Witney Gazette August 6th 2014. Gladman Homes, previously refused permission to build 127 homes off the Aston road have submitted a new application to build 116 homes instead on the same site. The original application was turned down due to concerns of the risk of flooding.

Robert Courts was elected to take over as MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire when David Cameron retired from being MP for the constituency. Robert emails a news roundup more less weekly and this one has much in regarding Coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19.

Robert has given me permission to copy his letter and put it on this website and wishes me to make all aware of his email address robert@robertcourts.co.uk

Local artists, husband and wife Ann Manly and Dennis Harrison held an exhibition of their beautiful watercolours in November 2002 under the title 'Drawn to Light'They have been exhibiting in the gallery for more than 15 years

This picture was taken in 1971 and shows the canteen at RAF Bampton Castle in Weald just before the kitchen closed for the first time. Helping himself to lunch is Cyril Cawser, father of Myra and Caroline. He was a civilian working there in the Met Office department.

RAF Signals station at Weald.
The air officer supporting Air Command carrying out the annual inspection in April 1993.
The RAF took over use of the site in September 1969 from the Royal Corps of Signals which had been stationed there since it opened in 1943.

There is a photograph of Eton Villas taken a few decades ago and a written history of the buildings starting with the sale of the original buildings or Hereditaments in 1902 at the Talbot.

1965. This pylon was the framework that once held a windmill on White Owl farm. The farm belonged to Bert and Ted Wilkins.

In 1999 there was a mass cycle ride organised to highlight the need for a cycle pathway from Bampton to The Trout Inn at Tadpole bridge on the Buckland Road. The bridge crosses the River Thames.

When American servicemen were sent over in 1942 to help with the war against the Nazis, they were issued with guidelines on how to behave and what to expect when they came to the UK. This booklet, here reproduced in hard back, is reproduced from the original typescript by the War Department, Washington DC. The purpose of the guide "... is to start getting you acquainted with the British, their country, and their ways." Headings in the booklet are:-

No time to fight old wars
British reserved, not unfriendly
Don't be a show off
The British are tough
Age instead of size
Remember there's a war on
Britain the cradle of democracy
The people - their customs and manners
The British like sports
Indoor amusements
Keep out of arguments
Britain at war - the British came through
Waste means lives
British Women at war
Some hints on British words
Weights and measures
Important Do's and Don'ts
Table of currency
It is always impolite to criticise your hosts; it is militarily stupid to criticise your allies

Brian Woodward told me "The Yanks was good to us at The Signals Camp. Wanted to play darts in the pubs and always insisted on buying the beer as they had more money. Invited once a month to their Jazz club on the base and paid for everything. Invited to a concert which was held in a hanger by the then Air Force Of Note band which was the follow on from Glen Miller band. Concert due to finish at 11pm they would not let the band leave the stage and it ended at 1am. What a night. They also liked the Buckland dances as well, but that's another story.

"If I remember right the Buckland Dances was on a Monday or Wednesday. A coach from Witney carrying mainly girls from Smiths Industries picked us up at the town square about 7 o' clock. First we visited The Lamb in Buckland for lubrication and then on to the village hall. T he dances was well attended and when the Yanks found out they attended. One night a fight broke out between the Yanks and some Farringdon lads and the American Snowdrops (Military Police) was soon there to sort it out with their long batons. One shilling and sixpence, 7.1/2 pence today and a beer or two for a great night out dancing to a trio with a partner that you held and could talk to.

"We also had Camp Dances about every 3 months that was well attended. I remember John "Tazz" Winn finding Sergeant - Major Fred O Conner's wallet on the floor and Fred wanted to buy Tazz a drink. Tazz never drank, but to be sociable he asked for a Port and Lemon. 'I wont buy one of my soldiers that' so Tazz asked for a Babycham. Fred gave up. Great days."