EVE COLES

"Moving from Chipping Norton to the East End of London at the age of five was a real shock. The war had just ended so we met with severe rationing (even of potatoes), bomb sites, smog and poverty. Starting school with my strong Chippy accent was sheer misery too as my ’foreignness’ was attributed to my half -German father. I missed Chippy so much and longingly remembered the fields down Churchill Road and my gran. Happily after a few years we (my parents, sister and I) returned to Chipping Norton. My school years were not particularly memorable or remarkable. I had friends but enjoyed going for long, walks on my own. I loved the country side. Then years as a student nurse followed and I discovered I was quite bright after all. During I96I I left the Horton to look after my invalid mother and Eddie and I got married. We lived in Diston’s Lane and I nursed part-time at Chippy Hospital until our daughter Debi was born, followed later by our son Steve. I966 we moved to our lovely brand new council house in Cornish Road. I loved playing and being with the children. They were good kids. Those were very happy years. The following year I started working weekend nights at the new Castle View home (and still do). Eddie was great with looking after the children at weekends. In the 70s Eddie and I became very involved in the Labour Party and our trade unions. Then in the 80s I also joined the peace movement and CND. Fortunately the children were always supportive and shared much of Eddie and my outlook and views. They still do. As you no doubt already know from all those boring election leaflets, I have been a town councillor for 26 years and a district councillor for 8 years I won’t list all the committees but I do find them all interesting and a fair, informed way of helping to improve on or deliver what most local people want or need. I also chase up relevant officers on a wide range of questions and complaints and sometimes compliments too. I make sure Chippy no longer gets forgotten by Witney and do my best to help sort out individual problems. The Town Appraisal questionnaire will be out soon so we can get everyone’s views about the town and its future. The last town appraisal showed overwhelming demand for a roofed pool and leisure facilities so for 7 years I doggedly made everyone else on WODC Leisure Committee very aware of our need until they agreed. So at long last and after 30 years we have our wonderful beautiful new leisure centre. Please use it a lot. Eddie died in April so I now also have his two allotments held half planted to look after but I find gardening enjoyable and therapeutic. All the allotment holders there are wonderful, reliable, supportive people. My young neighbour has been a great help too. Family, neighbours, friends and people I hardly know have given me so much love and help through these sad times. Thank you. I always knew there was no better place to live than Chippy. My present aims are for a (HGV) heavy goods vehicle route to stop the big lorries coming through our town, a skate board site, evening buses particularly so young people in surrounding villages can use our leisure centre, better use, of our soon to be renovated town hall (possibly for registry office type weddings) and a healthy, enjoyable environment. And of course to see my 3 grand-daughters happy"

Reprinted from the September Chipping Norton News.