North Leigh Community Cafe

17/06/2026

🏇🏇Royal Ascot at the Cafe 🏇🏇

I have to say that I knew very little about Royal Ascot but life is a learning experience.

According to Mr Google - Royal Ascot was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, the event quickly became associated with the British Royal Family. The famous Royal Procession, in which members of the Royal Family arrive by horse-drawn carriage, began in 1825 under King George IV.

Today, the five-day international racing festival is renowned for world-class competition, royal patronage, and its distinctive traditions of elegance and formal dress. It remains one of the highlights of the British sporting and social calendar.

Which brings us to this week’s quiz (master minded by Carol Hogg) which not only covered Royal Ascot but also local geography and attractions. Ivan was quiz master for the day. As usual there was a good deal of banter especially especially concerning suitable dress codes and the pub that has recently undergone renovations (The Royal Oak, Ramsden).
In terms of numbers we had expected a lower than normal turnout as once again the cafe was followed by the ever popular Senior’s Lunch. However, we still had nearly 50 customers (about the same as last week).

Independent of the numbers attending, it was always going to be a busy day. It started early with the arrival of Saxon Blinds to do maintenance on the roof blinds, sadly they could quite complete the work prior to the cafe opening but will return again next Wednesday afternoon. In addition, not only did we have our usual features of food, drink and Quiz but also children from the North Leigh Primary School Choir provided excellent entertainment (pictures to follow) entertainment and we had a special guest in the form of Pudsey Bear.

It is always a pleasure to have the children join us and this week was no exception. Customers were encouraged to join in and thoughtfully song sheets were provided. We even had a song in Spanish - thank you to all involved and to Pudsey who added some great dance moves much to the delight of the children and cafe goers - lots of smiles and many happy faces.

A special ‘shout-out’ to all those who entered the spirit of the best hat competition - it was definitely a close run thing but Pudsey eventually decided that the winner (who received a bunch of flowers) should be Carol. However, as I hope you will see from the attached images it wasn’t only the ladies who were vying for prizes.

Next week we don’t have a particular theme but on the 1st of July it’s Grand Prix week. Dave ‘The Cap’ Broughton returns with a quiz based on the British round of the Championship. You will also have the opportunity to enter our fastest lap competition; no you don’t need a mobility scooter - although we have one if you fancy a lap of the village (book early to avoid disappointment). In our case we will be using a cunning Scalectrix layout. There will be a prize for the fastest average ‘lap’ and time penalties for crashes or unsportsmanlike behaviour (at Race Controls Discretion).

Have a good week and we hope to welcome you again next Wednesday.

📔📔 Diary Dates:

📽️🍿 Film Night, ‘H is for Hawk’, Saturday 20th June, 19:00 for 19:30, North Leigh Memorial Hall.

🌻🌻 North Leigh Primary School Summer Festival, Friday 26th June, 18:00 - 21:00.

🏎️🏁 British F1 Grand Prix, 1st July. Ivan has been busy on eBay and we now have enough Scalextric track to rival the M25 and probably just as dangerous. We might even have a rival to the legendary Murray Walker to commentate.

🎾🏸 Wimbledon Cafe, 8th July, specials to include Pimms plus Strawberries and Cream. Of course there will be a ‘Wimbledon’ Themed Quiz.

🎺🎷Classical to Cinema, Friday 10th July, St Leonard’s Church, Eynsham. Tickets £7.50. Four Great Wind Bands from the local area including faces you may recognise. Conductor Wendy Marks.

🎶🎼 Voice Box Choir, 11th July,19:30 (doors open and bar from 19:00), Freeland Village Hall. Tickets £10 in advance £12 on the Door. Did you enjoy the Nor Lye Notes at Ducklington? Here’s a chance to hear another local choir, again with people you may know.

🌍🏆 World Cup Closing, 22nd July, with fizz if England do well.

15/06/2026

13/06/2026

⚽️⚽️ The Unnecessary World Cup Adventure ⚽️⚽️

Terry the Teapot considered himself something of a football expert.

This belief was based almost entirely on the fact that he once caught the last 10 minutes of Match of the Day and listened to a couple of ‘Gooners’ debating which Arsenal football team was best.

“Natural talent,” he often said proudly. “Some Teapots brew herbal tea. I analyse pressing formations.”

Unfortunately, nobody else agreed.

Especially not Colin the Toaster.

“You thought VAR stood for ‘Very Acceptable Refreshments’,” Colin pointed out.

“It should,” Terry sniffed.

Terry, Colin, Brenda the Air Fryer, Nigel the Vacuum Cleaner, and Gary the slightly unreliable electric fan were gathered around the cafe television (which had accidentally been left out and switched on). A documentary on the World Cup was being screened.

“Ahh,” sighed Terry emotionally, “the greatest tournament on Earth. The history. The drama. The men (and women, though not so much) pretending their ankle’s exploded after mild contact.”

On screen appeared grainy black-and-white footage from 1930.

“The first World Cup,” Dave explained. “Held in Uruguay.”
Terry gasped.

“Uruguay? That’s miles away.”

“Most countries arrived by ship,” Dave continued.

Nigel hummed thoughtfully.

“Imagine travelling that far without Sat Nav.”

Gary rotated slightly.

“I once got lost between Worcester and Crewe services.”

Nobody asked how.

The documentary continued through the decades.

There was Italy in the 1930s.

Brazil dazzling the world in 1958.

England winning in 1966.

At this point Terry became so excited his lid rattled violently.
“Sir Geoff Hurst!” he cried. “Hat-trick in the final! Kenneth Wolstenholme! ‘They think it’s all over!’ Absolute poetry!”

“You weren’t even manufactured then,” said Brenda.

“Football transcends time,” Terry replied grandly.

Colin muttered something about Terry transcending common sense.

As the programme moved into the 1970s, Terry became increasingly emotional. Brazil’s brilliant yellow shirts. Cruyff and Total Football and Argentina in 1978. The rise of television coverage. The famous Mexico tournaments.

“Look at those moustaches,” whispered Terry reverently.
“Football peaked facially in 1974.”

Then came Diego Maradona.

Even Terry fell silent.

“The Hand of God,” Dave said.

Nigel buzzed uncertainly.

“Wasn’t that cheating?”

Terry considered this deeply.

“Yes,” he said eventually. “But in a complicated football way.”

By the 1990 World Cup, Gary the fan had become overexcited.

“I LOVE PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS,” he shouted, accidentally blowing crisps across the Memorial Hall.

“Steady on,” Brenda warned. “You nearly ventilated the dip.”

Then the documentary reached France 1998.

“This,” Terry announced dramatically, “was the golden age.”
“Why?” asked Colin.

“Because,” Terry replied, “footballers still looked like PE teachers who’d accidentally become millionaires.”

Nobody could really argue with that.

As the years rolled on, the tournament became bigger and shinier. South Africa (unfortunately thought Toby) brought vuvuzelas. Brazil brought chaos. Russia brought surprising scorelines. Qatar brought air-conditioned stadiums and several arguments on breakfast television.

Terry watched it all with growing passion.

Finally Dave switched the telly off and stretched.

“Well,” he said, “that’s the history of the World Cup.”

But Terry had gone strangely quiet.

“Something wrong?” Brenda asked.

Terry stared thoughtfully out of the roof windows.

“All these years,” he murmured, “all these tournaments… and I’ve never experienced the World Cup atmosphere myself.”

Colin blinked.

“You’re a Teapot!”

“Yes,” Terry agreed sadly. “A tragically overlooked demographic in international football.”

The next morning Dave discovered Terry had somehow organised a “World Cup Re-enactment Tournament” at the Hall.

Nobody knew how.

Small appliance flags had appeared everywhere. Gary was somehow wearing a Brazil scarf. Nigel had painted tiny goalposts on boxes. Brenda was operating a snack stand called Fry Another Day and Colin the Toaster had unwillingly become referee.

“This is ridiculous,” Colin complained, balancing a whistle in one slot. “I’m literally electrical bread equipment.”

“That’s what they said about VAR,” Terry replied.

The opening match recreated the 1966 final.

Terry insisted on captaining England despite having no feet.

“You can’t dribble,” said Brenda.

“Yes, he can” shouted Toby “but not in a football sense”

“I can wobble with intent,” Terry replied.
The match itself was catastrophic.

Gary accidentally created crosswinds. Nigel vacuumed up the ball twice. Brenda got sent off for aggressively serving chips and Terry became lodged beneath a stack of chairs attempting a sliding tackle.

Still, spirits remained high.

Especially after Dave produced ice creams.

As evening fell, the cafe equipment gathered around fairy lights and folding chairs while Terry delivered an emotional speech from atop the kitchen counter.

“The World Cup,” he declared, “isn’t just about football. It’s about hope. Drama. National pride. Questionable haircuts. Tiny sticker albums. And shouting at referees while holding processed meat products.”

Everyone applauded.

Even Colin.

Slightly.

Terry gazed proudly across the Hall.

“You know,” he said softly, “whether it’s Pelé, Maradona, Zidane, Messi, or Gary accidentally booting a football into a duck pond… the beautiful game belongs to everyone.”
At that exact moment Gary the fan clipped a corner flag, span sideways, and launched himself directly into the fruit bowl.

There was a long silence.

Then Terry nodded solemnly.

“Especially idiots.”

10/06/2026

⚽️🏆 World Cup Cafe 🏆⚽️

With the FIFA World Cup starting tomorrow and only the rich or absolutely fanatical supporters able to visit The Americas to see the games, your Community Cafe brought our customers a more affordable option. The World Cup Sweepstake proved popular with all ‘tickets’ sold giving a prize fund of £96. The prize for the person with the winner’s ticket will be £50, ‘runners up’ £25, third £15 and fourth £6, as did the quiz.

Our friend from the BBC (Jayne McCubbin) must have been able to read our minds because on Monday she contacted us to see what we were up to for the World Cup😂 - she knew we would have something planned😁.

Another pleasant surprise was that England actually won the first (cricket) test match against New Zealand, which didn’t look likely when I first looked at the score and they were 118 having lost 8 wickets in their first innings.

It was good to see the return of our three missing ‘Organisers’ especially Steve who had been in hospital for an engine reboot, welcome back Gentlemen.

It was with a good deal of trepidation that your former Quiz Maestro took up the reins again; would he have the right set of answers? Would the balance of questions have a wide enough appeal? Did the quiz fulfill its objective of prompting discussion irrespective of who wins? Could he live up to the standard set by Dave Broughton with last week’s superb Cricket quiz?

Well only you, our customers, can decide but at least Ivan overcame his reservations and had a good time, particularly responding to creative answers and dealing with the usual heckling😂🤣.

Next week our theme moves from the beautiful game to the ‘beautiful’ people and horses of Royal Ascot, including best hat competition and a quiz master minded by Carol Hogg. We are also expecting entertainment by the Children of the North Leigh School Choir and hopefully a return visit from a certain children’s favourite; no it’s not Paddington.

STOP PRESS: we are so lucky to have so many kind customers and volunteers, not least Julie Surplice who yesterday arrive with a delicious Carrot Cafe - sorry if you didn’t get a piece but we couldn’t resist sampling it🤣😂.

Have a good week and we hope to welcome you again next Wednesday.

📔📔 Diary Dates:

🎩🏇 Royal Ascot Week, 17th June, best hat competition.

📽️🍿 Film Night, ‘H is for Hawk’, Saturday 20th June, 19:00 for 19:30, North Leigh Memorial Hall.

🏎️🏁 British F1 Grand Prix, 1st July. Ivan has been busy on eBay and we now have enough Scalextric track to rival the M25 and probably just as dangerous. We might even have a rival to the legendary Murray Walker to commentate.

🎾🏸 Wimbledon Cafe, 8th July, specials to include Pimms plus Strawberries and Cream.

🎺🎷Classical to Cinema, Friday 10th July, St Leonard’s Church, Eynsham. Tickets £7.50. Four Great Wind Bands

🎶🎼 Voice Box Choir, 11th July,19:30 (doors open and bar from 19:00), Freeland Village Hall. Tickets £10 in advance £12 on the Door. Did you enjoy the Nor Lye Notes at Ducklington? Here’s a chance to hear another local choir.

🌍🏆 World Cup Closing, 22nd July, with fizz if England do well.

06/06/2026

🫖🏏 Terry the Teapot Explains Cricket 🫖🏏

“Now that the warm weather has arrived, let’s turn our attention to the quintessentially British game of Cricket” said Terry the Teapot adjusting his cosy and sighing happily.

“Cricket,” he said, “is a simple game played by very calm people for several weeks.”

“Two teams take turns having a bat and a bowl, which sounds polite, but involves throwing a very hard ball at someone holding a thin bit of wood and pretending this is something other than assault.”

“The batter stands in front of some sticks,” he continued, tapping the table.

“If the ball hits the wicket, let’s call them sticks, because the surface on which the game is played is also the wicket, but the sticks are also called stumps; but I digress. Anyway, if the ball hits the sticks you are out, unless it’s a no ball, in which case….. Nevermind, that for now. If it nearly hits the sticks, everyone appeals loudly, just in case shouting changes reality.”

“A Batsman (or Women) can also be out by being caught, i.e. you hit the ball into the air and a fielder grabs it before it lands.”

“If the ball would have hit the sticks, but your leg got there first, you can also be demissed” said Terry gravely.

“Depending on what mood the Umpire is in” added Toby under his breath.

Terry ignored the comment and continued; “then there’s Run Out”. “Run out of what or where” asked Tiffany who thought the game sounded very boring. “Not what or where.

Basically, the batter runs, perhaps hesitates, and regrets their decision. Meanwhile, the sticks are broken while the batter is thinking about it.”

“Then you can be Stumped.” Terry smiled. “You’re not kidding!” Teased Toby.

“Stumped is when you step forward to be brave, miss the ball entirely, and the wicketkeeper removes the sticks, strictly speaking the bails, like a burglar who’s had practice.”

“You can be out by hitting your own wicket” Terry tutted. “No wonder - it must be the frustration!” Chuckled Toby.

Undeterred Terry carried on “That is you knock over your own sticks. Cricket respects honesty, but not clumsiness.”

“And there are others,” he said, lowering his voice. “Handled the Ball, Timed Out, Obstructing the Field… all designed to remind you that cricket has rules for everything, including bad manners.”

“Runs are scored by running back and forth like you’ve forgotten something in the kitchen,” Terry explained.

“Or by hitting the ball so far that no one can find it, which is worth four, or six if it goes into the crowd and possibly someone’s tea.”

“Matches can last five days,” he said proudly, “and still end in a draw. This is not a flaw. This is character-building.”

“Sometimes it rains,” Terry added. “This is considered a tactical development.”

He concluded, steam rising gently:

“If you don’t understand what’s going on, that’s fine. Nod thoughtfully, say ‘good line and length,’ and put the kettle on. That’s cricket.”

Terry smiled and added “They even stop for tea - what a civilised game”.

Even Tiffany and Toby were impressed by that😁.

03/06/2026

🏏🏏 It’s Just Not Cricket 🏏🏏

Like it or loath it there is something quintessentially English about the game of cricket. Tea, cake and perhaps a little tipple on a Sunday afternoon with the sun beating down on a village green can be very pleasant. Whilst we invented cricket, Australia weaponized it, India commercialized it, and Pakistan turned it into emotional cinema.

In celebration of this summer’s first match of a three game test series against New Zealand followed by 3 games against Pakistan, this week’s community cafe brings you Cricket Week.

It is frequently said that rain remains the most consistent all-rounder in world cricket, so it was appropriate that after nearly two weeks of sunshine the day started with rain but that didn’t deter over 65 people joining us, including about 10 who are new to the cafe; two of whom are interested in bringing new dimensions to the village’s offering - we’ll keep you posted on this one.

With the Chuckle Brothers (i.e. David and Derek) left to their own devices you could be forgiven for thinking that this week might result in chaos but our Volunteers kept them in order. Lesley was in control of the kitchen once again and Tony R came in early to help set up. Once again a very big thank you to all of this week's crew you all went above and beyond.

After last week’s quiz fiasco it was a relief to have Dave Broughton in the ‘chair’ for the quiz. The man formerly known as The Hat but henceforth as Dave (Dickie Bird) Broughton or simply Dave The Cap, not only dressed for the part but came up with a stunning quiz with virtually every question having a link to cricket. For example, ‘What are a Truckers Hitch, a Hunters Bend and an Ashley Stopper?’ The answer of course is that they are Knots (link: the irrepressible Alan Knott was England’s Wicket Keeper for many years), or ‘What might a person, wearing a woman’s undergarment, do when it snows?’ Slip. Thank you for a great mornings entertainment.i

Whilst we are talking about cricket, I thought I’d include some of my favourite quotes:

“I can’t really say I’m batting badly. I’m not batting long enough to be batting badly.”
— Greg Chappell
“The other advantage England have got when Phil Tufnell is bowling is that he is not fielding.”
— Ian Chappell
Shane Warne’s idea of a balanced diet is a cheeseburger in each hand.”
— Ian Healy about Shane Warne

And of course the biggest Faux Pas in Cricket history:

“The bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey.”
— legendary accidental commentary line by Brian Johnston involving Michael Holding and Peter Willey

Just in case you are interested the test matches are:

New Zealand:
Lord’s (4–8 June)
The Oval (17–21 June)
Trent Bridge (25–29 June)

Against Pakistan:
Headingley (19–23 August)
Lord’s (27–31 August)
Edgbaston (9–13 September)

Next week we celebrate (or otherwise) the start of the FIFA World Cup (late nights and early morning for the next month), then on the 17th it will be all things Royal Ascot including best hat competition and a quiz master minded by Carol Hogg. Before then, your former quiz Maestro will seek to redeem himself with a quiz based on the answers that he used previously🤷🏻‍♂️ tempered by few footie facts 😂🤣.

Have a good week and we hope to welcome you again next Wednesday.

📔📔 Diary Dates:

🎶🎵 Nor’ Lye’ Notes Concert, 4th June, Ducklington Church, 19:30.

🌍🏆 World Cup Opening Week, 10th June World Cup quiz and sweepstake with cash prizes - football attire please - show your true colours.

🎩🏇 Royal Ascot Week, 17th June, best hat competition. Plus the return of two cafe favourite.

📽️🍿 Film night, ‘H is for Hawk’, Saturday 20th June, 19:00 for 19:30, North Leigh Memorial Hall.

🏎️🏁 British F1 Grand Prix, 1st July. Ivan has been busy on eBay and we now have enough Scalextric track to rival the M25 and probably just as dangerous. We might even have a rival to the legendary Murray Walker to commentate.

🎾🏸 Wimbledon Cafe, 8th July, specials to include Pimms plus Strawberries and Cream.

🌍🏆 World Cup Closing, 22nd July, with fizz if England do well.

01/06/2026

🫖☕️ And Finally, For Now ☕️🫖

Ian was sad, he had loved reading Lynn’s poems and sincerely hoped she would send him more. However, he realised that it was going to be a busy couple of months and consoled himself with the thought of rereading the witty prose in quieter moments during the summer.

Moreover, he was delighted to find that the final poem was all about Tea.

30/05/2026

🤝🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Terry and The Connected Cummunity 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽🤝

Terry had heard Ivan telling an audience (Ivan loved a crowd) that he had been reading The Connected Community (by Cormac Russell and John McKnight) at night before going to sleep. Later that evening Terry logged on to his iBag (Teapots don’t sleep much. Too much existential whistling) to investigate.

In order to tell the story he called on his friend the Chat Bard for a visual representation of what he learned. He hopes you like it😁.