Author: john

Serving refreshments at Open Doors

Once a year Oxford City opens its doors to give the public access to many places which are not normally open to the public in its Open Doors event. On the same weekend the Ride and Stride event raises money for the Oxford Historic Churches Trust, with people sponsored to walk or cycle to visit churches. Visitors for either event, or who were merely passing were welcome to come to Wesley Memorial Church to purchase refreshments in aid of the church Open Doors project.

Since Oxford have have benefited, and continue to benefit from the improvements to the premises the project has provided several Phab members were happy to join the other volunteers from the church to help.


Welcoming customers


Helping in the kitchen

Normal Club and planning a programme

We are still sorting out what we will do through the autumn, however for those of us who keep up with current events, we are being provided with plenty to chat about !

We also did a little preparation for tomorrow when Wesley Memorial Church will be open for Oxford Open Doors, and some Phab members will be helping sell refreshments in aid of the Wesley Memorial Open Doors church redevelopment project.

Back together after the Summer Holidays

After our Summer Holidays it was great to meet up with our Phab friends to find out what they had been doing, and have a chat.

We also started to plan the programme for the rest of the year, which needs to be co-ordinated with the church diary, and we will need to find out if some of places, such as Donnington Social Club will be available when we want to go. It looks as if we will have plenty to look forward to.

Barbecue at Botley WI Hall

As we had heavy rain last year for our Barbecue at Simon and Sarah’s House, and it had rained at the Barbecue the previous year as well, the committee decided to plan for all eventualities this year. We hired Botley W.I. Hall for the evening, which turned out to be a good decision.

Simon still proved his mettle as master of the barbecue, ably assisted by Chris, and wisely lent us one of his two new gazebos in case it was needed – it was!

We erected the gazebo and got the barbecue started before most members arrived, when – luckily – it was not too wet.

By the time hungry members started to arrive it was wet !

Luckily there was plenty of space for people inside – this picture was before most people arrived.

We carried on cooking burgers (meat on the left side of the barbecue), vegetarian kebabs (we kept the right hand side of the barbecue meat free), vegetarian sausages. Inside the W.I. Hall we were cooking Chicken, the non-vegetarian sausages and preparing salads, setting out buns for burgers and rolls for hot dogs, serving drinks etc. There were also a selection of cheesecakes and other deserts.

Unfortunately there are no pictures of this feast, and the next stage was loading the minibus, packing away the gazebo, clearing the kitchen, sweeping floors etc.

So that we could leave the W.I. Hall looking tidy.

Avon Tyrrell 2019 – Canoeing, Zipwire, Archery and Pizzas !

Unfortunately the hoist at the boathouse was broken, so only a small group (who also had to be prepared to forego a Sunday lie-in) were able to go canoeing.


As we always find, the instructor was very good, and had everybody playing ‘tag’ – which he was much better at than everybody else !

A group, mostly of members who had not been able to have a go last year, had a chance to try the Zip Wire.

It was a thrilling experience !

While some members were on the Zip Wire, others were trying their hand at Archery, as we did last year.


Having worked up a good appetite we returned to the Lodge for home made pizza as our Pizza Night in June had gone so well.

Fueled by our lunch we loaded the minibus and cars and went home for a rest !


Avon Tyrrell 2019 – High Ropes and Climbing Wall

The Climbing Wall and the High Ropes are adjacent, so although we were split into two groups, we could try different activities, and watch how our friends were getting on.


  • Chris starts up the log
  • Reaches the upper log
  • and traverses the upper log
  • Paul starting to walk up the log
  • He has reached the high log and started to traverse it
  • At the top of the tower
  • Abseiling down
  • Tom ready to go up
  • Going for a swing !
  • Climbing
  • At the top
  • Triumph !
  • The Leap of Faith is vrey high and wobbly
  • A great achievement to make it to the top
Picnic by the lake

After our picnic we relaxed and chatted in the lodges for a while, and then set off for the seaside !

  • Fish and Chips by the shore
  • View of the sea
  • Chance to paddle and see the Isle of Wight

Avon Tyrrell 2019 – Friday – Wildlife Park and Campfire

We stopped at The New Forest Wildlife Park to eat the packed lunches which members had brought with them, and then to see the wildlife.


The wolves were not bothered by our presence

The lynx is normally hard to see, but we were there for feeding time, so had a really good view, and heard an interesting talk.

There was plenty to see, they have deer roaming freely, and bison, otters, pine martens …

Finally it was time to return to our minibus and cars and continue to Avon Tyrrell, where we unpacked –

And made our, now traditional, campfire in the firepit beside the lodge.


After sunset we toasted marshmallows and sat around and chatted. A great start to our holiday !

Zumba for Cancer Charities

A great bunch of people, including Oxford Phab, got together at the Christian Life Centre on Cowley Road to have a fun evening of Zumba and raise money for local cancer charities.

Wendy getting into the swing of it

We had not, as a club, learned a routine this time, but Kelly and Trish had been practicing with a Zumba group, and joined in their group’s routine.


A great evening, and many thanks to George Martini and all the Zumba instructors for making us feel welcome.