James Coxon

BBVA News May/June

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The Out of the Blue concert was a huge success and a fitting tribute to Alec Jones the initiator. The concert not only included a song specifically for Alec, but also Alec’s favourite interlude – the raffle. Combined with donations at the bar, the whole event raised £750 for Helen & Douglas House, helping terminally ill children.

Many thanks to all who contributed.

The next event will be more energetic – by popular demand the village Ceilidh dancing and fish & chips returns on Saturday 13th June starting at 5.30pm.

This year the dancing will be inside an airy marquee to guarantee performances whatever the weather! Entertainment, refreshments and fish & chips (with condiments) are a steal at just £15 per person payable on the evening. However, to guarantee your order of fish & chips do please email the BBVA on bbvacommittee@gmail.com by Sunday 7th June to be sure you get your fish & chips!!

The lively Ceilidh band will get us stomping whatever your ability or inclination – so let off some steam with your fellow villagers and relax with fine refreshments!

BBVA News March/April

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Alec Jones – A Life Lived for Others

Black Bourton has lost one of its true community pillars. For four decades, Alec Jones was the beating heart of our small Oxfordshire village — a man who gave his time, his energy, and his boundless enthusiasm to ensuring that everyone who called Black Bourton home truly felt that they belonged.

Alec was the driving force behind the Black Bourton Village Association, an organisation that brought neighbours together and gave the community its enduring sense of identity. Through his leadership and quiet dedication, the Association became a cornerstone of village life — a testament to what one person’s commitment can build.

He will perhaps be best remembered for two of Black Bourton’s most cherished traditions. The village fete, which Alec helped organise year after year, became a highlight of the calendar — a joyful celebration that drew people together and reminded everyone why living in a close-knit community is something to be treasured. And then there was the apple pressing, a wonderfully seasonal ritual that carried Alec’s unmistakable stamp — warm, generous, and rooted in the very best of country life.

But it was in the quieter moments that Alec’s personality shone perhaps most brightly. Whenever a new family or individual arrived in the village, it was Alec who would appear at their door — friendly face, warm welcome, and an unspoken message that they were not just moving into a house, but into a community that would look out for them.

Alec Jones didn’t just live in Black Bourton. He made it what it is. And the lives he touched — the friendships he sparked, the doors he knocked on, the events he lovingly brought to life — will be his lasting legacy.

He is survived by his beloved wife Jane, and his sons Charlie and William, who meant the world to him. As the village mourns, its thoughts and warmest wishes are with them during this difficult time. They can take great comfort in knowing that Alec’s kindness and generosity of spirit lives on in every corner of the community he so dearly loved.

He will be deeply missed, and long celebrated.

BBVA Events 2026 Calendar

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Black Bourton Village Association (BBVA)

Our vision is to run entertaining events, enhance village life and support local initiatives that benefit our community.

 

2025 Review

Do take a look at the slide show BBVA AGM_2025.pptx which details last year’s events, the good use the funds raised were put to and the results of the 2025 satisfaction survey.

Our goals

  •  run events that our community enjoy
  • generate funds for worthy local causes
  • have a positive impact  on village life

Our committee organises some great events throughout the year, and work as part of a supportive and collaborative team. We also have a lot of fun along the way, and would welcome new members!

To join our committee or to offer support for our annual Fete or other events, please email: bbvacommittee@gmail.com (or make contact with a committee member):

  • James Coxon (Chair)
  • Terry Pope (Vice-Chair)
  • Ellen Hearn (Treasurer)
  • Jackie Hallums (Secretary)
  • Anne Nagorski
  • Becca Harding
  • David Harding
  • Rosie Hopcroft
  • Wendy Kratt
  • Will Cheese
  • Lawrence Clarke (PCC representative)
  • Pete Miles (PC representative)

The BBVA work in collaboration with the Parish Council (PC) and the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to ensure agreement on and delivery of safe and compliant community events and initiatives.

BBVA News December/January

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The year ended with a lot of mulled wine and home-made mince pies (thank you Wendy!) at St Mary’s, where we welcomed the arrival of Santa and his gifts and a merry sing-along to all the favourite Christmas carols and readings led by our Rector Barry.

In fact December was a busy time for the BBVA and St Mary’s – the VoiceBox Choir from Witney delivered an enjoyable and engaging performance, and the Film Club presented its family friendly seasonal offering “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – the American equivalent of our “The Snowman”.

The coming year will see the return of many old favourites as well as a sponsored trip to David Ashley’s panto in Swindon. The very first event of the New Year for everyone is the BBVA’s AGM on Monday 12th January at 7pm in the church, at which the village will be entertained with illustrated highlights from 2025 and a conversation about how the BBVA could improve its offerings and funding support. There may even be some wine and mince pies!

So to make sure all voices are heard in the formulating of the BBVA’s activities do CLICK ON THIS LINK AND PLEASE TAKE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE SURVEY! The BBVA really needs your inputs and ideas. The committee meets formally 12 times per year and many more times when erecting marquees and preparing for events.  Your support and input is vitally important.  So please answer the survey and let the committee have your  opinions at the AGM either in person or in writing. 

Email the BBVA at any time about anything! Happy New Year!

 

BBVA News November/December

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The BBVA hosted the Quiz Night at The Vines and a big thank you to all those who made it possible. The event raised over £500 to support village activities and needs.

The VoiceBox Choir is back by popular demand with their repertoire of festive and engaging songs, at St Mary’s at 6,30 on the 12th. Most of the ticket price of £10 (children free) goes towards the church’s fabric fund. Do support this talented group and get into the Christmas spirit! Mince pies and mulled wine will be served!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas comes alive when children meet Santa, receive a present and then join in the carol singing! It’s all happening at St Mary’s on the 20th at 5pm. If you want Santa to give your child/grandchild a present do wrap a present (no more than £5) add the child’s name and give it to one of the elves in good time! The Christmas Carol sing-along will be from 6pm. It’s free to all including some mince pies and mulled wine!

 

 

 

 

 

As usual the BBVA is planning a Calendar of events for 2026.  We have included some of the regular  or automatic events like the Annual Fete, the Village Drinks and quiz nights.  But we are very keen to accommodate new ideas and suggestions from villagers whether they be aimed at the youngsters, the oldies or everything in between and whether the idea is on our “home” ground or involving a trip away. Do email your suggestions to bbvacommittee@gmail.com.

BBVA News August/September

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As you know the Village Fete is the BBVA’s biggest event!  It’s on Sunday 7th September from 1pm to 5pm. We look forward to seeing you all there!

What a day we have planned for you all, including:

  • Fancy Dress Competition – Fairytales & Superheroes
  • Birds of Prey demonstration
  • Our popular Dog Show
  • Local Cotswold Arts and Crafts stalls
  • BBQ with the finest local produce
  • Fully stocked bar, and our very own Woods Bros Gin bar
  • Witney Town Brass Band
  • Pony Rides
  • Bouncy Castle and children’s games
  • Popcorn, candy floss and sweet stall
  • Vintage tractors and Supercars
  • Vintage Gramophones and model aircraft
  • Tug of War and Car Pull
  • Raffle with some great prizes, including a Winter Devon Hotel Break for 2

We want to make sure we have the best day ever, so we are looking for the following from any of you able to help:

  • Bottles for the bottle stall
  • Plants for the gardening club
  • Posh clothes for our vintage stall
  • Cakes for the cake stall
  • Children (or adults) to dress up as their favourite fairytale character or superhero
  • Any helpers that can do an hour or two on the day itself

If you can help in anyway, please contact bbvacommittee@gmail.com & we will come & get your offerings or let you know how you can help on the day.

Thank you all in advance for coming to such an important fund raising event for the village, see you on the 7th September at 1pm.

 

 

BBVA News June/July

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Our summer drinks

Saturday 21st saw over 60 people attend our summer solstice ceilidh with fish & chips and a help yourself bar to wash it all down with!

Follow the link and check out some great photographs (that don’t embarrass the dancers)!

Music was provided by The Lechlade Ceilidh Band who performed on our tennis court so that our villagers could get involved in the synchronised dancing to official calls from the front. A thoroughly enjoyable evening was had in the hot summer sunshine and as part of the BBVA’s commitment to the community, the event was heavily subsidised as a thank you to all that support the events throughout the year. With 2025 being the BBVA’s 50th year, it is so important we continue to serve the community for another 50 years as the feedback we get from you all is very pleasant indeed!

Our orchard

If you’d like to relax for a moment and harvest some of the fruits of our volunteers’ labours then do take a stroll through the village orchard and the end of the play park. As the photos show there are some glorious wild flowers as well.

A reminder that the next event is our largest one in the calendar, the Summer Fete on Sunday 7th September in the Play Park. As ever we need helpers for the day, bottles for our bottle stall, cakes, vintage clothes, books & raffle prizes to make the day a huge success. If you can help, please email bbvacommittee@gmail.com

Apple pressing

The whole village is also looking forward to the annual Apple Juicing Day on Sunday 19th October. The event will include collecting “early” apples for juicing, pasteurising and bottling in late AUGUST and again “later” varieties after in SEPTEMBER or OCTOBER. These bottled and pasteurised juices will last for 2 or 3 years.

For the 19th October, the macerator and juicer will be set up under a marquee on the play park and everyone will be welcome to come along with wheel barrows, cars, buckets and shopping bags full of apples and pears from 1.00pm. In addition, we will set up some tables for picnickers. Further, information will be available in the newsletter,  nearer the date.

The BBVA bottled apple/pear juice has proved very popular and we hope the finished price this year might be between £2.75 and £3.00 per 75cl bottle, delivered to your door. In the mean-time, if you would like to order apple juice or have apples or pears to contribute to the BBVA effort, then please contact the BBVA on   bbvacommittee@gmail.com  or contact Alec Jones on 01993 842184. We will confirm the price per bottle nearer the time. Your apples or pears can be collected from your address and dates will be specified in due course.

DON’T  FORGET the UK imports 160,000 tons of apples per annum which is 60% of our needs. 90% of UK homegrown apples are wasted We don’t want to waste Black Bourton apples.

Alec Jones

As some of you are aware, Alec Jones is stepping down from the BBVA after 40 years of service. Alec has been leading the BBVA for many a year and it goes without saying that he will be heavily missed by all that are in the village. From raising money for good causes, to organising entertaining events, from assisting people in need to supporting the communities’ best interests; Alec has selflessly given thousands of hours of volunteering time to the community and we cannot thank him enough for this unprecedented service to our residents.

As a thank you, the BBVA has planted an American Oak on the village green with a celebration plaque supporting the spot so that all can be reminded of Alec’s contribution to the community and Alec himself can see another legacy continue to grow in the village. We also gifted Alec and Jane, some crystal wine glasses to enjoy more of that reasonably priced French wine in suitable engraved containers for many years to come. It is important Jane gets a special mention for her unwavering support to Alec as behind every great man there is a great woman, well done Jane!

Alec was finally gifted with a lifetime honorary membership of the BBVA, so is welcome at any point into the leadership of the community, for which we will welcome with open arms.

Thank you Alec on behalf of this wonderful village, we will miss you.

BBVA News May/June

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The Out of the Blue concert was a brilliant sell-out success! Over £750 was raised for the Helen & Douglas House and a similar amount for the church fabric fund. The choir enjoyed it so much they asked to be re-booked the same time next year!

Our next big event is the Village Drinks with a twist!

Book the date – Saturday 21st June starting at 5pm.

As well as a help-yourself bar, for the price of just £15 per person you will also get fish and chips and the chance to join in on a round or two of group dancing led by a lively Ceilidh band. It’s easy for anyone, any age to have ago and enjoy the fun of letting off steam. Let’s celebrate the joy of community and the arrival of summer in style.

We need you to pre-order your fish and chips by 14th June using this email address: bbvacommittee@gmail.com.

 

The community orchard is coming along well.

All are welcome to open the gate at the end of the playing field and have a look. The BBVA plan to provide a picnic table in the orchard.

In spite of the driest spring in years the flowers are starting to show and the fruit trees, now in their second year are starting to fruit.  Please note the number of apples on the Cox’s tree. Also thriving are pear trees along with plum and walnuts, accompanied by gooseberry, blackberry, bushes and raspberry canes.

A water tank and watering cans are available in case the plants are looking dry.

BBVA News March/April

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The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. Our happy punters had a great time on 13th March – some even came away with some winnings. A big thank you to the BBVA for sponsoring the event.

The next BBVA event is the ‘Out of the Blue’ concert at St Mary’s on Thursday 15th May at 7pm.

‘Out of the Blue’ is Oxford’s internationally acclaimed a cappella group. Comprising students from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University, ‘Out of the Blue’ has performed on the West End and on Broadway, reached the semifinals of Britain’s Got Talent, and toured around the world. They are now coming to perform in Black Bourton!

Tickets are £15 in advance or £17 on the night. Please email bbvacommittee@gmail.com to reserve your tickets.

BBVA News January/February

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The BBVA AGM benefited from the new smart projector and screen and welcome refreshments afterwards. Access the full presentation here: BBVA AGM 2024 It includes a tribute to the long serving and now semi-retired Alec, who has, and is, making such a great contribution to the village.

If you’re interested in joining this fun, vibrant committee then do email us. We’re also looking for volunteers to join the even more vibrant fete team!