to be outside.

Last month’s quiet day led by Barbara Doubtfire was well attended. An increasing number of people are beginning to appreciate these regular opportunities to step aside from the world to meditate and refresh the spirit. Do come and try it out if you haven’t experienced a quiet day yet. Anybody is welcome for all or part of the day. Sue would be glad to know if you are thinking of coming .

It has been two years since I was asked to write a piece for the Sibford Scene. The subject of my writing was to be ‘Going to University as a mature student?’ Now two years on I feel inspired to write but not on the suggested theme. I have always valued my surroundings but have found my views have changed, perhaps because of University. To be more specific I would like to pose the question ‘Is the village dead?’ As a member of a long-standing village family my views and priorities are probably very different to yours. As a child all I wanted to do was move out of the village and go to ‘Where it was happening’. If other people in the village had thought the same, surely village life would eventually die. (That’s what I thought then.) Don’t get me wrong I loved my childhood in the village and have very good memories. It is like the village shop, nobody wants to see it close but we all go to the supermarket for a wider range. So has the village died slowly since I have been away? I decided to compare the major issues of 30 years ago with now and see what changes have taken place.

There was the fight to save the valley from the developers, horses and bikers. That issue is stilt alive and kicking.

The criticism of farming techniques used e.g. types of fencing used, and livestock in fields where footpaths run, the influx of the horsey set and of course the constant battle between dogs and sheep. No change there. Housing development will always be an issue while there is a space to build. (However small.) Once you have built your own home nobody wants their surroundings spoilt by other people’s homes. The planting and cutting down of trees has been, and still is of major concern to all, and the teenagers are still being blamed for all the misdemeanours in the village.

Some issues have been resolved due to outside forces. Tanners’ coaches no longer run, Stewart’s yard has closed and the bikers have grown up.

It is the idealistic view of what a village should be like that fuels these issues. It is the conflicts between people who want to keep the village in the 19th century and those who want to drag it into the 21st century that keep the issues alive.

So far I have just looked at the physical aspect of village life surely it is the people of the village that keep it alive. I have tried to link different issues to different groups, more specifically the newcomers and the old village. That is an issue in itself. It is like the tourist that visits a new destination, in visiting it they change it. In Sibford we have a good mix of old and new, all you need do is look at who supports events, who uses the shop, who frequents the pubs and who is on the various committees. We do have a very transient section of the village whose qualities we have always been able to utilise to enhance village life. The real gauge of how healthy the village is, is the quality of the ‘village gossip’!

Don’t worry I won’t be naming names or disclosing secrets because I learnt a long time ago the gossip is rarely true and you never get to hear it about yourself. The gossip is just as prolific as in the past; it is just the names that have changed. (Well, some of them.)

In answer to my question is the village dead? The answer must be a resounding ‘no’ and l am sure you all could have told me that at the beginning. I feel the same issues will be around in the next 30 years and beyond. My advice to you all is don’t get worked up about village life but carry on the fight because that is what makes the village tick.

Jane Fletcher
Summer 1999

Since Ray Henbrey’s illness I have been editing both the Scene Extra and the Scene. It has now become clear that this arrangement will be permanent. This presents an opportunity for a willing volunteer to come forward to help in the production of the Scene. I am hoping to arrange a meeting of the people involved in both the writing and production of the Scene sometime in November so this would be a good time to join in. If you feel you could help, please give me a ring.

Adrian Lamb

We were honoured by The presence of our own Bishop of Dorchester, Rt. Rev. Anthony Russell, To rededicate the church after its extensive repairs and decorations. This Took place at the start of a service of Communion on 21st September at which we also commemorated 30 years since the ordination of Timothy Wimbush.

A large congregation was present to hear the Bishop preach, gathered not only from the villages but from the wider Benefice and with representatives from the other local churches. There were also present representatives from our architects and others involved with the building works and Michael and Rachel Kinchin Smith, formerly of Epwell, represented the Oxford Historic Churches Fund, generous donors of £5,000.

The church was beautifully decorated with magnificent flower arrangements and the new decorative colours were universally admired; for these we are grateful to Erica Wimbush and Pat Bates who undertook the dangerous task of choosing colours.

The organ, newly renovated and re-erected in a position in the North Transept was played by Peter Hardman and a large choir composed of members of the Broughton as well as the old Benefice choir based on Sibford processed to their places in the choir stalls.

There was a reception after the service in the Village Hall which most of the congregation attended.

The evening was a worthy conclusion to the works carried out on the church, for which the whole community of the villages takes a major share of the achievement.

It is hoped that there will be a “Sibford Antiques Roadshow” occasion on Saturday 30th October 1999 in the Village Hall from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Final arrangements are yet to be made for this and there will be a circulation of more details, also an announcement in the Banbury Guardian nearer the time. Most people will be familiar with the arrangements from the popular television programme. This will not be a television production but Mr Mark Ashley BA (Hons) PG (Dip) an independent antiques valuer will be available to give a verbal description and valuation of your possessions. There will be a limit of four items per person at a charge of £l per item. there will be an entrance fee and it is hoped that teas and other refreshments will be on sale. All proceeds to the Church Repairs Appeal.