Beckley & Area Community Benefit society Limited (BACBS)

Community Survey 2022

It is over 3 years since we surveyed our community to ask what you wanted of The Abingdon Arms, and 2½ years since the current tenants took over from Aimee. These last two years have been tumultuous and very tough on our tenants. We are lucky that they have survived and are doing well, although the fallout from COVID is far from over with increased costs for everything they need.

We would like to ask our Shareholders, the wider community and other customers what you want from our community pub and from the Beckley & Area Community Benefit Society Ltd (BACBS), the body which owns the pub.

Will you give us the benefit of your views? This short survey can be answered online via https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BACBS or by scanning this QR code.

Some questions simply require a tick, but we hope you’ll write some comments and suggestions where invited. We thank you in advance for your time and interest.

The closing date is Friday September 23rd 2022

The open share offer is still open! More investment in our pub will help enormously to keep this fine old building in good condition. See https://bacbs.org/openshareoffer

For members of BACBS, this is a reminder about the annual members’ meeting on Wednesday 30th November in Beckley Village Hall. We are also looking for new committee members – see https://bacbs.org/meetings.

The Abingdon Arms

The Abingdon Arms is having a great summer with extraordinary weather making ‘outside’ dining a pleasure. Maxwell from Marlake landscaping has finished the benches on the top terrace and the permanent stretch tent is in place. Purchase of this awning was made possible through the new share offer, with over 20 new members joining BACBS, a rise in membership of nearly 10%! More investments from new and old members will help us to plan for the long overdue refurbishment of the top floor of the pub.

The pub’s events around the Jubilee weekend were very popular and a great success. Further outside events have also been popular, such as the Jazz night and the ‘Sinatra’ night.

MORE THAN A PUB PROGRAMME

Quiz nights and the ‘More than a Pub’ talks continue to be very popular. The most recent Sunday ‘talk’ was unfortunately cancelled due to ill health (Mark Stanley-Price on rewilding) and we may be able to reschedule later in the year. The prior ‘talk’ was by Andrew Wilson (journalist and former Sky news presenter) being interviewed by Chris White. This was fascinating and included some extraordinary videos from war zones and disaster areas. If you missed any of the talks, you can go to the BACBS website to find out how you can listen to the recording (https://bacbs.org/events).

Pub quiz

7.30 pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the bar at The Abingdon Arms. No need to book – just turn up. Free round of drinks for the winning team (courtesy of The Abingdon Arms)!

Community Walks
These gentle, approximately two hour, walks usually start place at 2 pm on the third Sunday of the month. Dogs on leads are welcome. Details of individual walks will be emailed around the community and made available at https://bacbs.org/events a few days before each one.

Coffee mornings
11 am, first Monday of every month at The Abingdon Arms. Come and join us for coffee, cake, and a chat.

Jazz nights
The Jazz and Pizza night on 17th July was very popular. Contact cathyroyoak@gmail.com if you might be interested in helping make this a regular event.

Talks, 6:30pm on the last Sunday of the month

September 25th, 6.30 pm.

The end of an earring: a conversation with Pam St Clement, well-known for her long association with the BBC series East Enders as Pat Butcher, on her work in theatre and television.

October 30th, 6.30 pm.

Gene therapy and cystic fibrosis. Stephen Hyde, Professor of Molecular Therapy, John Radcliffe Hospital. Cystic fibrosis is a severe inherited disorder appearing in childhood and mainly affecting the lungs.

November 27th, 6.30 pm.

Burma…A very troubled country, challenges for health care. Peter Saunders, Royal College of GPs trainer and Beckley resident, has been involved with a project in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), to help strengthen their health care provision. He will give a bit of background, some history, some politics, then talk about the main elements of the projects that are continuing despite Covid and last year’s military coup.

Good neighbour scheme

Serving Beckley, Elsfield, Stanton, Forest Hill, Woodeaton. (Noke, Islip and Horton have their own schemes).

This scheme started three years ago is still operating, albeit at a low level, to give lifts to those with no other transport: taking people for their vaccinations, collecting items from surgeries, and Stanton village shop etc., as well as lifts to the Barton/Green Road roundabout where buses into Headington and central Oxford are frequent. To request a lift, ring either 07514 791919 (answerphone if no answer) or email BACBSgoodneighbour@gmail.com . If you know of anyone who might need help, and perhaps does not know this service exists, please do let them know. Some of the original drivers are no longer available and anyone who might like to volunteer please email the above address.