The Lockdown Lowdown
Issue 2
This issue is kindly sponsored by SPAJERS If you would like to sponsor an issue please email us: thelockdownpress@gmail.com
Ask a Celebrity...
Local resident Kirsty Young is a multitalented broadcaster. She hosted the hugely popular BBC Radio 4 program ‘Desert Island Discs’ from 2006 to 2018 and has presented numerous shows on TV. She spoke to The Lockdown Lowdown about a few of her thoughts on the lockdown….
What do you miss most?
This past weekend I was due to be walking with a group of close girlfriends in Braemar, in the Highlands. It had been long planned and as it happens the weather there was utterly spectacular. Not always a given in that part of the world! That’s definitely been a bit of a ‘miss’. I’m missing being able to look forward to special events… My dad’s 80th birthday celebration was due to be a big family gathering and we were having a lot of fun planning our eldest daughter’s early summer wedding. So, yes…. This is definitely a lesson in being in the moment rather than having one’s head in the future. Oh and I really, really miss not going to Blakes in Clanfield to pick up some top notch sourdough and delicious cinnamon buns.
What’s the first thing you’re going to do when lockdown is over?
Go to the hairdressers. Anyone who has seen my current “root situation” will fully understand the heartfelt nature of that answer.
What do you wish you’d done, or bought, before lockdown started?
I really wish I’d gone to a big concert or to see some stand-up comedy… it’s incredibly odd to think that live events, where strangers in an audience share the same sensational moment, might not be possible for a very long time to come. Netflix and Zoom and YouTube are doing a good job of filling the space right now, but they’ll never replicate the joy and energy of actually being at a live event.
VE Day Street party
May 8th 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, the day that World War 2 ended in Europe. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the previous generations, who sacrificed so much in order to secure for us the freedoms that we now appreciate so much more. And to take the chance to reinforce the strength of the Bampton community. So, look out on FaceBook and local social media for details of what your street is doing. For free, downloadable decorations and invitations, go to www.thepurplepumpkinblog.co.uk/ free-printable-ve-day-decorations
For all the latest information please check - www.bampton-network.co.uk
Chris Smith Logs 07969 742959 NEW Aston Repair Depot Open as usual for repairs, MOTs etc. 01993 850305
Shops Co Op Telephone for placing orders: 01993 852242 Patrick Strainge Phone for placing an order: 01993 850350 enquiries@patrickstrainge-butchers.co.uk
Health Services Bampton Surgery Call first. Do not go in person. 01993 850257 Landells, Bampton OX18 2LJ Hours: Monday – Friday: 9am-1pm / 2pm-6pm Saturday: 9am-12 noon Bampton Pharmacy Please avoid going immediately it opens, as they are extremely busy. Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 10am-12.30pm / 2pm-6pm; Saturday: 9am-12.00pm Telephone: 01993 851961 NEW Guy Lennon Counselling Confidential online counselling - reduced rates in these difficult times. Tel: 07980 922 518 www.guylennoncounselling.co.uk
General services Bampton Post Office Opening hours: Monday -Friday 9am-1pm Sat 9am-12.30pm Bampton Papers Proprietors: Zara Lawlor 07770 422039 and Paul Ramsay 07855 497040 From caravan in and around Market Square. 6am to 8.30am daily except 6am to 10.30am Sats and 7am to 10.30am Sun NEW B&Q Witney Now open again (including Garden Centre) to the public Mon-Sat 8am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm Restrictions: timber cutting, paint mixing and design appointments are temporarily unavailable. shoppers to limit their shopping group to no more than two people, and not to bring under 16 year olds shopping. Bampton Gas Telephone: 01993 256345 Opening hours Monday – Friday 9am – 1pm and 5pm – 6pm; Saturday 9am – 1pm
Food services
(delivery or takeaways) The Cake Element Bakery Afternoon Tea delivered to your door. Telephone orders between 9am – 6pm Telephone: 01993 357468 or 07769703654 Mark’s Kitchen Chinese Take-away Phone: 01993 851691 The Codfather fish van In Bampton, Mondays from 4pm to 9pm www.facebook.com/thecodfathervan.co.uk/ posts/2581823192085338 Tailor Made Top Nosh Food to go as well as home deliveries of fruit vegetables etc... 01993 852696 www.tailormadetopnosh.com NEW Blake’s Bakery, Clanfield Open for Collection only: Wed - Sat 9:30am to 1pm. Order online before 1pm for collection the next day: https://www.blakeskitchen.com/shop Tel: 01367 810660 NEW The Romany Inn Take away dinners (6pm to 8pm) starting Friday 1st May Take away Sunday lunches starting 3rd May Tel 01993 850237 NEW HAS Kebabs The Kebab van is back... Market Square UE coffee roasters Coffee and groceries deliveries from Witney to Bampton 01993 706767 www.facebook.com/uecoffeeroasters/ The Black Horse at Standlake Tel 01865 300307
Delicious Home Cooked Meals
CLAPPING FOR CARERS IN STYLE Send your pictures to editor@bamptonbeam.co.uk
for residents who need support
NHS & Frontline - Key Worker Carer - Shielded - Elderly Socially Isolating Vunerable Disabled - Health Issues Single Parent - Hardship Pay what you can basis To Order call Bampton Network
07946 192638 Running low on medicine or need a Prescription?
Call the Bampton Network on
07946 192638
BAN – Stats and Facts so far… We thought that readers might be interested to know how much work has been undertaken by the Bampton Aid Network (BAN) volunteers. Commencing on 22nd March, the group comprises more than 80 helpers who carry out a range of activities for residents who are confined to their homes. These jobs are mainly collection and delivery of prescriptions, cooking delicious home-made meals, supermarket shopping expeditions, collection and delivery of groceries, often accompanied by a bunch of flowers to cheer up those who cannot get out. On 27th April the 200th job milestone was reached. By the 28th April, at least 220 tasks had been completed for the isolated folks of Bampton. This was made up of 136 prescriptions, accompanied by 136 posies, 47 shopping deliveries and 26 home-cooked meals. Other requests included answering queries and giving advice, Post Office errands, and shopping for home-made meals. Our hard-working pharmacists have also been recipients of the BAN flower bunches. The BAN is working hard to support our community and help each other through this challenging time.
St Mary’s Church Virtual Worship via Zoom - Sunday 10.30 Meeting ID: 272 490 730 Password: 455060
www.bamptonchurch.org.uk
May 3rd at 4pm
Zoom meeting ID 886 2770 7073 Password 089752
Bampton Aid Network (BAN) was formed by a group of local volunteers to offer help in this time of coronavirus (Covid-19) to the elderly, the isolated, and to our hardpressed health and care workers. If you need help with picking up a prescription, shopping, a cooked meal, dog walking or other errand, or even just a chat….
Phone or text us on: 07946 192638
Abigails World written by Abigail Groves Abigail Groves is a local author who wrote her first children’s book, Abigail’s World, in 2018. Follow Abigail on her on her adventures and find out how she leaves her worries and anxiety behind. Abi is giving away one free signed copy of the book each week. Just send an email to thelockdownpress@gmail.com. A name will be drawn out of the hat every week and the lucky winner will receive a signed copy. Deadline for this week: Midnight on Tuesday 5th May
COMPETITION CORNER Flower Competition: we have a winner!! The flower is tree peony, genus paeonia or paeoniaceae and was correctly identified by Elizabeth Griffiths who wins a box of chocs! Contact us at thelockdownpress@ gmail.com to collect your prize and thank you to everyone who took part! Elizabeth tell us that peonies are well known herbaceous plants but the tree peony is less well known. A lovely small tree or large shrub, the flowers bloom in late spring/early summer and come in a variety of colours from white and yellow through to pink and dark red. The flowers only last a few days but are well worth the wait and meanwhile the foliage is very attractive.
Kids Page
This week it’s Animal Magic for Kids! Did you know that Bampton has its very own Alpacas?! Here’s a bit about them - Alpacas are similar to Llamas but they are smaller, and they are related to the Camel. The three in Bampton are all male and they’re 12 years old (Grade 7). They have been in Bampton for six years. The white one is Sid, the dark brown is Alfie and the light brown one is Diago... do you which movies those names are from?! Alpacas usually live for about 20 years. Baby Alpacas are called ‘Cria’ (that’s a new word to us, how about you?) Alpacas are intelligent, curious and gentle animals. They are social and like to live in herds with a dominant male. In our Alpaca family Sid is the leader of the pack! They communicate with soft ’coo-ing’ sounds and make ‘clucking’ noises to be friendly, and they often hum when they are content! Interesting fact:- They have 3 stomachs! They don’t shed their fleece so they get shorn once a year usually in June. They live happily together with the ponies Teaka (the bigger one) and Missy! Write to us at thelockdownpress@gmail.com and tell us about the most unusual animal you have met, add a photo and we will put in one of your stories in the next issue! Stay safe kids!! A big thank you to Adrian and Sam Smart for ‘lending’ us their Alpacas :)
Do you need your dog walked? Call the Bampton Network on
Announcements 29th April - Congratulations to Boris and Carrie on the birth of a baby boy May 8th – VE DAY Street Party in Chandler’s Close at 6pm. In your garden or on the street. SOCIAL DISTANCING A MUST May 9th – Charlotte-Rose Acaster
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