Sibford Scene Archive

Over 200 people witnessed our MP Tony Baldry cutting the ribbon on Friday 30th March, bringing the village to a standstill with the bus being delayed on its journey through. The sun arrived just in time for our celebrations, and after a fanfare played by Peter Newbold, Mr Baldry declared our refurbished store officially open.

The officials from Post Office Ltd were delighted and somewhat surprised that we had such support. Let’s hope that the message gets back to the powers that be who decide both our future, and that of the village Post Office.

Guy Woolfenden came on as a last minute substitute to judge the children’s Art Competition, thanks for being there when we needed you, Guy! The results were:

• Five and Under 1st Henry Moon (Neat & tidy) 2nd Tom Lovegrove 3rd Isobel Earl
• Six to Eight 1st Gemma Kirk (Vibrant colours) 2nd Joseph Duffield 3rd Bethany Owen
• Nine and Over 1st Rosie Gulbis (Amazing colours) 2nd Kit Lamb 3rd Megan Owen

Well done to every one who entered. The standard was very high and I know that Guy found it difficult to decide on the winners.

We hope that Nigel Fletcher, who was unable to judge for us, as planned, is now feeling much better.

After the official business was over everyone enjoyed the wine and beer tasting sessions provided courtesy of Vitis Wines and Hook Norton Brewery together with a few savoury nibbles. The event was then rounded off by the cutting of the official cake which was enjoyed by all who were still around at that time.

Many thanks to you all for your support when it was most needed. We believe that the message that the community wishes to retain their Post Office was received loud and clear by Tony Baldry and the Post Office representatives. We must now continue to show the need for the Post Office in the village so please do use us for every possible transaction you can. As soon as we hear any news we will keep you informed.

Once again thanks for your support not only on 30th March but every day.

Terry & Judith

A Historical Celebration

Club Day was the highlight of the village calendar during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The ‘Club’ was a Friendly Benefit Society formed, so we are told by the Rev Stevens in his diary, in the same year as the Church was built, 1840. Members paid a small but regular quarterly amount of money to the Club Secretary and the resulting funds were used to help villagers and their family in times of illness and need. Once the doctor had provided a sickness certificate monies could be paid out to the member and this often made all the difference enabling the family to stay together and provide meals for their children when the breadwinner was unable to work.

Once a year on the first Monday in June the Club held a day of celebration for the male members of the Society, who were later joined in the afternoon by their families, all dressed in their Sunday best clothes. The day started with a meeting of the Society in the Village school and this was followed by the first refreshment of the day – local ale! The Sibford Brass Band joined the members and they all gathered with the Vicar, Church Choir and Village dignitaries, by the Village pond outside the Rectory. They processed, led by the band following the Friendly Society banner, which had been painted by Frank Lascelles. A service was held in Church and they returned to the school for a hot lunch, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables with plenty of beer to wash it down. During the afternoon the ladies and children were invited to join in all the fun of the fair – skittles, squibs, bowling for the pig, swing boats and roundabouts on the field opposite the church where the village hall is now. A cricket match between the Gower and Ferris was also played during the afternoon.

By 8 o’clock the men returned to the school for a supper of cold meats, ham, cheese and more beer! The children were put to bed and by 10.30pm everyone adjourned to the Old Village Hall (behind the Wykham Arms Pub) until 2am! They certainly had stamina in those days but if Club Day was your only day’s holiday other than Christmas Day I guess they made the most of the whole day.

1000 years of Oxfordshire is being celebrated during 2007 and to mark the significance of the villages in the life of rural Oxfordshire Cherwell District Council have awarded grants to fund celebrations in the villages. The Sibfords Society has been successful in an application to carry out a modern day re-enactment of Sibford Club Day. A marching band has been booked and we plan to process from the pond – after a short service of thanksgiving for village life led by our Rector, Canon Timothy Wimbush on Saturday 23 June.

We hope that everyone will join in, not just the men folk, although we might get them to go first! We hope that everyone will also try to dress in old-fashioned clothes – from Victorian times. The last Club Day was held in 1938 so there is quite a lot of scope for costume. Prizes will be awarded to the best-dressed family, best ladies hat etc and there will be separate classes for children.

The band and procession will form the start of the 50th Anniversary Village Hall Fete to be held on the same day so look out your long skirts and bowler hats and join in the fun. More details next month so book the date now – we plan to start at 12 noon.