This section is an opportunity to showcase in pictures significant moments in our village’s recent past. If you have a selection of photos on a particular topic or others to add to the topics already here, then do get in touch using the contact form.

Select the year: 2021, 2013-2021, 2017, 2008-9-11, 2007

2022

Wood Bros have hosted several events at their distillery this year varying from tours of the distillery, to Ross Pateman’s stag night and to informal village get-togethers and even wreath making. They sell draft beer, cyder, wine, gin, vodka and food and we were even treated to complimentary oysters just before Christmas. All these events were set in their beautiful bar area and distillery. We have had some really great nights with excellent food and drink and the best of hosts and staff you could wish for. Photographers Dave Nixon and Nick Holmes

The village fete on 4th September was once again a resounding success thanks to the volunteers, some of whom are pictured here. The regular big attractions – the big car pull and the dog show – were even more popular! Photographer Nick Holmes

The Vines Classic Car show – A small group of motoring enthusiasts in the village have often talked over recent years of how the Vines would be a great place to hold a regular meeting of like-minded enthusiasts with their classic, sports and interesting vehicles. So, we decided that we would trial it by word of mouth for the first two meetings that happened in April and May. Everyone who came along gave their input on what we should do going forward, so the next date for a hopefully larger gathering was set for July 3rd. We had around 10 motorbikes and two vintage tractors parked up at the front of the pub, and around 45 cars and pick-up trucks of varying vintages all parked up on display in the paddock to the rear of the pub. It was a really enjoyable laid back fun summers evening. Photographer Ann Marie Powell

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marked this out as a special year. The BBVA and the Parish Council combined to deliver a great picnic in the park – sponsoring all the food for over 120 villagers and guests and the Witney Brass Band. Having the event a week before the official weekend ensured we had a full house – a great community-affirming celebration!

1 The Family enjoying the big day
2 Master of Ceremonies - Alec
3 Food is served
4 The Witney Brass Band prepares
5 Serenading
6 The organisers - Terry and Deb
7 Terry introduces the commemoration bench
8 The commemoration bench
9 The toast to The Queen
10 The start of the duck race
11 In full flow
12 Looking for the winners
13 The end

2021

The annual fete on the 5th September was long awaited and proved to be one of the most memorable. A new bouncy castle, music from the RAF voluntary band and choir, dance from the Bampton Morris dancers and displays by falconers and a farrier – not to mention the big car pull and dog show! Read the full story here!

Photographers Adrian and Greta Whareham

Over a year since March 2020 and all those lockdowns, at last we could all congregate at Vinestock (2021-style). These pictures remind us that the good times may be back!

1 The gathering
2 The line-up
3 The race!
4 Fancy dress (for some!)
5 Aunt Sally winners - the ladies of course!
6 Medals all round
7 Pete Hughes winner of the Mower Race

2013-2021

Our church has been used for many community activities over the years – from flower arranging courses, history lectures and concerts. The concerts have been running for about 7-8 years, averaging around four a year. They usually attract between 70 and 110 people in the church. The Santas grotto started in the Lady chapel around about the same time but is now set up in the tower. We have usually run the children’s Carol Service right after Santas grotto, again attracting between 80 to 100 adults and children.

Live@BB concert

2017

The year of perhaps the biggest project in our village for a generation – the refurbishment of St Mary’s bell tower, its existing 5 bells and the casting of a new 6th, treble, bell. It was made possible with a £65,000 grant from the SUEZ Communities Trust in memory of an employee, Jacqui Wheeler and grants from fundraising (£8,000), Oxford Diocesan Bell Fund ( £5,000) and existing church funds (£2,000). However, the massive effort of a handful of volunteers made all the difference. The project team was Richard Betteridge (Project Lead & Churchwarden), David Nixon (Building and Engineering), Pete Hughes (Building Refurb & Materials), Pat Sears (Builder & Advisor), Alec Jones (Assistance and Vino provider). Together with other volunteers, the team saved £31,000!!

The slideshow is in two parts. Part One is from 4th February 2017, when the major preparation work was done to the tower, the 5 bells lowered and the 6th was cast at the last remaining bell foundry in the UK on 6th April. For a more detailed explanation take a look at the PDF Black Bourton Bell Project Part One.

1 Old wood ceiling removed and ladders put up for access to the bell chamber – notice the 3rd bell - another floor above.
2 Bird nesting material and detritus removed from around the bell chamber, it actually filled a cubic meter square builders bag!
3 The wheels were removed from each bell and we removed all five sliders and stays.
4 The 3rd and 4th bell wheels and the slider for the 3rd.
5 Proud man, 4 of the 5 wheels were out and down! No accidents – no damage!
6 Clappers were removed from all the bells – easier said than done! These two nuts inside the bell were well rusted!
7 The first clapper to be removed, these would have been in situ since 1866 - the year of the last restoration.
8 The nuts had to be cut off with a disc cutter.
9 Wooden lids over the gudgeon pins held in place with a hook and eye.
10 All prep work completed before the lowering of the bells!
11 The 2nd bell being lowered and swung over the hatch so that it could be lowered to ground level.
12 The 4th bell on its way down.
13 David Nixon, Richard Betteridge, Brian Butcher (Taylors bell hanger) - and Alec Jones - wine provider!
14 The last and heaviest bell, the Tenor, having to be tilted to get it over the ‘A’ frame, ready for lowering.
15 The 5th and final bell to be lowered. A very happy and relieved chap. No Accidents. No Damage.
16 Just some of the villagers admiring the bells for the first time.
17 John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, the last bell foundry in the UK.
18 Making a mould for a bell on the foundry floor
19 The actual furnace for the casting of our treble bell
20 The casting of our bell.
21 Our bell cooling down.
22 The Black Bourton enthusiasts who witnessed the casting!

Part Two covers the preparation for the arrival of the bells and hanging the bells, from 25th July to 28th September, and the dedication service on 5th November. For a more detailed explanation take a look at the PDF Black Bourton Bell Project Part Two

1 Repointed all the walls in the new bell chamber, one floor below the original bell chamber.
3 All 15th-Century beams now removed giving way to a view of the original bell chamber floor and old frame, which remains in situ.
4 New Bell chamber floor constructed 150mm lower than original – note the acoustic insulation in the floor.
5 New Bell chamber floor from above - we were governed by headroom for the bells to swing.
6 Ply-board floor laid to preserve the new French oak floor - note the step down now into the bell chamber and the 13th-century stone arch window.
7 Cutting out the wall pockets for the base of the new galvanised steel bell frame.
8 Building the frames for the 6 bells - the 3 larger bells will be mounted in a row.
9 The 5 refurbished bells and the new treble arrive in Black Bourton, 12th September 2017.
10 Last bell going up the tower.
11 Installing the bells.
12 The top half of the bell wheel has been fitted to the tenor.
13 The new treble - the Jacqui Wheeler Bell - from whom the funds enabled our bells to be rung again in the village.
14 Finishing touches: new oak ceiling, lime washed walls, new bell ropes, and new lights.
15 Our new door to the stairwell with all its original metal furniture.
16 The Service of Dedication of the Restored and Augmented Ring of Six Bells on the 5th November 2017.
17 The Service of Dedication was almost exactly one year earlier than our target of 11th November 2018.
18 Bishop Colin Fletcher of Dorchester presided. A contingent of SUEZ members and members of Jacqui Wheeler’s family attended with villagers.
19 The first ring of St Mary’s bells since before WW2 was rung by our very own village bell ringers. Big celebration!

2008, 2009, 2011

The first of the three Black Bourton Music Festivals in 2008 raised approx. £4.5k profit, but we purchased new tents/Marquees, some lighting & PA equipment after which we banked £2,617.90. We sold approximately 650 tickets paying £10 children free. So all in all very successful for our first attempt. At the second Festival 2009, we banked £2177,97, again we had purchased another large tent and other assets. The last Festival in 2011 just about broke even, after purchasing another Marquee and other items because of the bad weather.

Our special thanks goes out to our sponsors in the village whether financially or in kind, to make the Festivals a success:

Ahdy and Karen – The Vines
Pete Hughes – Oxford Partitions, and his work force
Terry Pope – Arbour force, and members of his work force
L A Lockhart
Mark Waring Motors
The BBVA committee who, without whose, time, enthusiasm and commitment, this event could not have taken place: Stret, Yan, Pete Hughes, Terry Pope, Chris & Alie Harris, Julian Perry, and last but not least Dave Nixon and his dear wife Mandy.

1 Black Bourton Music Festival 2009

2007

The year of heavy snow in February …

The Vines

Photographer Dave Nixon

… was also the year of the great floods in July! Fortunately these floods were the last ones in our village following a spend of £2.5m on the flood defences at Shilton, thus protecting Shilton, Alvescott, Clanfield, Bampton and even Brize Norton, as well as Black Bourton. Since the defences at Shilton and the culverts built around the bridge by our village green, the stream has never breached the banks and none of the other villages have experienced floods since. This is a useful link about river levels.

Photographer Dave Nixon