Your guide for your
Out& About leisure time in &
around Oxfordshi
re
pers.co.uk www.taylornewspa Thursday, December
14 - Wednesday, December
20, 2017
Explorers’ awesome adventures
Unbeliveable jour on the big scre neys en
Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton GROUP Thursday, December 14 - Wednesday, December 20, 2017
oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
s. To view property sed courtesy of Hodson This property showca
Don’t let to harder than There are many things or selling your home solicitor make buying specialist Conveyancing service. choosing the wrong Slade Legal about our it needs to be. Talk to .co.uk Abingdon 01235 521920
Pupils star in The Crown with Matt Smith
Animals brave the elements at wildlife park
Page 7
Pages 8&9
details, see inside.
ME? MOVINGthinkHO house. about when moving • 01235 511211 • Didcot
Wallingford 01491 839346
•
Ready for some
www.slade-legal gal.co.uk enquiries@slade-le
seasonal slapstic k?
Free
Names for new streets honour town residents Page 12
Hero award for badminton club founder who has never played By Eva Astreinidou A 78-year-old man who has never picked up a racket to play badminton has won a national award for his years of selfless dedication to a local club. Brian Matthews, pictured, has made the court his home since he founded Windrush Badminton Club 23 years ago, despite having been registered disabled as a teenager. Now, Mr Matthews has been recognised in the BBC South Get Inspired Unsung Hero Awards for 2017 for his hard work. Members of the Witney club, who praised the volunteer for putting Oxfordshire on the map for the sport, handed the award over to an unsuspecting and delighted Mr Matthews. Receiving the award, he said in a typically humble fashion: “This wouldn’t have been possible without all of you.” Speaking about his future plans and how much more time he is planning to give up voluntarily, he said: “Year after year I keep saying this will be the last year but next year it’s 25 years for the club so that’s my target. When I get to that one, it’ll be ‘I’ll pack up when I’m 80’ and who knows when I’m 80 I might add another target.” Mr Matthews is not just the club’s founder, but has grown the club, started a junior club, is in charge of all the paperwork, arranges matches and attends every training session and
most home games. Speaking proudly about a recent achievement by the club’s members, he said: “Last Friday, we had a men’s division one match and a lot of the players were abroad with work and holiday and so two boys, a 15 and 16-year-old played. They were in division two but I moved them up just to expose them to that higher level of badminton. They won all three and if they were half as thrilled as I was they’d have had a good night.” His grandson Ben Evans, 18, said: “My grandad has inspired me and the whole family by what he’s created. It’s amazing.” Fiona Roberts, who has helped run the junior squad alongside Brian, said: “Brian is a phenomenon. I’ve got a huge respect for him, he’s dedicated his life to this club.” Every year the BBC celebrates the work of volunteers who run sport or leisure clubs through the Unsung Hero Awards. The awards are part of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year which takes place on Sunday.
I pronounce you snow husband and wife... IT certainly was not all doom and gloom as heavy snow and ice hit west Oxfordshire. As their usual work schedule came to a pause due to weather
conditions, staff at Witney-based Maybush Weddings decided to have some fun and show off their skill to create the perfect snowcouple.
The staff even took the time to carve out a suit for the groom and a princess-style dress for the bride, as they stood side-by-side next to a Christmas reindeer.
The Oxfordshire Guardian has more printed copies than any other newspaper in the county
80-82 Station Road, Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxfordshire, OX18 3QB Tel: 01993 842172 www.aktimms.co.uk
WINTER IS HERE!