The Chairman Writes
From: 148 Autumn 2018
Author: Howard Crapper
My first duty is to thank all fellow Freemen for their magnificent support for me through what has been the most harrowing and dreadful period of my life. The road accident on May 6th, on our return journey from a Freemen event in Coventry, has left me a widower and forever grieving for the loss of my wonderful and adorable wife Shirley. Life can never be the same again. Your kind messages and amazing acts of generosity, the way our Committee has carried on in great shape during my convalescence and my admiration of our Vice Chairman in my absence has convinced me to carry on where I can.
Grazing cattle on Port Meadow this year has been difficult in the extreme. The recently realigned Weir has and continues to drop a sand bank across the river. So shallow is the river now that cattle cross to the opposite bank with ease. Our neighbouring farmer has been driven to distraction by the unexpected arrival Port Meadow cattle on his land. A situation which cannot continue.
Our Member of Parliament responsible for Port Meadow is busy on our behalf in lobbying the Environment Agency to get the river dredged. Until this is achieved,we may have to suspend Grazing on the Meadow as it is patently unfair on our neighbour.
Port Meadow is possibly the oldest recorded land transaction in our Country. How about that? Recorded in the Doomsday Book. King Alfred gave Port Meadow to the Freemen in gratitude for their loaning him horses in his quest to repel the invading Danes. The Danes overran Oxford on at least two occasions.
Christmas is approaching and I hope I can meet you at our Annual dinner. For that special present, why not visit our partners Shepherd and Woodward in the High Street. Ask to speak to John Hicks who can show you the full range of Freemen robes, ties and broaches, plagues etc. They hold all our stock and they deserve our attention.