The Lockdown Lowdown Issue 9

L OW D OW N ockdow n

The

Issue 9 July 2020 Our Sponsor this issue:

If you want to be a better athlete you get a coach.

If you want to succeed in business you get a coach!

We?ve had a message from Bam pt on Aid Net w or k 's M on ica Tu dor : 'The wonderful Ali Shrimpton messaged me today to say that she is back at work now and so will not be able to do the posies "for the time being?. Since BAN started, Ali has been putting posies together every day to be delivered with each prescription. They will be greatly missed but, for bringing such joy to so many, we? d like to say a big THANK YOU, ALI!'

Welcome to Issue 9!

CLAP FOR THE NHS AND CARE STAFF SUNDAY 5TH JULY 5PM 72n d ANNIVERSARY OF THE NHS

We've got a new competition, new stories, new activities and one very special dog!

In each issue we'll be meeting people who help make Bampton such a great place to live; today we're 'Getting to Know' Abdul, our Sub-Postmaster!

We don't want to carry paid ads for the time being and each issue is funded by a sponsor. An 8-page newsletter like this one costs ÂŁ175 to produce 2,000 copies.

We need sponsors to keep us going; if you, a group of you, or your company would like to sponsor an issue of the Lowdown, you'll find more details on page 7, and we'd love to hear from you at thelockdownpress@gmail.com.

As always, take care - and stay safe.

Adam Lethbridge

View f

by Ro

BAM PTON COM M UNI TY VI L L AGE SHOP Opening Tuesday 7th July 10am - 4pm No donations until 17th July and please do not leave items outside.

Thank you.

Tadpole Br idge

by Annie Jenkin

HEALTH AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES Bam pt on Su r ger y Call first on 01993 850257 Monday ? Friday: 8.30am - 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed Bam pt on Healt h car e Lt d Ph ar m acy Ch an ged t im es Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm, 2pm to 6pm (changed from 10.00am) Saturday 9am to 12.00pm Tel: 01993 851961 Bam pt on Post Of f ice Revised open in g h ou r s Mon-Fri 09.00- 17.30 Wed CLOSED Sat 09.00 - 12.30 Bam pt on Aid Net w or k Helpline 07946 192638 Monday - Friday 9am to 4pm NEW: BAN no longer offer a prescription collection service on Saturday Bam pt on Par ish Cou n cil Tel: 01993 851870 www.bamptonoxon-parishcouncil.gov.uk Police Con t act PCSO Colin Davies (Carterton ) 07890 317768 Messages only. 101 for non-emergencies.

ANNOUNCEM ENTS Ou t door Yoga Classes at Bampton Rec Tuesday 7.30pm - 8.45pm Wednesdays 10am-11am 07772 966039 or lousteeleyoga@gmail.com for bookings. www.lousteeleyoga.com Th e Hor sesh oe opening on Saturday 4th July!

Saturday 4th July 1.00pm - 7.00pm Sunday 5th July 1.00pm - 7.00pm Monday 6th July to Thursday 9th July 4.00pm - 8.00pm

Par allel Lin es Bar ber s & Ladies Salon is re-opening on 4th July for bookings only.

Book at parallellines.hair@gmail.com or phone 01993 852001 Cin ew or ld Wit n ey opening Friday 10th July www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/witney Dr ive-in Cin em a at Blen h eim Palace Open from 6th July. Details at https://www.lunadriveincinema.com /blenhiem-palace Polish ed Hair Salon is open, call 01993 850886 for an appointment. Beauty Salon unfortunately still closed awaiting guidance. w w w.t h edan cebar n .co.u k ballet and conditioning classes for all levels and ages. info@thedancebarn.co.uk 01993 220413 Pr ivat e Car Hir e - Wayne Dickinson Masks, gloves and sanitiser provided.

07778 452236 or wayned5@hotmail.com

Pow er Play Coach in g

is based at Bampton Business Centre and is owned by Ellis and Alison Bardsley who also live in Bampton.

Most small business owners don?t actually own a business, they own a job. They own a job within their own company. It?s a job that is probably more stressful, and demands more time from them!

PowerPlay Coaching Ltd exists to solve these problems by teaching business owners how to plan for success, generate more effective marketing, drive sales growth, create systems, increase profits and improve cash flow.

3% of businesses in the community own 98% of the wealth because they understand the need for business coaching and the accountability, learning and perspective that business coaching brings.

If you ar e open m in ded an d w an t im pr oved bu sin ess r esu lt s, get in t ou ch .

Tel: 07867 606191 Em ail: ellisbar dsley@act ion coach .com

Lockdow n w it h : Dam e Pippa Har r is Bampton resident, Dame Pippa Harris, established Neal Street Productions in 2003, alongside Sam Mendes and Caro Newling, and runs the Film and TV division together with Nicolas Brown.?She is also the Deputy Chair of BAFTA. Since the formation of Neal Street Productions, Pippa?s credits include Call the Midwife, which is currently filming its 9th series, and remains the UK?s highest rated returning drama series.??Her other TV credits include the multi award-winning Penny Dreadful, The Hollow Crown and the upcoming second series of Jez Butterworth?s Britannia. ?Pippa?s film credits for Neal Street include Starter for Ten, Jarhead, Things We Lost in the Fire, Away We Go, and Revolutionary Road.?Most recently, Pippa has produced the multi award-winning WWI epic 1917, directed by Sam Mendes.

Before founding Neal Street, Pippa was Head of Drama Commissioning for the BBC. Pippa is an Ambassador for Women International, and in 2015 she was made a Dame in the Dissolution Honours.

Wh at h ave you m issed m ost du r in g lock dow n ?

The thing I?ve missed most during lockdown is not being able to get my hair cut by Sue at Polished, or indeed have a manicure there!

Wh at is t h e f ir st t h in g you did as lock dow n st ar t ed easin g?

As soon as the restrictions started easing, I went off to both Burford Garden Company and to Bampton Garden Plants, to stock up on foxgloves and roses. Our garden has probably never had so much attention ? it?s just a shame that nobody else can see it?

Wh at do you w ish you 'd don e, or bou gh t , bef or e lockdow n st ar t ed?

I wish we had bought a new barbecue before lockdown started. The weather was so amazing in the first weeks of lockdown - it would have been the ideal time to use it."

Bampton Community Ar chive: We are going through what we hope will be a unique time and we must record what it feels like to cope with this pandemic. Dur ing lockdown people have found many ways to relieve boredom, enter tain and educate their children (and themselves!), stay connected and of cour se, help each other.

If you have stor ies and photos please send them to info@bamptonarchive.or g - picnics in the garden, online Zumba classes, deliver ing grocer ies, homework, new hobbies, Zoom chats ... it will all go towards keeping a per manent record of this fr ightening and fascinating time for future gener ations. Thank you!

GETTING TO KNOW... ABDUL BADWA, Bampton Sub-Postmaster 'My grandfather served in Kenya Railways in the British Empire after WWI.

My father was born in Kenya in 1931 and migrated to Pakistan in 1966 after Kenya got its Independence. He was a British Subject (a citizen of United Kingdom and Colonies) and came to England on his own in 1976. The rest of our family followed in 1980. My mother was also from Pakistan.

I was born in Pakistan and in 1980 when I was 18, we came to England. I joined the government Youth Training Scheme and worked as Printed Circuit Board assembler. I joined Reading College of Technology and gained a HNC in Electronics Engineering in 1985. I progressed in my career to R&D Engineer.

I was made redundant in 2000 as the Electronics industry went into recession.

So, I decided to buy my own business (Convenient Store +Post Office). By 2010, I was running three Post Offices in Reading, Milton and Marcham. My bosses in Post Office Ltd were very happy with my performance and offered me to take over Bampton in April 2010.

The Post Office used to be in Bridge Street but when the premises changed, the Parish Council realised how important the service is to the community and made this space available in the Town Hall.

I really enjoy the work I do as a sub-postmaster. Serving the community and helping people's needs is the most important aspect for me. I still live in Reading and enjoy the drive from Caversham every day!

In my younger days I was a very keen cricketer. Sadly, I don't find much time for sports these days!'

TIM E TO RING THE CHANGES?! Tell u s w h at you t h in k !

Our red phone box is much in need of some TLC! The booth still belongs to BT but it's hardly ever used as a telephone service. In many other villages, these boxes have been adopted by the local councils for a nominal fee of ÂŁ1 from BT and have been turned into book exchange points or other useful local projects. If you are interested and have any ideas to share about restoring or repurposing the phone box, drop us an email at thelockdownpress@gmail.com.

Bam pt on Libr ar y 100 Clu b: It was decided to suspend the 100 Club in March. We did try to let everyone know but apologies if you missed out on the information. It will be re-appearing in the future in a rejuvenated form, when the Library is relaunched. We are not sure when this will be. Most members have cancelled any Standing Orders, but if you have paid, we will hold your sub until we are clear exactly what will be happening and when.

Please get in touch with Lynne P on 01993 851930 with any queries.

FOOTPATH APPEAL! Please could residents with gardens or verges against paths keep them trimmed and maintained so that the public footpaths are clear each side and overhead.

This can prevent eye injuries from overhanging branches and makes it easier and safer for everyone who uses the paths including prams and wheelchairs. Thank you very much!

W ILDLIFE W ATCH

The For um For Fl or a and Fauna Fabl es and Fotos!

Some people have remarked that they have encountered exotic-looking birds with bright plumage in their gardens in recent times. Upon describing it more fully it often turns out that they?ve been seeing Goldf in ch es.

These small cheerfully-coloured finches, with bright red on their faces and prominent yellow flashes on their wings, have been much more common in our gardens Photo of Goldfinch with thistle seed by Kenneth Pierce in the last decade or so. In the RSPB?s annual Big Garden Birdwatch it was number six in this year ?s top ten - that?s an increase of 50 per cent since 2010.

They are very partial to seeds in bird feeders, especially niger and sunflower. In the wild, they have a preference for thistle seeds - so if you leave a wild patch in your garden where thistles can grow you are doing them a favour. Listen out for their sweet tinkling call; it could be that there is small flock - aptly known as a charm - of goldfinches somewhere close by. Th an k you t o An dr ew M an n f or t h is ar t icle!

An in t er est in g var iat ion on local w ildlif e: did you k n ow t h at h er e in Bam pt on t h er e's a beau t if u l dog t h at is par t w olf ?!

His n am e is Ridge, h e's 7 year s old an d lives in Glebelan ds!

Ridge is a 'Saarloos-wolfdog', a breed that was named after the Dutch breeder called Leendert Saarloos, who believed that the German Shepherd-Dog had become too domesticated and wanted to breed back the more natural properties in order to derive a better working dog. In 1935, he bred a male German Shepherd-Dog with a female Eurasian grey wolf from Siberia.

He then bred the offspring back with German Shepherd-Dogs to derive a dog with one quarter wolf-blood. The result was a dog Stock Photos that was not useful as a working dog but as companion that is close to 'wild' nature. The Dutch Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1975.

The Saarloos-wolfdog is a strongly built dog whose build, coat and movement is wolf-like. It weighs up to 45 kg and is athletic with a strong and muscular body. There are three colours: wolf-grey, red and white but because the wolf-grey genes are dominant, grey is the most common colour. The Saarloos has wolf-like expressions, as well as a wolf-like head. If they are raised carefully from puppies Saarloof wolfdogs are friendly and extremely loyal, and Ridge is no exception!

Keep an eye out for Ridge around Bampton....!

Ridge

~APPEALFORSPONSORSHIP ? SAVETHELOWDOWN!~ It's been 10 weekssincewe startedThe LockdownLowdownto help the residentsof Bamptonget throughthesedifficulttimes,relayingessentialinformationand tryingto maintainthe village?sgreat senseof communityeven when we couldn?tget out to speakto each other.

We reach over 1,500householdsin the Bamptonarea,and we havean onlineversiontoo,which makesus global!

We?veexpandedthe scopeof the newsletterrecentlyand increasedthe size to 8 pages.It?s amazing how muchthereis in Bamptonthat?swell worthreadingabout!

Goingforward,we want to bringyou informationabout clubsand servicesre-opening,and new eventsbeingplanned,as well as other issuesof local interest,such as the repurposingof the village telephonebox and featureson local residentsin our new ?Gettingto Know...?section.

How ever ,ou r daysar e n u m ber ed!

The Lowdownis not-for-profitand is producedentirelyby volunteers.Our only cost is the printing whichis ÂŁ175for an 8-pageissuelike this.Thesecostshavebeen met up to now by generousprivate donations,and by our kind sponsors.We haveenoughin the kitty for one more8-pageissueor two more4-pageissues.

We h avet o st op w h en t h e m on eyr u n sou t . So, w e?r eappealin gf or spon sor s.

We realisethat timesare very hard for businesses,and everyoneelse,right now.Sponsorscan join togethertogetherto fund an issuebetweenthem;as a markof our gratitude,we will offer a half pagefeatureon our sponsor(s)in their sponsoredissue. Sponsorshipcan also be anonymousif that is your preference.

If you ?d like t o h elp ou r com m u n it yn ew slet t ert o con t in u e,pleasecon t actSu e at t h elock dow n pr ess@gm ail.com

~ Thankyou ~

WIN A SCRUMPTIOUS TEA FOR2 FROM THE CAKE ELEMENT BAKERY!!

LITTLE OXPLORERS Exploring the outdoors in Oxford and beyond one little step at a time. Join us for adventures big and small! On Facebook and at www.medium.com/@LittleOxplorers

Tell us in 50 words or less why you would like to win a fantastic High Tea from Ivan & Michelle!

Winner in next issue..... thelockdownpress@gmail.com Disclaimer. Without prejudice: All views and opinions expressed in The Lockdown Lowdown are those of the individual contributors and do not represent those of the publication nor of its editorial team.

Live Well Oxfordshire website has been developed

by Oxfordshire County Council in partnership with Age UK www.livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk Oxfordshire and Affinity Works.

The directory has been designed to bring together information about groups and organisations offering services for adults with a variety of needs in one place.

You can search the directory to find information about services to help you live independently such as home care agencies, or organisations that can help with shopping or gardening. It also includes information about care homes and health services such as GPs or dentists.

You can also use Live Well Oxfordshire to look for a new hobby, find out where you can get information about benefits, or support groups for people with health conditions.

Bampton Sports News Update from Bampton Cricket Club "We have managed to start very limited nets in small groups, booked by appointment only in strict adherence to ECB guidelines and are hopeful to be able to play some competitive cricket before the season ends.

Subject to the lockdown easing further, we may be able to fulfil some of our remaining league fixtures on a friendly basis. We await the green light for this!" Adrian Harris, Chairman Contact: bamptoncricket@gmail.com

Bampton Town Youth FC Chairman Graham

Bampton Town Youth FC U13 Team 2019-20

Wilson tells us: "Lockdown brought a sudden halt to all grassroots football, including here in Bampton. All of our teams, U9, U11, U13, U14, U15 and U16 were going very well in their respective leagues, pushing for title or on cup runs. Sadly, the season won't restart but we are left with some great memories for all our endeavours and looking forward, with fingers crossed, for a start to next season in September.

Currently, all our coaches are trying to ensure the players manage to continue with as much exercise as possible, encouraging with WhatsApp group messages and team videos. Hopefully back gardens are being fully utilised with ball skill drills being practiced regularly.

Now lockdown is beginning to ease, socially distanced training sessions can re-start. Bubbles of 6 players are formed and these bubbles can train together, as long as all rules are followed.

I envision training starting up in this manner in the coming weeks.

If you are interested in becoming coaches in the younger age groups all contact details are on our website www.bamptontownyouthfc.co.uk."

KI DS CORNER KI DS CORNER Abigail's World! Every week in the Lockdown Lowdown, local author Abigail Groves is giving away a signed copy of her magical book ?

Abigail?s World?!

Email thelockdownpress@gmail.com to enter the weekly draw to win one of Abi's books! Here's this weeks winner Ivy with her special copy! Ivy's mum Laura tells us: "Thank you so much, this is lovely... Ivy loves to read every night. This is a perfect addition to her collection...!"

More about the book at www.myabigailsworld.com. Thank you Abi!

Thank you for sending us your fantastic colourings of our animal picture!

WOW! Cor ona Cobr a now h as ne ar l y 1,0 0 0 p aint e d r oc k s !

T h e r e ar e s om e abs ol u t e l y s s s s s s p l e nd id l it t l e w or k s oF ar t t o be s e e n!

This is our Treasure Map! Make y our ow n Treasure Map an d sen d it t o us, w e'd lov e t o t ry t o f in d w here y our t reasure is buried!!

Jacob Cooper (4, almost 5!)

Thomas Fletcher (5) f romBampton School