April – May 2020

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Editorial

Nostalgia, so the saying goes, ain’t what it used to be. But there is no shortage of it in this, our anniversary issue of the magazine. It is 40 years ago that The Wychwood was first circulated among our communities so this issue brings together much of the recent history from the intervening period. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of writers who have reviewed the history of the various organisations in our villages over the past 40 years. We have articles about changes in three of our villages, about our library and our school, about the Groves’ yard, probably our biggest employer, about St Michaels store and many others. You can get a flavour of other articles in this series on the last page of this issue.
wychwoodmagfirstcoverBut it’s not all nostalgia. Jan Harvey has risen to our challenge of writing about a memorable encounter with an animal, and two more writers have promised subsequent articles that meet the challenge. There is a thoroughly up-to-date article about the value of Facebook in our community life, several forthcoming events are described and tribute is paid to David Trollope and Sir John Graham, two fine individuals who did much to contribute to village life.
As well as our gratitude to all the writers mentioned earlier, one thing struck me about all the changes that have taken place over this past 40 years: those articles are enormously positive about the changes that have taken place. In an era and in a society that almost habitually resists change, or at the very least, distrusts change, it is good to see that so many fears about change are groundless. As we look ahead to the next 40 years, maybe it is time to embrace change and to value its impact.

Bob Forster, Editor

List of articles

Launch of The Wychwood magazine
Cartoons for the decade by Stephen Ricketts
The Wychwood Post
Burns Night
Cricket night
February’s weather
40 years at Wychwood library
A look back at May Day
40 years of change in Milton
Update on Shipton church
Art Weeks
Life in Milton in the late 50s
40 years of woodland management
One special tree
Wild Garden celebrations
40 years at the chalk face
40 years of change in Shipton
Sue’s book recommendations
Tennis memories
40 years in Fifield
One hundred and counting
A chance encounter
Starry, starry night
Wordsearch: Hunt the villages
40 years of Milton gardening club
40 years of Shipton cricket club
40 years of St Michaels Stores
The Wychwood Project
Brock’s health warning
A modern history of Alfred Groves and Sons Ltd
Nostalgia continues

Obituaries
David Trollope
Sir John Graham

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