Alec Jones

Your BBVA can report another very successful Quiz and Supper night at The Vines on Friday 18^th November. Emma Lovett as usual devised an excellent quiz format for the 73 quizzers, which was very well compered by Rob Grant with the audio assistance of Dave Nixon. Many thanks to Joseph and his staff at the Vines for their contribution to a very enjoyable evening which turned a healthy profit which will be divided equally between St Mary’s Church and the BBVA.   The winning team was the Sarah Lockhart six with the Strongs & Athertons as runners up.

Change of date REMINDER.  The BBVA had planned the Christmas Carols and Santa`s Grotto for Sunday 18^th December, but due to a certain football world cup final match on the same day (FIFA have refused point blank to change their date) the BBVA have brought forward the Carols to Friday 16^th December, with the Grotto starting at 5.00pm and the Carols at 6.00pm, followed by the traditional mulled wine, mince pies and all sorts of goodies.

IMPORTANT.  Santa will offer all the children a Christmas present.   Parents should hand in a wrapped (and labelled with their child’s name) modest present (no more than £5 value) on arrival, to be given to Santa.  The Carols are ready and will be very child friendly and as usual we hope for plenty of ‘youngster participation’ and perhaps some solo performances. The organist is at the ready. The service will be led by the exuberant Gary Long from St John’s.

BBVA / Newsletter Survey published in the last Newsletter was successful.  Thank you to the many who participated, it will provide good guidance to your committee who are actively putting together the Calendar of Events for 2023.   If you have had further thoughts or ideas for 2023 it is not too late to let the committee know.   Please email the BBVA at bbvacommittee@gmail.com.

Firstly, we are not a club, nor do we have any members, we just write and receive e mails and deliveries of expensive liquid.

Secondly, we don’t have rules or regulations, we just get used to the system.

Lastly, we don’t charge for the service, but we do ask for voluntary donations in January each year to St Mary’s Church Fabric Fund, if our members feel they have benefited from buying oil within a group as opposed to buying individually.  £5 is good, £20 is better and £50 is excellent.

An average consumer should save approximately £60 to £80, and some could be saving £200/annum over some of the less honest offers.  (Watson’s our closest local supplier based at Brize Norton, decline to quote our group !!)

Reminders :

1. Our main suppliers are Sweetfuels and Red Horse Vale. They tell us that they buy on the “spot market”, an alternative to forward buying, which means that the price can change very quickly and explains why there is usually only a short period between receiving a price/litre (usually on a Wednesday) and having to complete the order by the following Saturday morning (3 days later)
2. Minimum order is for 500 litres. Many suppliers will only deliver 1,000 litres plus, but we receive something equivalent to a 1,000 litre price as our deliveries are grouped with only small distances between customers.  The other big advantage of 500 litres/delivery is that it makes our individual ordering more flexible, especially useful around Christmas and New Year, when we try to avoid ordering between mid-December and mid-January, when prices always increase.
3. We usually buy about 9 loads a year, most months in the winter and fewer in the summer. Our orders vary between about 12,000 to 35,000 litres for between 15 to 45 customers each time.
4. Invoicing, both the main suppliers will deliver and leave a delivery note. This will explain that payment can be made by bank transfer, telephone or postal cheque.  We always ask our group to pay promptly as this gives us a stronger “negotiating position”.  Your organiser has no involvement with the invoicing process, which is private between supplier and customer.
5. Some of our group have invested in extra-large tanks, which allow them to purchase oil just once per year (in summer) or when for some reason prices hit a very low price.  The return on investment can be very good.  Tank prices are available online and Sweetfuels Ltd will fit new tanks.
6. We will not deal with suppliers who require everyone’s credit card details in advance of delivery.
7. Suppliers tell us that they are still having trouble making deliveries as a result of Covid and lack of HGV drivers.
8. If any of you identify a competitive new supplier, please flag it up (or tales of a rip-off supplier – it does happen).
9. All group communications will be sent BCC.

If any of our members have further questions, please call Alec Jones on 01993 842184   or 07855 297721

A very busy month starting with the annual fete, when we were lucky yet again with the weather.  We particularly enjoyed the main features, the Witney Town Band, the Bampton Morris Men and Eden Bay not forgetting the Dog Show, with Ruth and James Coxon winning the best of show with Oscar.  The fete raised in excess of £3k to put towards village projects and events.  Terry Pope, the retiring fete chairman sends his sincere thanks to all helpers for all their efforts. Do take a look at all the pictures at ‘In Our Time’.

The fete was followed by a Live@BB concert, featuring The Revolvers. Fantastic music from a fantastic 60 / 70’s tribute band that we invited to play for us for a third time.  They didn`t disappoint but the attendance did.   We, (the BBVA) need more feedback from the village, concerning which events or activities villagers really want.  We ask this question at every opportunity, but very rarely get a reply just the odd complaint.

Please let us know if you have specific or notional ideas.  Childrens activities? OAP activities? Treasure hunts? Ideas from other village fetes or activities or fund-raising ideas.  But please get involved and even consider joining the BBVA committee!

For your information, the current projects, that are under way are:

• assisting the PC with improvements to the play park
• assisting the PCC and St Mary’s with the funding of a new heating system
• the construction of a Platinum Memorial Arbour in honour of HRH Elisabeth II on the play park
• the establishment of a community orchard at the far end of the play park.

Next up are ‘village drinks’ (offered by the BBVA), apple juicing and car boot, on Sunday 2^nd October – THIS SUNDAY!  We will start the apple juicing at approximately midday with the village drinks at 13.00hrs.  Please bring your own picnic or five course roast dinner if you wish.  Tables and chairs will be provided, but it might be wise to bring your own chair. Most important, please bring plenty of ripe apples and pears and some clean containers to take home your share of the juice.   If you need a hand to pick or transport your fruit, please contact the BBVA.

Finally, please select your team for the BBVA Quiz and Supper night on Friday 18^th November and register your places at bbvacommittee@gmail.com

Not much good news at the moment. Prices are above £1.00 per litre compared to May 2020 when we paid 15 pence per litre, plus 5% vat for the chancellor. This means that the chancellor now receives almost seven times as much vat revenue as in May 20!  That is about £50 on 1000 litres!

Let’s hope the BBVA’s £1000 donation to Ukraine relief will help bring about some change.

By the way, Boilerjuice, the on-line oil supplier regularly sends out “offers”.  I often ask for a quote and have noticed that if you do so, but don’t follow up with an order, after a few hours they send a further “offer” with an even lower price, sometimes quite competitively … so if ever you need to buy oil independently it might be worth trying.

Due to the effects of Covid, no AGM took place in January 2021. The meeting covered events over the last 24 months.

Our Chairperson, Deb Hextall was unable to attend due to illness and asked A Jones to chair the meeting.

The Chair’s report included the following items :

“The most difficult years in the history of our association, but fortunately there was good news among the many cancellations and disappointments.  Without going into all the details, we were very fortunate to realise eight out nineteen events over the 24 months, and very fortunate to be able to run both our September Village Fetes, both Village Drinks Parties and two Apple Pressing events, the last one combined with a successful car boot sale.  The effect of the two Fete events, apart from it being a great day in great weather, was that it kept the bank account ticking, which will enable us to help with various village projects, for example, and in conjunction with both the PC and PCC, the play park, and St Mary’s “Kitchen & Loo” project and some possible one-offs, like the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the details to follow shortly.

The chair, was keen to thank the whole committee for their efforts throughout the year. Terry Pope and his fete committee were again outstanding, but not forgetting the other successes, the quiz nights, village drinks,  Live@BB and The Revolvers and the Film Nights, some aimed at raising funds, others sponsored by the Association, as enjoyable village ‘get-togethers’.   We are keen to have your ideas for future events and to recruit at least two new members to the committee.   The Chair gave sincere thanks to Helen and Barry Williams (recent Secretary and Treasurer respectively), who have moved away and were especially well known for their huge (and profitable) efforts in organising the raffle at the Village Fete (every time the biggest earner).

Our Treasurer Ellen Hearn reported, that revenues were roughly equal to outgoings (thanks mainly to the annual fetes). Other income came from quiz nights, Live@BB,  Marquee and table hire and two grants from the Bampton Charity Shop, for which we are very grateful.  Expenses have followed the usual pattern, with the main outgoing being a part payment for new playground equipment of £1,760.   Income streams might improve next year Covid permitting?

The election of officers was straightforward, with two changes,  Deb remains as Chair, Alec takes over as vice-chair and Jackie Hallums has volunteered as Secretary

The meeting closed with thanks to our Chair Deb Hextall who has been outstanding and we wish her a rapid recovery,  along with many other volunteers in the village who helped on fete day and other occasions.

Special thanks to Emma Bussell (quiz supremo),  to Ross Pateman for all his work at the fete and to Karen and Ahdy Gerges for their hospitality at The Vines over many years.   We are pleased to tell you the new owners are happy to continue hosting the Quiz Nights, the next of which will be on the 18^th February – please register your team a.s.a.p!

The meeting closed at 19.52hrs and the large audience were thanked for attending.

The last BBVA quiz Night was held on the 21^st Feb 2020, immediately before the lockdown. A lot has happened since then ! Covid, Matt Hancock, vaccinations and boosters and more potholes. So, it’s good to be able to restart our regular events. The last Quiz was attended by 90 quizzers and was won by the Duck and Drakes  who are still bragging about it. We hope they will defend their title ?

The evening was planned for the 19^th November, but has had to be delayed by a week till the 26^th Nov.

The Vines Hotel is under new management. The new manager has kindly agreed to continue the arrangement that we have become used to.  The entry fee will be the same @ £8.00 pp, which includes entry to the quiz and a curry supper (with a mild and a stronger alternative, with a veggie option) which will be served from 7.00pm

The quiz designed by Emma  (our resident brains) will start at 7.45pm and the evening should finish at 9.45.

We sincerely hope most of the teams from Feb 2020 will enter again, among them the The Barbarians, Strong Chance, Lambs to the Slaughter and the Mill Laners. Ideally, we will have teams of about 6, but anywhere between 4 and 8 will be permissible. Points will win important prizes for the winners and runners up.

Please apply to Alec on alecandjane29@outlook.com a s a p, giving your name and the approx number in your team. The team name and final team  number can be decided on the night.   We also need the number of vegetarian options required.

People can enter as an individual, a couple or smaller group as we can easily accommodate you in a new team. Mobile phones and media thingies strictly prohibited.   Masks are optional.

Looking forward to your replies, all will be responded to.  First come first served!

After an 18 month absence due to COVID, ‘Live@Black Bourton’ was back with a vengeance on Thursday 23rd September!

Over sixty villagers packed into St Mary’s Church to welcome back the superb 60’s Tribute Band – Revolver.

They gave a barn storming performance covering a range of classic artists from The Beatles to The Shadows.

Refreshments were provided as well as a raffle.

Huge thanks to all who attended.

All the profits will go to the BBVA which in turn will put the money to good use for additional village amenities!

The successful apple pressing event of 22^nd September 2019 seems a long time ago. Last years event was cancelled by Boris and his two oppo’s.   This years pressing will happen on Sunday 10^th October, under the marquee on the play park from midday onwards.

However, we have a major concern, that everywhere we look, the trees are showing few apples and those that have some are dropping their over-ripe fruits earlier than usual, so much so that we might not have enough to make juice.

So, we suggest that interested or thirsty parties, take the fruit off their trees as soon as possible and pack them carefully in boxes to avoid bruising, ready to be juiced on the 10  Please keep an eye on this page of the website. If we need to cancel the event we will message you here and via email and noticeboards.^.

After some poor weather forecasts, we were very fortunate with the tropical weather. Nevertheless, all three of our marquees were erected “just in case”.  The format was altered from 2019 (the most recent fete) as The Time Out Farm were sadly unable to attend due to illness.

Our fete chairman Terry opened the fete and introduced the beautiful and hilarious Dame Twankie who formally welcomed all our guests to the event and explained the various delights and sights to be viewed and cakes to buy. Do take a look at some great images from the day at In Our Time!

RAF Brize Norton did us proud with the choir and brass band, as did the Bampton Morris Men.

The temperature soared and the drinks tent and tea tent were both very busy, as were the superb Wood Bros. Distillers and the Ellie`s BBQ stand.    An array of “posh cars” with a mileage competition attracted a lot of attention, as did the “car pulling” – a 2CV citroen from Alan Cartright, who was later put in the stocks and pelted with wet sponges and tomatoes.

The ever popular Dog Show was impressive and amusing at the same time, with many entries and few fights.

Special thank you to the Farrier Simon, the Raptor bird fliers and our own Pete Miles for his model plane exhibition.

Other special thank yous, go to ALL the helpers on all the stalls along with the spectacular successes of the Raffle, the Bottle and plant stalls, the tennis court and childrens corner which all helped raise an all time record of funds for the BBVA coffers and eventually for the benefit of village projects.   Please do let us know if you have any ideas or preferences for projects that need funding.

Finally, many thanks to the Alvescot & BB village Hall for the loan of tables and chairs (Don`t forget the hall is available to hire for parties and events) phone Terry Morris on 842135.

Your BBVA committee has worked very hard organising the fete throughout the year, without knowing whether we would be allowed to go ahead, until late in the day, so many thanks to Terry Pope and his Fete Committee for their hard work.

Lastly, a big thank you to our fete sponsors : LALockhart Ltd (Plant Hire), Wood Bros, and F. Stewart-Wood Farming, Oxford Partitions, Kenkilly Dog Grooming, Arborforce Ltd and A Cones  Ltd.

Best Wishes      Deb Hextall

PS   READ THE LIVE@BB CONCERT.  THURSDAY 23^RD SEPT.  REVOLVER – REVIEW