Long Marston Village Show – Saturday 4th August.
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The Long Marston Village Show is upon us!
The theme of this year’s show is ‘A Summer of Sport’ which will be reflected in the hall and on the show field. You will soon have the show schedule posted through your door, detailing a large variety of differing classes that anyone can enter in the Village Hall. A lot of them are horticulturally-based as you would expect, like five onions, six radishes or maybe the obligatory odd-shaped vegetable! For budding florists, why not enter the single rose category or maybe ,rather than outdoor flowers, you’ve grown a cactus in a pot! However, my recommendation would be to try one of the slightly more quirky classes at the end of your show schedule. I’m sure each household has a keen amateur chef and the show gives you the opportunity to show off your skills. How about having a go at baking this year’s cake, a Victoria Sponge, or maybe a Quiche! There are classes for jams, cakes, and home-made wine. Finally, we move onto the arts and crafts section, full of classes catering for all styles and ability. We cover such items as knitting, photography, and painting. We even have a complete section for children at the end which is free to enter! With such a wide choice, why not pick one and have a go.
On the field, things continue a-pace. We have all the usual stands, like the book stall, coconut shy and skittles. As always the tent will house the bar and afternoon teas and we are also putting the Pimms stall inside with the ice creams. The pony rides are back as well as the ever popular plant stall. However, the stage area could well steal the show this year as not only will we have a live band, but the show will be opened by The Bugles & Drums of the Stedfast Association who will be marching up from the Queens Head and we also have a Jazzersize Exhibition with audience participation! So why not come down and have a go!
On a much more serious note, these events cannot take place without the generous help of those people who give up their time to run stalls and help with stewarding etc to make your day as enjoyable as possible. It’s a mammoth task but one which the horti members thoroughly enjoy (allegedly). We do need to spread the load, though (our members seem to get older every year!) so if you have a little time available on the day and are willing to get involved as a helper – even if it’s only for an hour or so, we’d love to have your support, helping to set up in the morning, or clear up at the end of the day. For example, at the end of the show we auction off all of the items left in the hall. Whilst this is going on you may have noticed the 2/3 men who are trying to clear up the field after the day’s activities. They could really do with your help for an hour and the more people the merrier! Whether you are participating, watching or helping, please join in and help perpetuate this timeless village event. We look forward to seeing you there.
The Story of the Village News.
Most people who read our monthly village news would probably be surprised to learn that it has been produced regularly, in various forms, for well over sixty years!
The original Village News, known then as the Parish Paper, was produced by the vicar, and consisted of a single sheet of paper containing news of births, marriages, deaths, church services and local fund raising events. In 1939 production was suspended due to the war, but was resumed in 1947 on a quarterly basis, at a cost of 6d per copy. The first issue after the war was proud to announce that tenants had moved into the new council houses in Wilstone. The houses had all mod cons, but no pig stys!
Gradually the newsletter began to contain more news of other village events, and local firms were invited to advertise. By the 1980s the Parish Paper had evolved into a small magazine, the Long Marston, Puttenham and Wilstone Parish News, and was available to subscribers for an annual fee of 1.40, or 15p per copy.
Enlarged
In the ‘90s and early 2000s the magazine, by now enlarged to A4 size, had very attractive artwork on the front and back covers but it was in June 2003, after a change of editor, that the Village News became the publication that we know today.
In February 2004, through the financial support of the ‘Horti’ the subscription charge was dropped and the village News was distributed, free of charge, to every household in Long Marston, Wilstone and Puttenham. Under its new editor the magazine expanded, to include lots more local news, as well as recipes, readers letters and general interest articles.
June 2004 saw the first colour edition, and the magazine continues to go from strength to strength, having been voted 32nd out of 620 in the National Parish Magazine Awards of 2011.
Article written by Maggy Winship.
Acknowledgement: Christine Rutter.
The Boys’ Brigade in Long Marston.
The Boys’ Brigade is a Christian organisation founded in Glasgow in 1883 by William Alexander Smith with the purpose of the “promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, self discipline, self respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.” The Boys’ Brigade proved a great success and ten years later, the Girls’ Brigade was formed along similar lines. An early admirer of the Boys’ Brigade was Lieutenant General Robert Baden Powell who, in 1907 founded the Boy Scouts.
In 1997 Long Marston residents Chris and Jan Longhurst, with the support of Rev. Martin Nathaniel, decided to set up a local branch of the Brigade. Both Jan and Chris were experienced Brigade officers, having helped to organise a number of groups over the years.
A Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade were formed and the two groups joined together for the weekly meetings. The group was open to boys and girls aged between 5 and 11, and was held at the Victory Hall, Long Marston, although later moved to the Cecilia Hall, Puttenham. At its height the membership was twenty four children.
The weekly meetings would involve a lively mixture of games and stories, rounding the evening off with prayers. During the summer months camping trips were arranged and an annual open day organised to attract new members. This would include stalls, outdoor activities and a barbeque.
Sadly, the Long Marston Boys’ Brigade came to an end in June 2000 when Jan and Chris moved out of the area.
Article written by Maggy Winship.
Acknowledgements: Chris and Jan Longhurst.
For more information see The Boys’ Brigade Website.
The Long Marston Cricket Club
The Long Marston Cricket Club was formed in 1867, although there is evidence that an eleven from Long Marston played (and beat) Tring Cricket Club two years earlier in 1865. Perhaps this taste of success prompted the players to go on to form the cricket club.
The cricket club played at various locations around the village including The Brade (field behind Marston Court) and latterly the Long Marston Recreation Ground on a coconut mat over concrete, but in 1961 moved to its existing site. This move came about when it was heard that the Rev. Anthony was prepared to sell the Marlin’s allotments.
The cricket club had weekly committee meetings and the chairman, Len Dean, instructed Treasurer Chris Proctor to find out from his wife Jenny (who was Father Anthony’s housekeeper) if it was true that the site might be available. The result was positive, a whip round of club members for the £40 deposit was held and the balance required was accrued by the committee. Trust deeds signed in 1961.
Terry Clay was one of the people who signed the deed and became a trustee. Apparently this was by accident as, at the time, Terry a young boy working in the yard at Deans was asked to come in to provide an additional signature as legally required. To this day he remains a trustee.
The club completed its pavilion in 1965 and the building was officially opened in 1966. Several extensions over the years have bought the clubhouse to its current state.
In the late 80’s extra land was purchased from the estate of Little Farm, Long Marston. The club negotiated the purchase of this land, which enabled increased boundaries to be established, eventually bringing the pitch up to county standard.
The Long Marston Cricket Club has hosted matches in the National Minor Counties Championship every year since 1994, the first of these matches against Suffolk in that year, with international star Derek Randall as their pro.
2010 saw Long Marston Cricket Club hosting games in the ECB Trophy National 40 Over competition, played by the second elevens of the top county sides, as well as the MCC Unicorns A (combined Minor Counties side containing many top level players).
The Cricket Club continues to thrive and currently boasts three teams playing in the Oxford Cherwell League. In order that all three teams can play when two are scheduled to be at home, the Cricket Club has come to an arrangement with Mentmore Cricket Club to use their ground in exchange for Long Marston providing pitch maintenance, guidance and support.
A bore hole to the original allotment well was recently sunk. Fortunately the borehole struck water but unfortunately, much to the players’ disappointment, not beer!
Article was written by Paul Dumpleton.
For more information, visit the Long Marston Cricket Club website.
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